That's true Brangdon, but if prices are dropped and larger sales result, the R & D costs per item become very small.
A 9 Ah NiMh quality D cell shouldn't cost £10 or more retail, when a cheaper made one can be less than £3.
Far cheaper battery prices are a major key to greatly improved e-bike sales, given that the battery can be up to one third of the whole new bike price. Factor in the way in which bike manufacturers margin, shipping insurance, import duties, agent's margins and VAT are cumulatively applied to a whole bike on a percentage basis and all e-bikes have the potential to be as little as one third of their present prices, ranging from around £120 to £399 for bottom and top of the ranges. That would do wonders for sales, putting all of them into the area of impulse purchasing.
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