Discover 3 hub drive

[Wingrider]

I am very interested in the new Discover 3. One thing that I am concerned about is that the hub drive (as well as the mid drive) is propriatery. If something were to happen to Velotric, and the drive was no longer available, and I need to replace it, what happens?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I am very interested in the new Discover 3. One thing that I am concerned about is that the hub drive (as well as the mid drive) is propriatery. If something were to happen to Velotric, and the drive was no longer available, and I need to replace it, what happens?

Welcome aboard!

Good question. Others can help with the technical aspects.

Just chiming in to say that Velotric's making some real values these days. Quite impressed with my wife's year-old Breeze 1. Well-designed, well-made, powerful, only 48 lb, and lots of fun to ride!

Only quibble is the odd throttle implementation, but the SensorSwap feature is pure genius and makes the throttle largely superfluous.

 

[Chazmo]

Good question.

It is an excellent question!

I’ve personally been through this scenario where my bike manufacturer bit the dust and vanished. The reality is that even if the motor isn’t proprietary, most vendors are making proprietary electronics or combinations of components. E.g., there’s no standardization for the wiring or the controller programming… The list goes on. There are some de facto standards in the e-bike world, but mostly in the “analog” stuff like brakes, shocks, etc. The electronic parts of the drivetrain are not sufficiently standardized, nor are the communication protocols for fully controlling the bike. People that build their own bikes use programmable controllers, displays, and can pick and choose batteries to use as well. But, generally speaking, you have to go with a specific manufacturer (Bafang, Bosch, Shimano, etc….) even if you’re doing it yourself.

So, in my case, when Juiced Bikes went belly-up, I bought a (exact same) spare bike and have collected spare parts. I’ve still got my bike running after a year and a half without my bike company existing, but there are some single-sourced components that I cannot replace. Right now, if my battery dies, I’m SOL.

I can’t speak for Velotric, but my advice is this. If you’re willing to become a bit of a shade-tree mechanic and horder, sure… go ahead and buy direct. Otherwise, buy from a local bike shop (LBS) that supports your brand.

Oh, I will add that this site has a lot of knowledgeable folks and can often help when something needs fixin’. Youtube often has vids of folks dealing with similar issues.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Totally awesome question.... Good job!

You can replace a hub motor with an off the shelf version... But you'll more than likely have to replace the spokes (or the entire wheel as it may be cheaper) and controls along with the wiring.
The battery is also wear item and you might have the same proprietary issue if they disappear. Batteries can be rebuilt, so there's that option if no one is selling replacements.
I'd ask to see their books before purchasing

 

[stompandgo]

I work at a pretty big Velotric dealer in New England. We stock chargers and batteries, but every other part we buy directly as needed. Dealers cannot be expected to stock rear wheels, controllers, displays, etc. When you pay <$2K for a nice e-bike, you are buying something much better than an Amazon bike, but it's not a top five brand owned by a conglomerate, which insulates you somewhat from the small company going belly up. Velotric is doing it right by selling direct and by setting up a dealer network. They are almost 6 years old, privately held, and VC funded, just like Rad Power was. They are generating revenue, but since they are a private company, they do not have to disclose whether they are making a profit, and how much. If you spent a little more and bought, for example, a Cannondale, you would have a much better situation with replacement parts over the long term.

Ya pays yer money, ya takes yer chances.