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02-25-12, 01:23 PM
Hello,
This is my first post here, but I'm glad there's a forum for these bikes! I love my trike, and had two e-bikes before it (a lemon of a Giant and a charger). This is a newer model torker (smaller back wheels) that I had modified. I have a progressive disability that no longer lets me lift the weight of a bike and battery, plus I was able to add a crutch holder to this. I'm not sure what kind of hub/motor is on this one, but it allows me to either pedal assist, add throttle, or just cruise on the throttle on my bad days.
Now I'm running into a battery issue and would love some input on what to do from here. Right now I have 3 12v (lead acid?) batteries on the trike and a blown charger for them. I had someone look at it and it's definitely the charger, not the batteries. Before it blew I was already thinking about upgrading my system to expand my range. I was planning on a 8 to 10 mile rt when it was built, but where I'm living now I'd like to double it if possible.
The shop who built the bike had told me that I could just piggyback an extra 3 pack of the same batteries in the future if I wanted to do that, and from my research that and a new charger should cost me about $200. My local e-bike guy said switching up to a lithium battery would be more expensive, but give me a better range, better power, and faster charging time. That would be about a $600 estimated upgrade through him.
I'm a little clueless past that on battery technology. I'm on a fixed income, so obviously $200 sounds better, but this trike is essentially my car and if $600 is a better investment in terms of range/weight/length of battery life over the long run, it makes sense to pay now instead of later.
I also may want to tow a small trailer for groceries in the future. Suggestions, advice? Thanks!
This is my first post here, but I'm glad there's a forum for these bikes! I love my trike, and had two e-bikes before it (a lemon of a Giant and a charger). This is a newer model torker (smaller back wheels) that I had modified. I have a progressive disability that no longer lets me lift the weight of a bike and battery, plus I was able to add a crutch holder to this. I'm not sure what kind of hub/motor is on this one, but it allows me to either pedal assist, add throttle, or just cruise on the throttle on my bad days.
Now I'm running into a battery issue and would love some input on what to do from here. Right now I have 3 12v (lead acid?) batteries on the trike and a blown charger for them. I had someone look at it and it's definitely the charger, not the batteries. Before it blew I was already thinking about upgrading my system to expand my range. I was planning on a 8 to 10 mile rt when it was built, but where I'm living now I'd like to double it if possible.
The shop who built the bike had told me that I could just piggyback an extra 3 pack of the same batteries in the future if I wanted to do that, and from my research that and a new charger should cost me about $200. My local e-bike guy said switching up to a lithium battery would be more expensive, but give me a better range, better power, and faster charging time. That would be about a $600 estimated upgrade through him.
I'm a little clueless past that on battery technology. I'm on a fixed income, so obviously $200 sounds better, but this trike is essentially my car and if $600 is a better investment in terms of range/weight/length of battery life over the long run, it makes sense to pay now instead of later.
I also may want to tow a small trailer for groceries in the future. Suggestions, advice? Thanks!