Smaller, subtle 48v battery options?

Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
20,376
16,875
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
Unfortunately UN38.8 isn't an EU norm, it is a UN norm. Most EU norms are based on ISO or other international norms. Sorry to disappoint you...
I know that. The point is, if I want to sell a kit (for the Brompton) with a custom battery, I have to get the battery tested for all the regulations listed above. It is a sizeable investment. You are looking at at least £10k in fees, £15k to be realistic, on top of tooling costs. I approached a few battery factories, they all run a mile as soon as I ask for a custom case. A commitment to 1,000 sets would still not cut it. Would the kit sell in sufficient quantity to recoup the investment? I doubt it. Even if it does, how long would it take to sell 1000 kits for one particular bike?
assembling e-bikes in the UK presents a similar problem with EU regulations because the certificates that were obtained for the imported bikes won't be valid for the bikes assembled here.
 

Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
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70
West Wales
WARNING: POSSIBLE THREAD TANGENT:eek:

So as I ride around I'm breaking 8 regulations. As such a grossly reprobate outlaw, it's a good job I live in rural West Wales where men are men, sheep keep their distance and policemen are a sighting rare enough to be reported in the local rag.;)
Seriously though, this is a symptom of those, who are meant to be our servants, seeking to micromanage every aspect of our lives. And then demanding money with menaces (taxes) to pay for it all. I fear that common sense and fair play have long departed the scene to be replaced by pedantic fee seeking litigants . How on earth is anyone , company or individual, meant to be able to keep up with all this carp, and still live a human life?
Tony, I feel sorry for you having to wade through this garbage just so you can feed your kids ( and those who work at Woosh) and not have some suit come and take it all away.
 

anotherkiwi

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 26, 2015
7,845
5,786
The European Union
I know that. The point is, if I want to sell a kit (for the Brompton) with a custom battery, I have to get the battery tested for all the regulations listed above. It is a sizeable investment. You are looking at at least £10k in fees, £15k to be realistic, on top of tooling costs. I approached a few battery factories, they all run a mile as soon as I ask for a custom case. A commitment to 1,000 sets would still not cut it. Would the kit sell in sufficient quantity to recoup the investment? I doubt it. Even if it does, how long would it take to sell 1000 kits for one particular bike?
assembling e-bikes in the UK presents a similar problem with EU regulations because the certificates that were obtained for the imported bikes won't be valid for the bikes assembled here.
So the problem lies with the certification process (too expensive) not the regulations themselves if I am reading you correctly.
 

anotherkiwi

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 26, 2015
7,845
5,786
The European Union
WARNING: POSSIBLE THREAD TANGENT:eek:

So as I ride around I'm breaking 8 regulations. As such a grossly reprobate outlaw, it's a good job I live in rural West Wales where men are men, sheep keep their distance and policemen are a sighting rare enough to be reported in the local rag.;)
Seriously though, this is a symptom of those, who are meant to be our servants, seeking to micromanage every aspect of our lives. And then demanding money with menaces (taxes) to pay for it all. I fear that common sense and fair play have long departed the scene to be replaced by pedantic fee seeking litigants . How on earth is anyone , company or individual, meant to be able to keep up with all this carp, and still live a human life?
Tony, I feel sorry for you having to wade through this garbage just so you can feed your kids ( and those who work at Woosh) and not have some suit come and take it all away.
There were a couple of planes that went up in smoke because of badly made batteries so you can understand why there are some nervous law makers on this issue.

Like you I live on the wrong side of the law when it comes to my main battery. As I ride through a country which has had "issues" until the recent past I am glad that a policeman has never looked in my battery bag, all those wires, plastic covered brick shaped objects, a tiny backlit LCD with numbers flashing on and off... :eek: It even looks like an explosive device!
 

Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
20,376
16,875
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
So the problem lies with the certification process (too expensive) not the regulations themselves if I am reading you correctly.
it's money for old ropes. I don't have to do anything myself, just pay bills.
 

KirstinS

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 5, 2011
3,224
899
Brighton
I have read the links now , still not convinced this applies to end users

It’s all about transport .

If I obtain cells by legal transport , build a battery at home that doesn’t conform to 38.3 it isn’t illegal for me to use

Sure it’s a massive issue for woosh and other pro sellers etc but the law as I read it doesn’t preclude end users from using a battery that doesn’t conform to 38.3 per se. I appreciate that how you got to that point in case of accident may be an issue . But in my example there can be no case to answer that I can see




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

anotherkiwi

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 26, 2015
7,845
5,786
The European Union
I have read the links now , still not convinced this applies to end users

It’s all about transport .

If I obtain cells by legal transport , build a battery at home that doesn’t conform to 38.3 it isn’t illegal for me to use

Sure it’s a massive issue for woosh and other pro sellers etc but the law as I read it doesn’t preclude end users from using a battery that doesn’t conform to 38.3 per se. I appreciate that how you got to that point in case of accident may be an issue . But in my example there can be no case to answer that I can see
And catching fire in a public place aside you won't be injuring anyone with your battery. Will you? I mean taking it out of the bag and using it to beat up the guy who just refused right of way is off the cards are we agreed? :D