Unhappy with Velotric Fold 1

[Old-tool-guy]

I started riding a Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser and it was/is a very good bike. Wife and I each have one, very happy with it. Unfortunately as I age I am starting to have mobility issues, and I have a problem getting my leg over the frame, even though it’s a step-through model.

I found that the Fold 1 has a very low step-over height, one of the lowest on the market, so i bought one. I don‘t have a need for the folding feature and it weighs the same as the R1U so no advantage there. I have only had the Fold for 108 miles but I have come to hate it, I‘m sorry I bought it. The sole issue is the battery range, it sucks. Looking at the website it shows the range as 45 miles on throttle and 55 miles on pedals. I get half that.

We like to ride on prepared trails, this weekend we rode the rails-to-trails at High Bridge in Va. Since it’s an old rail line, it is very flat. We rode about 20 miles and at the end I was down to 2 bars, by comparison the wife has 4 bars left. I contacted Velotric customer service, they explained that the estimated range is apparently calculated the same way car makers do their mpg values: the bike rider has to weigh less than 187 lbs, cannot use the throttle, must use only pas level 1, on a flat level surface. What good is that?

 

[Tom@WashDC]

I started riding a Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser and it was/is a very good bike. Wife and I each have one, very happy with it. Unfortunately as I age I am starting to have mobility issues, and I have a problem getting my leg over the frame, even though it’s a step-through model.

I found that the Fold 1 has a very low step-over height, one of the lowest on the market, so i bought one. I don‘t have a need for the folding feature and it weighs the same as the R1U so no advantage there. I have only had the Fold for 108 miles but I have come to hate it, I‘m sorry I bought it. The sole issue is the battery range, it sucks. Looking at the website it shows the range as 45 miles on throttle and 55 miles on pedals. I get half that.

We like to ride on prepared trails, this weekend we rode the rails-to-trails at High Bridge in Va. Since it’s an old rail line, it is very flat. We rode about 20 miles and at the end I was down to 2 bars, by comparison the wife has 4 bars left. I contacted Velotric customer service, they explained that the estimated range is apparently calculated the same way car makers do their mpg values: the bike rider has to weigh less than 187 lbs, cannot use the throttle, must use only pas level 1, on a flat level surface. What good is that?

It is good for thier advertising, but it ain't real world conditions.

 

[Gionnirocket]

A quick search shows the Velotric has a 13ah battery while the R1UP has a 15ah...so the battery is a little smaller and both with a 750w motor.
Are you doing any pedaling?
My experience... even in a low gear some input from you should get you near 40mi with the 13ah on flat terrain @15mph

 

[Old-tool-guy]

Gionni … i typically have it in level 2 and i pedal the entire time. I only use the throttle to get started from a stop. The days of running along side and throwing my leg over the seat ended decades ago.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I hear ya. . .
The mileage quote is a bit subjective and add there's many variables.
Leaving your wife out of the equation... For comparison if you rode the R1UP on the same ride, how much battery would you have when you returned?

 

[RunForTheHills]

It looks like they offer extra batteries and range extender batteries for it. I wouldn't throw good money after bad if there are other things you don't like about the bike. But if range is the only issue, you could buy another battery.

https://www.velotricbike.com/produc...MI_8Hpq_-2kwMVWyCtBh1FjwhgEAQYASABEgKGofD_BwE

https://www.velotricbike.com/produc...MI_8Hpq_-2kwMVWyCtBh1FjwhgEAQYASABEgKGofD_BwE

 

[Extreme1]

Using the throttle to get moving from a stop, uses a lot of battery. Try pedaling to get moving from a stop and see if the range changes.

 

[Max Black]

Saying it's calculated for a rider under 187lbs on PAS 1 is ridiculous—that's not how real people ride e-bikes...

 

[stompandgo]

Saying it's calculated for a rider under 187lbs on PAS 1 is ridiculous—that's not how real people ride e-bikes...

I'm unreal. So nice of you to say so.

 

[stompandgo]

20 miles on flat roads is very low. Here are my thoughts.

This is an entry level e-bike, but it does have a strong motor and a large battery. You say that you pedal, but at what assist level are you pedaling? Do you feel that your leg power is helping move the bike, or are you ghost pedaling? Using the throttle to "get going" does eat battery. That's where your pedal assist can really help increase range, and you are not taking advantage of it. Finally, when you are up to speed, what speed is that? The faster you go, the more battery you use.

