Electric Bikes - Noobie: Are the BL36 units any good?

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New to the scene....

I have read some posts but still have a few questions from the experienced:

Are the BL36 units any good?
Or, are they Chinese crap?

Important: What is a good price these day with a 36v 12amh package?
Prices from sponsors and fleabay seem to vary.
Makes me wonder the usual questions?

What's with the batteries costing hundreds & hundreds of dollars?
Is there a decently priced outfit to order the better NiCad'sc / LiFo's / etc. ?
It is not beyond me to build my own pack.

I read many-many posts, but most negate the cost to achieve the end products.
Instead, everybody seems focused on speed and range.
That is fine, but I can see some of these units could cost a few thousand.
At least a thou.

Thanks in advanced.
Although I have nothing right now, I will start procuring basic accessories on Monday.


:)

Chinese, yes. Crap, no. Workhorse motor. The quality is acceptable, so are the finish and performance. They're not works of art, but the BL-36 hub motors from WE hold together and do their job.

The Wilderness Energy BL-36 kits are very similar in quality and reliability to the Crystalyte kits. The BL-36 has a very similar performance profile to the Crystalyte 408, as well.

There are some small differences, but the large difference is that Crystalyte comes with a little more customization capability than WE out of the gate. If you are planning on using 36v and are satisfied with the throttle and voltage options you have, then the Wilderness Energy kit will serve your needs just fine.

The batteries cost hundreds of dollars because of high material costs, lithium cells are very expensive to produce. There are also high pack manufacturer quality demands. Building a reliable lithium battery pack means corners *can't* be cut in any way, and should not be.

Its simply a pricey proposition, unfortunately. And not one you want to skimp out on, as poorly designed lithium packs have high chances of volatility or poor performance. Paying a bit more to ensure that your battery designer has done proper soldering, programming of the BMS, and adequate testing of a solid pack sourced with reliable cells is a good idea.

I couldn't tell you what your battery is going to cost, unfortunately. My pack is 48v/10.5ah, and including a high quality charger, was $700 CAD. That's more money than such a pack can be aquired for, but I also knew that the dealer was carrying a well constructed and tested product using reputable lithium cells, was in town, and would back me up with any problems. They sold a 37/10.5 for $535 CAD, but didn't have one that went up to 12ah.

I see that some of the packs on ebay now are covered in duct tape with messy wiring coiling all about and the BMS on the outside of the pack body in a little envelope. Who knows, it could be fine soldering and cell quality and a fine pack in functionality, but the lack of care taken to properly do the pack up has me wondering about that. All depends on what you're comfortable with. They certainly are competitively priced.

WOW !

What an informative, straightforward reply.
I appreciate the intuitiveness of covering all the bases including durability, cost comparison, and even the finish.

I have posed questions on other Boards in regard to other subjects all to met with crackpot, but in earnest, replies.

You, Abneycat, deserve an award !

Starting Friday or Monday I will comfortably seek procurement of the entry level BL-36 with the 36/12amh SLA batteries.

I am certain I will be soon bitten by the bug [if not already] and be dumping hundreds of dollars in personalized and power pack improvements.

Again, I immensely appreciate the straight forward reply,
~C~

PS - any handily available links to buy perhaps decently priced "F" size NiCads to build one's own power pack?

Anyone else who may need replacement SLA batteries, can check here: http://www.wattcycle.com/shop/home.php?cat=254

We've got a pretty good selection right now.

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Yes, that is a nice advertisement; especially for those that do not wish to spend $400 on lifepo4's....

However, I see the same batteries elsewhere for about $29 !

In addition, the actual question asked was "any handily available links to buy perhaps decently priced "F" size NiCads to build one's own power pack?"

I might now add the question: Is there a decent link one is willing to offer for Lifepo4 batteries, as they are still $100's out of range?

Thanks to all that contribute.
Your help is immensely appreciated.

~Clabo~









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I bought a BL36 400w pedal first kit from We'reElectrified, was a good unit, served it's purpose well until the 'more power' bug bit me, then went to a C'lyte X5 1400w vs. 400 - both are good units!

