Vado & Como Spare/Replacement Battery Price Increase

[Mr. Max]

I was thinking of spending the $900 to buy a spare battery for my Vado. Not only are the Vado/Como batteries out of stock, Specialized has raised the price to $1300. That's crazy! That $1300 price doesn't include a cover.

Turbo Vado Battery

This is a custom Li-Ion Turbo Vado Battery that has a 604Wh capacity that works with all Gen 1 Turbo Vado and Como models. It's fully integrated with th...

www.specialized.com

Depending on the various models, that's roughly half the cost of the bike.

I wonder if that's a temporary price increase because of COVID-19?

 

[Marcela]

Bend over Rover and let Specialized take over.

Least it is the 600w unit.

 

[Cyklefanatic]

Looks like Specialized is setting up a cash cow. There are lots of battery shops now that can make up battery cells for any brand. Court interviewed one of them in this forum but I can’t seem to find the link. I am in Toronto and I can buy a replacement made up by a local shop for about $600 Canadian dollars.

 

[steve mercier]

I was thinking of spending the $900 to buy a spare battery for my Vado. Not only are the Vado/Como batteries out of stock, Specialized has raised the price to $1300. That's crazy! That $1300 price doesn't include a cover.

Turbo Vado Battery

This is a custom Li-Ion Turbo Vado Battery that has a 604Wh capacity that works with all Gen 1 Turbo Vado and Como models. It's fully integrated with th...

www.specialized.com

Depending on the various models, that's roughly half the cost of the bike.

I wonder if that's a temporary price increase because of COVID-19?

wow that is a steep increase. Bosch dropped the price of the Powerpack 500,s about $200cdn a few months ago here in Canada.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I was lucky to get the Vado spare 604 Wh battery including the cover for US$925...

 

[steve mercier]

I was lucky to get the Vado spare 604 Wh battery including the cover for US$925...

I say buy it anyways and just keep riding farther and faster!

 

[Marcela]

Maybe that's $1300 cdn or $950 us.

 

[TMH]

Battery manufacturers and builders have also been hit by the Covid lockdowns. Probably pretty standard supply and demand pricing - I would estimate supply as being quite low right now. And probably for some time in the future. 2020 will continue to be a very unusual year.

 

[Scott Adams]

Maybe that's $1300 cdn or $950 us.

we have a winner!

the webpage posted has /ca/ in the URL

still not a bargain by any means

 

[Dr.V]

There's lot's of information on the ebike forums about extending battery life a very significant amount by charging to only 80-90% and not letting the battery fall below 25%, etc. I've started doing that as those prices are ludicrous!!

 

[steve mercier]

There's lot's of information on the ebike forums about extending battery life a very significant amount by charging to only 80-90% and not letting the battery fall below 25%, etc. I've started doing that as those prices are ludicrous!!

But if you do that your battery is now only 55% useable. That effectively turns a 500 battery into a 275.

 

[Sierratim]

True. It comes down to maximizing battery life or maximizing distance per charge. I figure at my age, esp after buying a bicycle that cost more than my first car (no, not a Model T ), that going for maximum distance is OK.

 

[Phyz]

US Price seems to be $999. I think Specialized wants you to buy through the LBS.

 

[TS25]

It's offered for 800€ by a German online shop stating RRP is 930€.

Can't imagine Specialized is robbing US customers.

 

[Marcela]

But if you do that your battery is now only 55% useable. That effectively turns a 500 battery into a 275.

I've got a 600 wh battery x 60% or 360 wh useable but a 350 wh ass so I'm still good

 

[TS25]

I've got ... a 350 wh ass so I'm still good

Is there an App around or do you fix a meter directly?

 

[Sierratim]

US Price seems to be $999. I think Specialized wants you to buy through the LBS.

Even if you were able to buy a new Specialized battery online you'd probably need to take it to a shop anyway. The battery firmware needs to be compatible with the motor and display controller. My wife got a new battery under warranty. The LBS didn't check the firmware version. She had several issues that were resolved with a firmware update.

 

[Marcela]

Is there an App around or do you fix a meter directly?

left side of the meter says ‘go have fun’, right side says ‘enough!’