Likely to need a new eZee battery

[Cyclezee]

Hi David. Yes, that certainly does make it more of a close decision for you. It would be very interesting to know how the Juicy bikes compare.

I'd also be really interested to hear if there are any further battery developments in the pipeline with Ezee ie. 1000 charge possbility or an 18ah would be fantastic - I don't fancy the double battery option.

As it is, if the current 14ah battery managed say 600 charges at just 20 miles a charge, that's still 12,000 miles for 500 quid. So I'm curious to see how the battery holds up over the next year and indeed if it can manage a full 3 years reasonably well. I've read Flecc's battery road tests, which are very encouraging over the medium term. Time will tell I suppose over a bit longer.

£500 for a battery does make you think twice though doesn't isn't it - especially when looking to save on motoring costs (indeed, I do hope soaring motoring costs don't tempt them into nudging the price up even more as a relatively cheap alternative to the car !). Every few days another Ezee appears on ebay with a dud battery (or more often than not they just don't mention it but the cyclepoint sticker on the casing gives the true age away ! ).

It is hard to make a decision when the true longevity (in years) of the battery is hard to ascertain. I'm guessing 3 years if it's really well looked after, but that's just a guess and by month 36 I don't want me to be doing all the peddling cos doesn't count

Cheers,

Steve.

Hi Steve,

I am not going to make unsubstantiated claims, but, it is expected that kept in good condition, eZee Li Ion batteries will perform 800 full charge cycles and retain 60% of their original capacity.
I note your reluctance to go for the dual battery option, but there are several positive elements to this. The load on two batteries run in parallel is shared and will prolong the life of each batteries, there is a wider choice of FP (flat pack) batteries as you can see here eZee Kits - Cyclezee Ltd and range is extended considerably.

With regard to point you raise about eZee bikes with dud batteries on eBay, most of them are pre Cyclepoint and go back to the time when 50cycles were eZee distributors. I own a couple of those very bikes which were bought quite cheaply and brought back to life with a new battery, they now perform perfectly.

 

[DBCohen]

That's exactly what my Cadence is, John - bought from 50Cycles in 2007.

I see from your website that you will be selling eZee stuff soon. Are the batteries you will be selling stock eZee production units?

 

[Cyclezee]

That's exactly what my Cadence is, John - bought from 50Cycles in 2007.

I see from your website that you will be selling eZee stuff soon. Are the batteries you will be selling stock eZee production units?

Yes they will be DB.

 

[DBCohen]

Any chance you'll be cheaper than Onbike, John?

 

[cyclefan]

Hi Tony, well I can report this newest battery is proving to be a real winner thus far. I've really looked after it and it's performing admirably after a year, so I hope I'll still be singing it's praises this time next year. ps. all the best with next week.

Hi John. 800 charges would certainly be very impressive. Would 3 years be a realistic time frame for 60% of capacity ? Do you envisage that time frame increasing in the future, like the panasonic batteries ?

My only reluctance to take the double battery option is economic. I can certainly see the logic of running both, but I suppose I try to manage the single battery without thrashing it. I manage up to 40 miles on just the one, any further and I'd take the car I think. These batteries have a finite time frame don't they and if you look after 1 would 2 last that much longer ?

Incidently, how much are your 14ah batteries ? Are there any plans for an 18ah battery ?

All the best with the new venture.

Steve.

Ps. I think I bought my ezee off you just over a year ago. Best money I ever spent. It's been quite a revelation to me

 

[Cyclezee]

Any chance you'll be cheaper than Onbike, John?

Hi again DB,

Sorry, prices are not finalised yet, but I am fairly sure they will not be more expensive.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi John. 800 charges would certainly be very impressive. Would 3 years be a realistic time frame for 60% of capacity ? Do you envisage that time frame increasing in the future, like the panasonic batteries ?

My only reluctance to take the double battery option is economic. I can certainly see the logic of running both, but I suppose I try to manage the single battery without thrashing it. I manage up to 40 miles on just the one, any further and I'd take the car I think. These batteries have a finite time frame don't they and if you look after 1 would 2 last that much longer ?

Incidently, how much are your 14ah batteries ? Are there any plans for an 18ah battery ?

All the best with the new venture.

Steve.

