Newbie from the DMV

[BluemonteBiker]

Hello Everyone,
I used EBR to aid me in purchasing my eBike. I ceased reading it afterwards. I regret it. Bike was as advertised. Very nice ride indeed. Battery performance was not. Convinced company to send a replacement. Back order took 13 months then company went bankrupt. Unsure what my options are. How do I find a replacement?

 

[indianajo]

You should read the "known problems and solutions" thread for the brand forum for your bike. https://forums.electricbikereview.com/categories/discussion-by-brand-user-reviews.168/
Bankruptcy is a lucrative practice for entrepreneurs. Be employed for a couple of years; buy some inventory you do not intend to pay for, file some legal papers. Walk away.
At a minimum you need to read the review about your bike to find out the battery voltage, and amp hours or watt hours. The charger label may tell you maximum voltage. If the connector and mount are not patented, you may be in luck and find some other source.
If you live in LA or Colorado, you may be able to drive your old battery to a rebuilder and have it repaired. You are not allowed to ship it USPS, UPS, Fed Ex, or DHL. It is unlikely you are a certified hazmat shipper.

 

[BluemonteBiker]

You should read the "known problems and solutions" thread for the brand forum for your bike. https://forums.electricbikereview.com/categories/discussion-by-brand-user-reviews.168/
Bankruptcy is a lucrative practice for entrepreneurs. Be employed for a couple of years; buy some inventory you do not intend to pay for, file some legal papers. Walk away.
At a minimum you need to read the review about your bike to find out the battery voltage, and amp hours or watt hours. The charger label may tell you maximum voltage. If the connector and mount are not patented, you may be in luck and find some other source.
If you live in LA or Colorado, you may be able to drive your old battery to a rebuilder and have it repaired. You are not allowed to ship it USPS, UPS, Fed Ex, or DHL. It is unlikely you are a certified hazmat shipper.

Thanks so much. I registered w/EBR much too late. Should have done it right after the bike delivery was delayed by several months. I’m in Northern Virginia. How can I tell if the connectors are proprietary? The battery is not. Some photos of the bike, specs, and battery attached.

 

[Gionnirocket]

DOST IS NOW IN RECEIVERSHIP

Its finally all over for DOST - here is the notice of appointment of a receiver: https://mnpdebt.ca/en/corporate/corporate-engagements/dost-bikes. The chances of getting our money or bikes now seems slim. Unbelievably they are still collecting money for new bike orders.

forums.electricbikereview.com

Seems you're far from alone.
For some models it's reported that Biktrix might have a compatible battery.
Or you might have to send it to a battery rebuiler like a Hi C

Electric Bike Battery Service

www.hicbattery.com

 

[BluemonteBiker]

Thanks!

 

[indianajo]

48 v 14 AH battery is nothing special. You picture of the battery does not show the connector. No sight, no guess. If the battery connects to a floppy connector on a wire, good. If the battery wedges into a socket on the frame and the battery contacts slide onto each other, likely a unique design. Bad. A picture of the slot on the frame would also be useful to the experienced. One label showed Dost Kope branding. Look at the Dost brand thread. https://forums.electricbikereview.com/forum/dost/
Don't know of any battery repair shops on the east Coast. Read the thread in maintenance, there was a shop in Ohio at one time. https://forums.electricbikereview.com/threads/electric-bike-battery-repair-repacking.16033/
I'm sorry, DMV to me means Department of Motor Vehicles. The people that take my check mailed the day after I receive the forms, and do not send me the car stickers in time to keep from being arrested.

 

[Art Deco]

48 v 14 AH battery is nothing special. You picture of the battery does not show the connector. No sight, no guess. If the battery connects to a floppy connector on a wire, good. If the battery wedges into a socket on the frame and the battery contacts slide onto each other, likely a unique design. Bad. A picture of the slot on the frame would also be useful to the experienced. One label showed Dost Kope branding. Look at the Dost brand thread. https://forums.electricbikereview.com/forum/dost/
Don't know of any battery repair shops on the east Coast. Read the thread in maintenance, there was a shop in Ohio at one time. https://forums.electricbikereview.com/threads/electric-bike-battery-repair-repacking.16033/
I'm sorry, DMV to me means Department of Motor Vehicles. The people that take my check mailed the day after I receive the forms, and do not send me the car stickers in time to keep from being arrested.