Few other questions from a newcommer to electrified bicycles.
What are you folks running for brakes on these? (asked because some of these models list speeds well in excess of 20-25 mph )
These setups are all compatable with the traditional crank setup on the bike?
This all stems from a buyer who ordered custom sets of wheels thru a now out of business bike chain-which I built and never got paid for-and who has a WrElectrified brushless kit (?) he's willing to trade for the wheels.

The setup for hub motors are compatible with traditional cranks since the front wheel motor hub provides thrust independent of the drivechain (like someone towing you while you're pedalling) and the rear wheel hub set up means that you merely coast/freewheel if you aren't pedalling fast enough.

If the buyer never paid you for custom wheels he ordered, then he's already a known problem. Maybe the brushless kit/batteries he's offering as payment also has problems?

Do you really want an electric hub motor kit? You'll need to make sure the batteries are in good shape. If you don't then he should sell it and try to get enough to pay you whatever he originally agreed to pay. This way you can order your own WE kit (or whatever) later and not be taking a risk on anything.

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Anyone else who may need replacement SLA batteries, can check here: http://www.wattcycle.com/shop/home.php?cat=254

We've got a pretty good selection right now.

you guys need to sell 80ah cells there amazing even for led acid.:)

The guy with the motor kit paid the shop (which went out of business in late november without bothering to tell customers or suppliers)for the two sets of wheels up front.
I was paid for the materials by the shop.
I'm out the labor on the wheelsets.
Customer is out the entire enchalada.
I'm sitting with two HD 26"/28" wheelsets I have no use for.
The guy who originally ordered the wheels DOES have a need for em.
This sounded like a decent trade off (the kit in new,still in packaging or so I'm told)

The guy with the motor kit paid the shop (which went out of business in late november without bothering to tell customers or suppliers)for the two sets of wheels up front.
I was paid for the materials by the shop.
I'm out the labor on the wheelsets.
Customer is out the entire enchalada.
I'm sitting with two HD 26"/28" wheelsets I have no use for.
The guy who originally ordered the wheels DOES have a need for em.
This sounded like a decent trade off (the kit in new,still in packaging or so I'm told)

Oh, I didn't understand what exactly happened before. Well, then new in packaging should mean that you have a good barter for wheels you don't need.


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I might now add the question: Is there a decent link one is willing to offer for Lifepo4 batteries, as they are still $100's out of range?

http://www.pingbattery.com/servlet/StoreFront

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http://www.pingbattery.com/servlet/StoreFront


Yeah, I checked that (ping) out too....

The $450 for the pack might be worth the investment, if I had the cash, but the $100 shipping is way out of line - Again, a nickel-and-a-half for a battery pack? Get real; that's crazy stuff.

And, I see that ping sells the same thing on fleabay for about $525 - free shipping. Also too they try to gyp for the same setup for $614.
I am not a commie, believe in free market, but these guys are all over the place with pricing!

As stated - Hundreds of $'s out of range.

I have seen the exact same thing happen with other technologies; computer stuff in particular. How about electric scooters? They are now worthless.

The price needs to come down on the battery packs. And, it will. Just not this week, I suppose.

That is my 2¢ on the battery.

$550 for a battery...... that's wild stuff.............

~Clabo~

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I always here about ping, what about other, more competitive, Chinese suppliers?

Has ANYBODY dealt with this outfit?

>>> http://cgi.ebay.com/New-LiFePO4-36V-15AH-Electric-Scooter-E-Bike-Battery_W0QQitemZ300282457592QQcmdZViewItemQQptZScooters?hash=item300282457592&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com/New-LiFePO4-36V-15AH-Electric-Scooter-E-Bike-Battery_W0QQitemZ300282457592QQcmdZViewItemQQptZScooters?hash=item300282457592&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)






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If you use an ampedbikes kit you are getting a bionx or crystallyte quality for same price as wilderness energy.

If you use an ampedbikes kit you are getting a bionx or crystallyte quality for same price as wilderness energy.

Great idea - Please post a link.

Do they provide "replacement" batteries, say 36v 20ah, for less than $400?

Thanks,
~Clabo~