Ps. I think I bought my ezee off you just over a year ago. Best money I ever spent. It's been quite a revelation to me

Hi again Steve,

I believe 3 years could be possible, but there are too many variables to be able to say with certainty that any battery will last that long.

For your situation, one battery is clearly giving the performance to meet your needs, so a second battery may not be worth the extra expense.

As I have mentioned previously, my prices are not finalised yet, but they will be competitive.
eZee is a progressive company, evolutionary rather than revolutionary, sorry to be vague but all I can say at the moment is that there are new developments on the horizon.

Thank you for your wishes Steve.

 

[DBCohen]

Well, I took the Cadence out for a short 5-mile run this afternoon. The route is a good mix of flat and suburban hills (one or two steepish gradients too).

Seemed a bit lacking in pace compared to what I remember, certainly, and sure enough, by the time I got to the last hill (a gentle climb over a railway bridge) I got some cutting out.

My commute is seven miles, and a fair bit of steady climbing on the way home, so it looks like like I am definitely in a replace it position.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi again DB,

Do you mean replace the bike or battery? Obviously if you are happy with the bike itself the best option is a new battery.

It's a pity we are not closer, you could have tried one of my newer batteries.

 

[DBCohen]

John,

Well, the replacement battery does not necessarily seem the best option here. I am fully confident that it will transform my bike, and I am reassured that the batteries are much better than they used to be.

But it's £400-£500 - nearly 50% of what I paid for the bike. As I said above, for the same money I could get a £1000 bike through Cyclescheme and spread the cost interest free to boot. Maybe even get a model with lower spares costs?

And, as a minor point, I have to bear in mind that my first generation Lithium Ion battery was in effect a failed eZee experiment - an experiment that I was not advised of before I participated, and my dealer (50Cycles) has long parted ways with eZee. So that does put an additional pause on dropping such a large sum on a new one - yes, I understand that the initial problems have been solved, but even a three year life is a heck of a running cost on the bike, given the investment required for the battery.

So that's where I am - but no snap decisions. I am going to try the full commute with a recharge at each end first before I decide what to do.

 

[banbury frank]

Batterys

Hi

You can buy now from

The link below but remember to add the duty and vat 25 %

so about £800 Massive price ???

http://www.ebikes.ca/store/photos/B3614LiM-EZ_Kit.jpg


I would Buy a shrink battery from BMS china and fit pannier bags and drop the battery in one bag It says LIFEpo4 so looking at 2,000 charge Cycles

80% capacity

With 4 amp charger Weight 5.5 kilos


36V 15Ah LiFePO4 Shrink Tube EBike Battery Pack - BMSBATTERY

you may get a small bill say £ 30 from the courier

15 AH Battery and charger about £250 delivered including the £30

pay by paypal you money is then safe

If you want super long range buy 2 mount in both pannier bags 30 AH WOW 100 miles ++++ just swop battery plug when one runs out then turn around and return home

Hope this is off interest

Frank

 

[DBCohen]

That certainly looks interesting, Frank - thanks.

It raises 2 points for me, though:

1) I have NO clue how to connect that up to my eZee. Mine has a battery holder with terminals at the bottom - I would imagine wiring and soldering would be required to get the bike's system connected to a pannier battery. That's not in my skill set.

2) If that's how much a raw 15 Ah battery costs, I don't understand why an eZee battery is double that price.

David.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi

You can buy now from

The link below but remember to add the duty and vat 25 %

so about £800 Massive price ???

http://www.ebikes.ca/store/photos/B3614LiM-EZ_Kit.jpg


I would Buy a shrink battery from BMS china and fit pannier bags and drop the battery in one bag It says LIFEpo4 so looking at 2,000 charge Cycles

80% capacity

With 4 amp charger Weight 5.5 kilos


36V 15Ah LiFePO4 Shrink Tube EBike Battery Pack - BMSBATTERY

you may get a small bill say £ 30 from the courier

15 AH Battery and charger about £250 delivered including the £30

pay by paypal you money is then safe

If you want super long range buy 2 mount in both pannier bags 30 AH WOW 100 miles ++++ just swop battery plug when one runs out then turn around and return home

Hope this is off interest

Frank

Hi Frank,

You are not quite comparing like with like. If, and I know David is understandably looking at other options, if he wanted get his eZee Cadence up and running properly, all he needs is an eZee battery sourced from the UK for £400 inc. Vat and no import duty. Oh, and weighing just 3.2 Kg.
He does not need to buy a kit which includes items he does not need and have it shipped from Canada.

