Powabyke question

[Andy Day]

Hi,

All here seem to speak well of Powabykes, does anyone have a definitive measure of battery life? Not "I had mine for 5 years and it was fine" - yes, but you may have only used it once a month!, but an idea of how many charge and complete discharge cycles you get from a battery before it loses significant capacity.

Also, if the electricity dies, how easy are they to pedal? - in Hemel Hempstead if anyone knows how hilly that can be!

Are there any other reliability problems one should know about, or regular maintenance issues that need to be attended to?

 

[fcurran]

Hi Andy,

Battery life is difficult to measure as there are so many variables that will affect it. Typically you should get 250 - 350 Charges or cycles out of your battery. Now depending upon hills, how much you are assisting or not assisting the bike, headwinds, tyre pressure, rider weight, any loads being carried etc, range on a battery (Total life) will range from 4000 to 8000 miles.

Looking after the battery is crucial however! It is best to charge the battery every time you use it whether you have done 2 miles or 22 miles. Always try and store it at room temperature especially during the cold winter months and if you are not using it for a long period then it is crucial you charge it every 3-4 weeks to top it up and keep the cells active. Failure to do this will result in battery life being greatly reduced.

Lead acid batteries like to be used and like to be charged regularly, if you use it properly then you will comfortably get 2-3 years used from the battery.

Regards

FrankC
Powabyke Ltd
fcurran@powabyke.com
01225 443737

 

[fcurran]

Hi,


Also, if the electricity dies, how easy are they to pedal? - in Hemel Hempstead if anyone knows how hilly that can be!

Sorry forget to comment on the above! There is no resistance from the front wheel as it free wheels, however you will have the added weight of the battery of 12kg and about 5 kg from the motor to take into account when pedalling without assistance. The battery will never just stop though, as you use the throttle, you will notice the power from the motor getting less and less as the battery drains, plus there is a battery indicator on the bike anyway telling you how much "juice" you have left.

Regards

FrankC

 

[Andy Day]

Thanks for your answers Frank.

You say toward the end of a discharge cycle the power "soft fades".

Is this a function of the controller, or just low volts? SLAs, or indeed any lead acid cell should not be discharged below a certain level or they will be damaged and lose capacity. Does the controller protect against this?

As a matter of interest Lithium Polymers are even more susceptible to this and can also be damaged by high charge rates. A 1C rate or lower is advisable, ie 1 hour at 1 amp for a 1ah pack, although charge rates are not normally an issue for cyclists.

Thanks, Andy