new battery wanted for Giant lafree Twist

[Mary Ferguson]

Hi,
I havent used my ebike for almost five years and i took it out of garage today, still in excellent nick, but the battery is as dead as a dodo. Charger isnt showing any signs of life and I think it works, but possible jut inactive due to battery being uncharged for so long?

Anyone help me in finding a replacement battery, or are there places I can trade my bike into for an upgrade?

cheers

 

[flapajack]

Not sure whether you can find a replacement 24V battery for these old Panasonic motors anymore - let me know if you do as I did quite a bit of digging recently. You can recall the battery but not cheap on on the old 24V bike probably not worth the effort @ expense.

Best option is to upgrade and sell your old one on eBay.

 

[flecc]

One problem in this case Mary is that the chargers on these also gave a lot of trouble, so it could be either or both causing the problem. I'm told Giant no longer supply replacement NiMh batteries and recelling services have not been very successful with these batteries, so it seems this 13 year old design is at the end of it's usefulness, barring drastic alteration.

That one possibility that some have used is to fit a lithium battery on the carrier and arrange connecting cables and an isolating switch, but that does mean a new charger as well. If you or someone you know has the capability to carry out those modifications, you could be on the road again for as little £200 to £250 with the battery and charger imported from China.

Overall flapajack's solution is best, since things have moved on in the last few years and today's e-bikes are greatly improved.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You should say where you're located. It's always possible that a forum member capable of repairing it lives in your street.

 

[Mary Ferguson]

Thanks everyone who has been kind enough to respond. I knew this was the right site to ask on. I did consider emailing Giants base in the Netherlands for new one , but as you say its seems they are like hens teeth. I've no spare money to upgrade to a new bike flapajack, but that would be my first choice. I've seen batteries on ebay and Gumtree but you have to buy the bike as well, and I dont obviously need a bike, just the battery. Would folks buy my bike without a battery?

I think flecc that you are right about the charger. I used to cycle to work everyday, not masses but 17 mile round trip and the battery would never fully charge, and shop (now closed) said chargers and batteries always a problem. DId anyone else ever use ebikecentral.co.uk to purchase from? They seem to have closed. They were in Holland Park in W London.

I like the idea of keeping the bike as its lovely to ride, so I like the idea of changing the battery. Is it something an electronic engineer could do, as I know my landlord is one....can u recommend the proper battery and where I could purchase the kit of parts from via China?

For anyone out there with the expertise. I live currently near Leighton Buzzard in Bucks. LU70DA.

Fingers crossed!

 

[flecc]

It's definitely worth trying Giant at their EU HQ in the Netherlands for a new battery. That's where all the spares stocks are held, for the UK as well.

 

[Mary Ferguson]

Hi Flecc , I emailed them earlier today. Fingers crossed and I heard back from Giant in Camden saying they'll look into it on my behalf and regards recelling the packs I've heard back from www.ElectricBikeSales.co.uk, saying they could fit a new lithium cell pack with twice the capacity and less weight for £350.
Do you think thats reasonable? I dont know the scale of prices. They seem a good company.

 

[flecc]

I think that's very reasonable, considering the work involved for a commercial company and a UK battery price of around £300. It would greatly increase your range and the increased capacity would also lift the performance a bit too. One question though, does that include the charger price, since your old one is no good for a lithium battery.

Obviously there's always the risk on an older machine that has no spares availability that you could get a subsequent failure in the unit later, but since you haven't used it for years that should be quite low.

 

[Mary Ferguson]

Thanks Flecc..will let you all know the outcome.! Thanks for all your advice. (I do see quite a few Giant Twist Lites for sale...perhaps they could be used for spares, a bit like maintaining a classic car! LOL!

 

[flecc]

Together with some members I've been doing that for some while Mary. Two of us once got two working ones out of three failures, and the remnants built back into a very presentable e-bike which was donated to a bicycle museum, so all three back in use.

My support website on the Lafree may interest you:

http://www.flecc.uk/p/lafree.html
.

 

[Mary Ferguson]

Problem solved. Just so you all know, I was lucky having contacted Giants HQ in the Netherlands, who forwarded my email to the UK Distribution Centre in Leicester, and today a very nice man indeed called me to say that they do indeed still have NiMh batteries in stock. He explained that they had indeed sold out, but that due to massive demand have been re- manufactured and they still have some stock. They even emailed the Giant dealer nearest to me to ask them to help me , when I contact them for the new battery. The dealer will order for me.
I did think about the recelling option, but being a purist wanted to keep my bike all 'original' as much as poss. Should be good for a few years yet.

Also I asked about replacement power control switch and they said they have units that can replace them if faulty but minus the Eco setting.

All is well.

 

[tillson]

Well done. That's a very good back up service you have received.

 

[flecc]

Well done Mary, and thank you for the information which is valuable to the many other Giant Lafree owners.
.

 

[flapajack]

Problem solved. Just so you all know, I was lucky having contacted Giants HQ in the Netherlands, who forwarded my email to the UK Distribution Centre in Leicester, and today a very nice man indeed called me to say that they do indeed still have NiMh batteries in stock. He explained that they had indeed sold out, but that due to massive demand have been re- manufactured and they still have some stock.

How much was the new battery Mary?