Did you buy the bike direct or from a shop? A good shop might take it back in trade for a bike more appropriate for your needs. Direct, you're out of luck for the most part.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Yes using the throttle to get going uses some power.... but it's also one of the major benefits to older gentleman with arthritic/worn/tired knees and often a key reason for wanting an ebike. That said, at least for me... it's a not that taxing on the battery because it's only used less than a handful of times per ride, it takes only a second and at low speed with very little throttle input.
Not contributing with continuous pedaling, especially on hills is far more taking on the battery.

 

[stompandgo]

How many stops and starts is totally dependent on the road, path, or trail that you are riding. Where I ride, there is at least one stop per mile. In city or suburban riding, that can be much higher. Hitting the throttle with no pedal assist is going to use up the battery.

The Fold1 (not Plus) has a very simple assist sensor, it's cadence based. It depends on the rider doing some work.

 

[Gionnirocket]

How many stops and starts is totally dependent on the road, path, or trail that you are riding. Where I ride, there is at least one stop per mile. In city or suburban riding, that can be much higher. Hitting the throttle with no pedal assist is going to use up the battery.

Yes perhaps in city driving stopping frequently it can begin to be a factor, but the OP is riding a rail_trail. Again I can only speak for myself but the bit of throttle I use to break free on a start is negligible as I immediately start pedaling. I can't begin to express the benefit to my knees.. but it's a game changer as I'm able to input a lot more throughout the ride by avoiding that initial knee jolt and pain. So in the end it actually saves battery.

The Fold1 (not Plus) has a very simple assist sensor, it's cadence based. It depends on the rider doing some work.

In my experience a more sophisticated torque sensor bike requires much more rider input ( a natural bike feel) as ghost pedaling can only be achieved deliberately and with purposely exaggerated settings. My simpler cadence sensor bike can more easily be ghost pedaled and can launch you if not careful. I had my controller set up to make ghost pedaling far less intrusive...but I still used a 1 second throttle to break free.

 

[Old-tool-guy]

I hear ya. . .
The mileage quote is a bit subjective and add there's many variables.
Leaving your wife out of the equation... For comparison if you rode the R1UP on the same ride, how much battery would you have when you returned?

We didn’t plan very well one day, went riding with friends on a rail-trail in Cary NC. 52 miles and i was sweating the last mile or 2.

 

[Old-tool-guy]

20 miles on flat roads is very low. Here are my thoughts.

This is an entry level e-bike, but it does have a strong motor and a large battery. You say that you pedal, but at what assist level are you pedaling? Do you feel that your leg power is helping move the bike, or are you ghost pedaling? Using the throttle to "get going" does eat battery. That's where your pedal assist can really help increase range, and you are not taking advantage of it. Finally, when you are up to speed, what speed is that? The faster you go, the more battery you use.

Did you buy the bike direct or from a shop? A good shop might take it back in trade for a bike more appropriate for your needs. Direct, you're out of luck for the most part.

We typically cruise at about 15 mph. It’s a comfortable speed, we’re out for fresh air, exercise, and get out of the house. This trail is 30+ miles long but we only do about 12 miles one way, start in Rice, ride to Farmville for lunch, ride back. As you can see, the trail is essentially dead flat.
Here is a picture of the bridge, it was an active rail way until 2004, the new bridge was built in 1915 and it crosses the Appomattox river at a height of 125 ft. Also a picture where is enters downtown Farmville.

 

[harryS]

I've owned a 20" folder similar to the Velotric. Our speeds are 12 mph, and I found that almost every bike I owned would use about 8-10 watt-hour/mile at that speed. Let's raise that to 15 WH for 15 mph. It's what many bike manufacturers use.

The Velotic is rated at 48V13AH, which is a nominal 13x50 = 650 warr-hours. My engineer's skeptism derates that by 20% to 500 watt-hours. Divide by 15 Wh/mile and I get 33 miles, Conversely, a 25 mile range says your battery is only effectively delivering 350 watt-hours. Does it really go flat after 25 mikes or are you looking at the battery gauge and inferring that it's out of power. I wouldn't want to run out on that long bridge,

If it's not a display familiarity issue, you may have a battery with a weak cell group that is holding back the entire battery from delivering 500 WH. It's not uncommon. Yes, I find it's getting tricky to get off my daily red rider. I have low steps


.