Looks like the Sondors Battery and Controller.. Not easy to upgrade

[JoePah]

Barent H on ES found what looks like the Controller/Battery/Battery rack combo on a Chinese website.. (no idea how he did it).

Now I'm starting to understand how he's keeping his cost low.. Integrated parts.. Not easy to upgrade.

If you want to upgrade the motor for more power then you will need a new battery and/or controller kit, since the controller is limited to 500w output, and that battery bms seems to be limited to 317 watts output.. (Assume the BMS limits the battery to its 1C discharge rate of 8.8ahx36v = 317W.. Will be a little more when it's fresh off the charger.).. So that 350W geared motor might be limited by the battery.

This bike is best enjoyed the way it is... And buy more batteries since they will only last around 45 minutes or 15 miles imo.

http://www.szktdz.com/en/news_show.php?article_id=361

 

[EULITTLB]

Excellent post Joe, so long as contributors know what they are getting then good on Storm Sondors if he has managed to work a solution to keep costs low on a bike which will retail at $1299 but initial pledgers can source for $499/$599/$699. The stated performance figures for potential backers are a 50 mile range (now with pedal assist) and a 90 minute charge time - figures that are just plucked out of the air and dreamt up in order to get people to back the campaign. In summary people have been misled to back a campaign for an entry-entry level ebike which is half-baked at best. If it ever happens. All IMHO.

 

[wa5]

Given the price point this bike "may" sell at, I don't think that "bottom end" components should come as much of a surprise. And they are probably not a big deal.... So long as the bike is actually delivered that is..

 

[EULITTLB]

But Trev you are forgetting this is a $1299 bike selling at $499 to contributors, I don't think we should justify or tolerate "bottom end" components on a $1299 bike!!

 

[wa5]

My main interest in the bike was the look of it.. and it does look pretty cool and the Price.

Since I've never been "cool" it was more about the price. But as soon as it went from $499 to 599. they lost me.. I cant believe that anybody would pay $1299 for one... Not when one quick google search will have "Storm worlds cheapest ebike $499 " screaming at them.

just on that, change in pricing, would the huge numbers of orders and increasing economy of scale meant that Storm could have held onto the cheaper price?

 

[EULITTLB]

Trev don't fall for it - there have been no orders at all, it is a work in progress and nobody has bought anything, funds have been contributed that is all

 

[wa5]

just a general question. I'm not "contributing" one red cent til I can get some kind of purchase garauntee

I note that the 599 price has been held over... an optimist might see that as a generous gesture, a realist might see it as a way to grab more cash, before opening up a branch office in Nigeria.

 

[Wayne]

Getting back to the start of the discussion; spare batteries are being offerred at $179 for now. Is that cheap? Ridiculous? Better can be had? Can I make a bigger ah/hour and connect it with alligator clips for the same money?

Not exactly a newb. Had a brushless front hub 36 volt lead acid battery conversion kit set up a few years ago that was ripped off. So, if delivered as, well, not promised, looking forward to the lighter battery. I know I'm getting 12 to 15 mile range with light pedalling. I'm 6'3" and 210 lbs. So on the large side of weight and wind resistance. And know I want more range. What is my best option?

 

[Brambor]

$179 for a spare battery is cheap...if the battery is any good

 

[Wayne]

Yes. That is the question. I signed on early so got the $499 deal, just paid $194 for shipping. Ah, what the hell. What's another $179 between total strangers?

 

[wa5]

Note from Storm about your battery:

"I was able to arrange on my trip to Shanghai for all Sondors eBike batteries to be powered by Samsung cells.

This is huge news and a free perk for all backers!"

Wonder if this is some kind of april fools joke.. or if its legit? and wonder what grade batteries they will be

 

[wa5]

I reckon we will have time to find out... do you really think the dog and pony show ends tomorrow... still rubes to fleece.

 

[wa5]

will be lithium Ion surely?

 

[wa5]

Not really wanting to start a new thread, Lord knows we have enough of them already for this invisible bike... So I'm resurrecting one of the dead ones. So we might be able to examine the latest update. (hope this is OK Court,) and come to some conclusions about manufacturing beginning for the storm bike.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sondors-electric-bike/x/10104815#activity

Do we feel the picture in the latest update shows a newly manufactured bike, or is it just the second prototype in a new dress?

Also do you think that large scale manufacturing is beginning, again, based on the one picture?

just interested to hear everybody's views, I am currently on a small laptop as we are in the third day of a black out and cant get a real good look at the picture. (I am in the Hunter / Newcastle region in NSW Australia, we have had cyclonic winds and flooding since late Monday. )