Same DMV employees, but they go by DOT here ... probably takes time to send everything to the middle east for "processing".

 

[BluemonteBiker]

Thanks. DMV = DC+MD+VA (Greater Washington DC) BTW
This is helpful. Looks like the battery is in the “Bad” category (see photos). In the Dost Forum someone suggested a battery repair shop ( https://www.hicbattery.com/) They provided an estimate. Another person showed a bike company w/a compatible battery. I’ll ping the Ohio source as well. Thanks again!

 

[indianajo]

HiC repair is in Colorado. A long drive from DC.

 

[BluemonteBiker]

Yessir! Will need to pay for shipping both ways.

 

[Art Deco]

Yessir! Will need to pay for shipping both ways.

Do you have access to someone certified for hazmat shipping ? In DC, you might. Here in Pennsylvania, nope.

 

[dblhelix]

Hello Everyone,
I used EBR to aid me in purchasing my eBike. I ceased reading it afterwards. I regret it. Bike was as advertised. Very nice ride indeed. Battery performance was not. Convinced company to send a replacement. Back order took 13 months then company went bankrupt. Unsure what my options are. How do I find a replacement?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Unsure what my options are.

Buying a good e-bike from a very well known company that won't go belly up for many years? One having a network of LBS?

 

[BluemonteBiker]

LBS?

 

[gromike]

Local Bike Shop

 

[Stefan Mikes]

LBS?

Local Bike Store (that belongs to the brand or is authorized to service, maintain, and handle warranties for the brand).

 

[PedalUma]

That battery is proprietary as hell. They lied about those cells. Cheapest generic, not Samsung as stated. That shows premeditated intent to defraud and then to go bankrupt. I will bet they never had any geo located verified user reviews on google maps. That is a must. Just their website which they could edit. The stated battery maker is considered counterfeit by my browser so I am blocked. Solution: Find a local reputable independent eBike builder. Have them install and splice in a high-quality external battery using premium cells, premium BMS (battery management chip) and to do it in cleanly, sealed from weather. In my neighborhood, I do this regularly. Sometime I help folks to order on their own a cheap battery just to sell a bike and move on. And I give them detailed instructions on how to do it cleanly and safely. That consultation is all in person and local. Ask your neighbors. The more local the better.

 

[Art Deco]

Back to hazmat shipping ? Seems to be a real issue for some members ...

 

[Gionnirocket]

Thanks. DMV = DC+MD+VA (Greater Washington DC) BTW
This is helpful. Looks like the battery is in the “Bad” category (see photos). In the Dost Forum someone suggested a battery repair shop ( https://www.hicbattery.com/) They provided an estimate. Another person showed a bike company w/a compatible battery. I’ll ping the Ohio source as well. Thanks again!

It's a Reention battery case which is a mainstream case maker. You should be able to find another battery builder that uses that particular one.
@Jenny Mao might be able to help.

 

[BluemonteBiker]

That battery is proprietary as hell. They lied about those cells. Cheapest generic, not Samsung as stated. That shows premeditated intent to defraud and then to go bankrupt. I will bet they never had any geo located verified user reviews on google maps. That is a must. Just their website which they could edit. The stated battery maker is considered counterfeit by my browser so I am blocked. Solution: Find a local reputable independent eBike builder. Have them install and splice in a high-quality external battery using premium cells, premium BMS (battery management chip) and to do it in cleanly, sealed from weather. In my neighborhood, I do this regularly. Sometime I help folks to order on their own a cheap battery just to sell a bike and move on. And I give them detailed instructions on how to do it cleanly and safely. That consultation is all in person and local. Ask your neighbors. The more local the better.

Why am I not surprised by a cheap counterfeit being installed. I’ll search for some local eBike builders. The frame and funky battery connectors look like the only unique parts of the bike. Everything else looks standard. Thanks!