Thankfully my yamaha 500WH battery is still good going into it's second year.. I was hoping the prices for replacement batteries would be coming down but they are not.. A replacement battery for my bike is $750-$850... Is anyone aware of where these batteries are available for less money?.. I doubt I could even sell my ebike now for what a replacement battery costs.. There is no reason these batteries should cost so much IMO.
e-bike battery prices are not coming down
- Thread starter DDBB
- Start date
Yamahonian
Active Member
Where is it going for 750?
Mike TowpathTraveler
Well-Known Member
Having bought 2 of them last summer, I feel your pain x 2.
My original battery, a 400 watter, still has 100% capacity, not bad for a model year 2016 battery on a bike bought in early spring, 2017. Coming up on 10k miles with many of those miles ridden using the 400.
No, no bargains in the Yamaha world from what I've tried to find. Then again, the design and build is such that very rarely are real problems noted on this site with the Yamaha battery and charging system, save for the little plastic charging port that some broke in heavy handed operation.
Nor does the battery or drive system flake out, shut down like we see many other folks ebikes do. So I guess with the high cost comes bullet proof, spot on reliable happy ebiking.
My original battery, a 400 watter, still has 100% capacity, not bad for a model year 2016 battery on a bike bought in early spring, 2017. Coming up on 10k miles with many of those miles ridden using the 400.
No, no bargains in the Yamaha world from what I've tried to find. Then again, the design and build is such that very rarely are real problems noted on this site with the Yamaha battery and charging system, save for the little plastic charging port that some broke in heavy handed operation.
Nor does the battery or drive system flake out, shut down like we see many other folks ebikes do. So I guess with the high cost comes bullet proof, spot on reliable happy ebiking.
Asher
Well-Known Member
My advice to anyone before buying an ebike is to look at the battery prices from that manufacturer, because you get locked in and prices never come down. Extra batteries are cash cows that youre often locked into buying later
The only maker I know of with low prices is Ride1Up with around $0.50 per watt hour.
The only maker I know of with low prices is Ride1Up with around $0.50 per watt hour.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Prior to buying, I would suggest looking to see if a replacement is available some place OTHER than the OEM. Proprietary batteries are nearly ALWAYS the most expensive there are.
If looking for a 2nd/back up battery, rebuilding is not an option....
If looking for a 2nd/back up battery, rebuilding is not an option....
steve marino
Active Member
That is surely a high price for a 36V 11AH battery. Sure, it looks cool and high tech, but.......If it were me, I would simply get a comparable battery from somewhere else and adapt it to my bike.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Ah, but there IS a difference between a hailong pack and a Giant, Yamaha, or Specialized pack.
Cost is the least important, IMO. YMMV
You are obviously in a different income bracket than I am!
Browneye
Well-Known Member
You are obviously in a different income bracket than I am!
Well, I dunno, just a wage-earner, but I'm willing to spend more if the quality and performance is there. Price out those Specialized packs - dear lord.
rich c
Well-Known Member
Every time you take a ride, drop a dollar in a big jar. You'll have a great start on affording a new battery when the time is due. I have 3,800 miles on my Haibike Trekking. 75% of my rides are a 10 mile loop through the city. That's around 285 trips. The other trips average around 20 miles, so another 47 trips. That's $332 towards the next battery. No degrade on the battery that I notice yet.
Asher
Well-Known Member
I'd be very careful about messing with batteries unless a manufacturer specifically points you to third party options. Which never happens. Or a battery expert has personally confirmed it's possible with your specific bike model.
People here talk about battery repacking like it's any other service you can find at your local bike shop, but when I've looked I never found any near me even in major metros. And if you think you can mail it... Lol good luck.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Asher, though you do have a valid point, with experience in radio control going back to the invention of shirt pockets, I'd be comfortable buying an aftermarket battery after due diligence (knowing the particulars about the cells, construction, and BMS).
Also, with the growing popularity of e-bikes, there are suppliers (not OEM's) that have earned a pretty reasonable reputation for not only selling quality products, but supporting them after the sale. -Al
Also, with the growing popularity of e-bikes, there are suppliers (not OEM's) that have earned a pretty reasonable reputation for not only selling quality products, but supporting them after the sale. -Al
Generally, budget-minded consumers should stay away from proprietary systems where you get locked in. Very few bike manufacturers offer replacement batteries at cost comparable to 3-rd parties (like Ride1Up, for example).
Ride1Up is a bike maker, not battery maker - they just sell batteries, though prices are indeed low. They are also available from 3rd parties but not cheaper - if packed with same cells. This shape is still less common and costs more than ubiquitous Sharkpack or Silverfish available from 3-rd parties for $0.35 per watt hour.
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Asher
Well-Known Member
I'd just add that even the professionals routinely screw up, with ebike shops and warehouses routinely catching fire. The risk of injury, death, and property damage for just a hobbyist is substantial. Plus the resources for mentoring hobbyists in person is pretty slim to none.
If battery chemistries changes to something less flammable, I might change my time. But there's no real end in sight to current chemistries.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Routinely catching fire? Risk of injury, death, and property damage?
Please document your view of this problem, but make sure you put it into proper perspective. Like user hours per incident for instance. I think we all already acknowledge the potential, that it happens occasionally.
Lightening strikes and snake bites likely happen more often than battery issues, and I don't worry about that potential much.
BUT, to each their own level of comfort. Do as you like. -Al
Please document your view of this problem, but make sure you put it into proper perspective. Like user hours per incident for instance. I think we all already acknowledge the potential, that it happens occasionally.
Lightening strikes and snake bites likely happen more often than battery issues, and I don't worry about that potential much.
BUT, to each their own level of comfort. Do as you like. -Al
rich c
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't know about battery construction and the BMS even if they knocked on my front door and offered me a case of toilet paper.
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