The specifics of this thread (IZIP E3 Path Plus Trouble) kind of underscore the greater picture and challenge of the e-bike industry. Can OEMs design, build, and deliver products that work out of the box, and continue to work for 3-5 years without major troubles, and only maintentance? This question has been answered NO by every company that I know of, simply because of the complexity, rigors of use, and the design/manufacturing cycles. This issue compounds when people fork out $2-10k, and their new product doesn't work. We expect the ebike to work like a car - no issues, brand new, period. Since most regular bikes work fine, what's the problem?? The industry is getting there.
Some of the comments about early adopters are true - we expect to pay a little more and work through the trials. However, mainstrean public does not. Thus, the very informative and cool reviews by Court, on this web site, come accross as the cat's meow, like an ebike shopping chanel. Kind of like a Car and Driver selection guide. EBR is set up like a review guide, but it cannot flush out the upstart and minor/yet troubling design/manufacturing problems that arise with these new designs, nor is it intended to, apart from the forum.
There are three ways to prove a design with work and last. (there may be more)
1. Testing. This can get real expensive to test the power system, motor+controller+ wiring+battery. Regular bikes don't have that. There is also environmental issues, spray, water, salt, and its effect upon electronics. Then mechanical issue of shock and vibration. I bet most companies will not do any temperature/water spray/vibration/shock testing. They will do an electrical functional test, which may include some test riding. None of that prooves what will happen during a rain storm or riding at 20F, or test solder joints after 5000 miles of road vibration.
2. Trial and error cycle time - Feedback from real world customers, and incorporating changes into new designs. Here is where faults occur and get fixed with a new cycle time. This can get costly from warranties. Companies that have been around a while and made adjustments will have better long term reliability.
3. Analysis - computer modelling should be done to prevent major design flaws. Can the weight of a battery in the rear rack be sustained? Are the connectors waterproof by specification? What is the thermal model of the motor and is it protected thermally? Companies need some deeper pockets to pay engineers to do these analyses. Slapping a motor and battery from China onto a mountain bike and saying it is ready to buy is risky for the consumer, unless the OEM confirms piece part testing and does their own integration analysis and testing.
So what is a shopper to do? Well, you have the forums. I have seen two IZIP PAth failures on this forum alone, and would be skeptical. You have warranties. You have the fun vs. early adopter risk to weigh out. You have time to see the designs improve. Try to be patient if your new dream bike has a fault. Everything is fixable. Ebikes are worth the fun.
...you're right...some things you just have to have a sense of humor about...(yeah, that's what I was trying to say)
