I have been researching ebikes of a couple of months now as I have decided to sell my 2 Puch Mopeds and get a foldable ebike.
Battery life and power are important as I plan to do some 25-30mi bike trail rides. I have a truck but loading it is kinda a PIA and I drive some 60 miles each way to ride with my Daughter and her family and would prefer to use the hatchback Saab.
I like the foldables with the "standard" black type of battery not the one that fits inside the frame. My reasoning is that I see many of this style available with reputable cells and higher AH ratings at far more reasonable prices than a replacement from the maker of the bike.
Perhaps I am over thinking this but the EE degree makes me wonder.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Tom

Seeing how some members are vocal in their distaste for e-bikes, the Electric Bikes subforum might have been more prudent for this post. And maybe get some attention from those that actually have a e-bike.

This is the Electric Bike Forum.

Oops. My mistake. Thought this was general.

Everyone says they use the best batteries, but the only way to guarantee you're getting the best is with a good supplier. You're not looking at DIY (where we have a couple), so I would avoid any fly by night manufacturers and use the more well known, reliable ones like Tern, Brompton, Aventon, Lectric or the "majors" (if any make folders).

Thank you for the response.
Lectric makes a couple of folders and I read good and I read reports especially on the customer service.

If you want a good reliable battery that isn't going to fail look at Bosch equipped bikes. I have had in total 3 Bosch batteries fail in 10 years with at least 1000 Bosch Equipped batteries sold and all of them got taken care of under warranty (save for one which was purchased second hand). Plus with Bosch you can go into most any shop that is a QBP dealer (which is most shops in this country) and get support. Bosch has some of the best customer service in the biz and really support their products well and will have parts long term so when they discontinue a motor they will usually have parts for 10-16 years after that because they know there stuff is reliable long term so they need that long term support. There are other great e-bike systems out there but Bosch is generally tops in reliability and durability and if you want a folding bike Tern makes some really excellent ones and use the Bosch system and they themselves also have great support as well.

Battery life is based on several factors - weight of rider, speed and bike weight that I’ve found

i purchased a second battery for peace of mind but I found the YT claims of battery ranges from various manufacturers were not accurate

many factors affect it

i trust my batteries and hope they hold up for the long haul

Battery consumption is dependent on those factors above plus hills, ambient temperature and the quality of the cells. You can maximize battery life by using and storing it in a SOC (state of charge)
of 20% - 80% and not charging below 50 degrees F (others may use a different temp).

You're looking to buy 2 eBikes then with externally mounted batteries.

That eliminates the most popular and affordable Lectric models; no point in talking about them if you're firm about the battery configuration.

You're also going to want something quite a bit lighter if you'll be loading it in a Saab hatchback. Maybe a pair of ZiZZO eFortes. It's not the generic "Shark style" of battery pack, but it is external, fitting under the luggage rack. They're slow compared to the Lectrics though.

If you decide you are open to the battery that goes inside the fold going to get a pair of Lectrics, the XP4s and XP3s before them are well-regarded. Also, you'll have them open often enough, if you're loading them in your Saab. The good thing is the batteries are protected by the frame, but it is quite a clumsy affair getting them in and out. The bike has to be folded, then the folded end held up with one hand while you finagle the battery out. These are 70 lb. bikes though. Don't underestimate how clumsy they are to load. Putting them in big Rubbermaid totes is a common trick. You might end up just leaving them folded. Watch your back though!

XP Lite 2.0 is another option. These are single speed and are available with belt drive so they don't grease you up as much. They're only 50 lbs though, and that extra 20 lbs. saving makes a difference.

I have a Tern Vektron S10 with the external battery you prefer and by Bosch, as veganbikes suggests, but they are triple the cost of the Lectrics. There is a Q9 model for a bit less, but they're still quite dear. These are about 50 lbs too, and a bit easier to handle and better quality overall.

The other consideration for 70 pound bikes is rack capacity for the weight of the bike.

I got the impression he was thinking about folding them up and putting them in his hatchback. I didn't see any talk of a rack until now.
These folding eBikes are pretty big, I couldn't get two of them in my Subaru WRX; just one in a tote in the back seat.

Back to the rack: I was looking at hitches for my CR-V. 2" Hitches are typically rated 400 lbs. or so, but the CR-V weight rating is a lot less than that. It'd probably be even less for a Saab.

Stick with the truck. ;-)

Great points. Some of those 70 pound folders could be fun to hoist into a hatchback. The only aspect amiss (for me) with the "yet to be released Dahon 26 pound e" is the 16" wheels (but they're part of the reason it's light).

Thank you all for all the information. It has been very helpful.
I am guessing the battery weighs in the 10-15lb range so removing it while loading could be helpful in loading the bike.
At this point I am thinking more Lectric because of their service and reputation.
I am in the market for only one bike at this point.
Tom

I definitely remove the battery before loading into my suv - saves a little bit of back pain lol

Some bikes have batteries that are removable only when it's time to replace them which IMO is stupid since then you have an additional 8 - 10 pounds to load which could be the difference between overloading your rack or not. Another good aspect of DIY.

The Lectric batteries can be bought third party, but who knows how good or safe they are, Stick with Lectric replacements, I believe the Lectrics do have a UL rating, and they are big enough to demand a better made battery from their suppliers, And their reputation requires them to not burn your house down,


.

From the Lectric website -