BTW, last time I looked, Vat was 20% not 25

 

[Cyclezee]

That certainly looks interesting, Frank - thanks.

It raises 2 points for me, though:

1) I have NO clue how to connect that up to my eZee. Mine has a battery holder with terminals at the bottom - I would imagine wiring and soldering would be required to get the bike's system connected to a pannier battery. That's not in my skill set.

2) If that's how much a raw 15 Ah battery costs, I don't understand why an eZee battery is double that price.

David.

Hi David,

Firstly, I am not trying to sell you a battery...............yet So I have nothing to gain from the advice I am offering.

The batteries Frank is suggesting may be an option to consider, but you would certainly have some wiring to do, suitable panniers that would offer protection to the battery and connectors to buy.

Yes, the BMS batteries are considerably cheaper than an eZee battery, but, as you say they are "raw", not built into a rigid protective case and I see no mention of warranty?

The old unreliable eZee batteries manufactured Phylion, were discontinued more than 2 years ago.

The current eZee batteries have a proven reliable track record and come with warranty, so what price peace of mind and no hassle?

 

[banbury frank]

Hi Aldby

No I am not comparing like for like the one I recommend is LIFEPo4 three the life off the Li-ion battery But heaver

I also Have nothing to gain from the advice

we all have budgets so I try and help members with keeping within them





Vat 20 % Duty 6% so should be 26%

And well done on supplying soon the ezee kits


the more off us selling kits the better for the E bike market

We will have to meet some day we are not far away





Frank

 

[cyclefan]

Hi Frank. The BMS battery looks an interesting option at £250, though I can certainly see the benefits of the standard batteries too. Are there any links anywhere for wiring diagrams for these BMS batteries ? How would you go about wiring one to a bike with standard ezee battery connectors ? I have limited electrical knowledge, but am eager to learn. Surely it can't be so difficult with the right bits. Thanks, Steve.

 

[banbury frank]

Hi

I m not a specialist in ezee

But Aldby is I sure he will help


Cant be hard there will be a red and black wire gowning into the controller

Battery feed




Frank

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Aldby

We will have to meet some day we are not far away

Frank

Hi Frank, yes it would be good to meet up for a face to face chat
rather than just via the forum, like you say we are not too far apart. I'm quite busy over the next 2 weeks, but I could probably make it to you the following week?

Please call me John.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Frank. The BMS battery looks an interesting option at £250, though I can certainly see the benefits of the standard batteries too. Are there any links anywhere for wiring diagrams for these BMS batteries ? How would you go about wiring one to a bike with standard ezee battery connectors ? I have limited electrical knowledge, but am eager to learn. Surely it can't be so difficult with the right bits. Thanks, Steve.

I have sent you a PM Steve.

 

[DBCohen]

Hi David,

...

The old unreliable eZee batteries manufactured Phylion, were discontinued more than 2 years ago.

The current eZee batteries have a proven reliable track record and come with warranty, so what price peace of mind and no hassle?

Well, the price is £400, obviously No comment from anyone as to what eZee puts into a raw £250 battery to justify a £400 pricetag?

My point is this - eZee may have discontinued their Phylion batteries a while back, but they sold me one, and I have never heard from them or 50Cycles about the problems with that battery. I now read that many people got ex-warranty replacements or trade-ins - would have done much for my customer relationship with them if that sort offer had been more widely available rather than requiring me to be in the know.

So, I have a duff battery, that was bad from the off. Now I have to pay eZee/Onbike a pretty large sum to get me back on the road. And I am aware that I was a "beta tester" for their first attempt at Li-Ion batteries. Does not really dispose me to go down that route, to be honest.

That £400 will require me 2-3 months to save up, meaning I lose most of the summer of biking. Other routes will get me going more quickly and more cheaply.

Long and the short of it is that while I like the bike itself, I am not hugely happy that eZee has in part put me in this position. John, as a future eZee dealer, what's your attitude to all that? Am I being unfair, or do I have a point?