Cheap Battery Option For Ezee - after advice on latest 2017 options

[phil]

Hi - everyone - this follows on from someone else's thread of 2011!! Please excuse me if it has been talked about recently and the search I have had hasn't revealed that - if so let me have a link.

I have an old Ezee Torq (non-suspension model) which 6 yrs ago (when I bought it off ebay) had a "done for" battery and since has just been left in a garage - the battery is now dead, unchargeable and indeed has swollen and slightly separated the case. I have a dilemma what to do as I want to do with the Torq - I am thinking of getting a brand new ebike over the next few years but would quite like to resurrect the Torq to make us a two ebike family meanwhile. I'm happy to end up with only enough battery for a 30 mile flat ride (commute 2x15 miles), am only 63kg and have done a lot of cycling in the past (no time now!). If I do purchase a new battery I'd quite like it to fit inside the original Torq case although would consider otherwise and indeed that would help with a supplement for a future ebike (I think). A engineer eco-nut acquaintance has suggested Lipo but I presume these would need a different charger than my ?lithium ion old battery?? (and I'm not sure I fancy a move to what someone has called the "darkside" with the even greater fire risks, especially if I'm not buying a premium make). I'm happy to do non-detailed soldering / heatshrinking etc. I'm in Nantwich Cheshire (just in case there's anyone local). Finally... I'd prefer not to spend much over £200!!

What do people suggest I do?

?get my pack re-celled? maybe just to 8Ah?

trash my Torq and start again (an action that doesn't sit easily with me)?

buy an off the shelf frame or bottle battery?

are there any good offers of safe batteries on AliExpress / ebay / amazon and would I just wire into the existing BMS or only purchase one with built in bms??

many thanks for any advice, Phil.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You can use use any 36v battery you like and install it anywhere you want, but there's 2 restrictions: Firstly, you need one that can supply 20 amps continuous, which puts you probably just above what the cheap Aliexpress ones can do. Secondly, you have to connect it to the controller somehow. You can gut the existing battery and run the wires through to the terminals on the bottom, or you can take everything out and run the wires directly to the controller.

You can get your Ezee battery re-celled for about £250.

Any replacement lithium battery will come with its own BMS. The Ezee one is specific to Ezee batteries.

 

[flecc]

Otherwise buy the off the shelf correct battery from Cyclezee. They are vastly improved over the original ones and available in a range of capacities. Seems like the cheapest one will suit you, costing little more than a substitute or recell, and it's larger capacity than the original.
.

 

[phil]

many thanks both of you - yes I had wondered about gutting the original battery casing - buying a new casing seems over the top ...but then the ezee replacement is cheaper than I had realised
Does anyone have any recommendations for the best people to recell a battery currently (sorry - I'm sure I could find some previous recommendations if I searched a bit...)

 

[soundwave]

http://www.bga-reworking.co.uk/insat-li-nmc-ebike-battery-10ah-24v-36v-48v.html

 

[phil]

looks good - very close to £200 - I presume the "agree" means they are well thought of - from name sounds like company will re-cell into my existing Ezee case?? I will contact them - thanks again guys

 

[flecc]

I presume the "agree" means they are well thought of -

Yes, a number of members have used this company and have had plenty of praise for their service.
.

 

[2Lazy]

Otherwise buy the off the shelf correct battery from Cyclezee. They are vastly improved over the original ones and available in a range of capacities. Seems like the cheapest one will suit you, costing little more than a substitute or recell, and it's larger capacity than the original.
.

I agree with this. If you haven't already done so I'd recommend that you contact Cyclezee to see if there is an off the shelf option. Personally I'd be inclined to purchase an off the shelf replacement from the original equipment manufacturer if that is an option. And as flecc says the newer Ezee batteries are vastly improved compared with the older models.

 

[phil]

have just had a great chat with Jimmy at BGA-Reworking who seems passionate about his NMC Boston cells - he has researched various cell types and definitely feels these are the best - gave me a lot of info about how little current they drop while being used (I think) - can do me 10AH for £220 or 15AH for bargain price of £250 if can get away with using (or modifying) current BMS in the case - certainly sounds very knowledgeable, very affable and surrounding by fancy sounding equipment!!! Sometimes you have that gut feeling - you like someone so you buy from them!!

 

[phil]

Hi folks - just a very belated response to my results of your advice - I spent £280 in the end as re-celling necessitated Jimmy to fit a new BMS alongside the Boston cells - but the result is certainly impressive - 40 miles (restricted was only just starting to take my Ezee Torq into its amber LED zone - I'm a little unsure what proportion of available mileage tends to be in the red LED zone on these bikes?? Anyway I presume I should avoid delvig too far into red if possible for the future health of my battery???
Thanks again to you all, I am now going to post another thread about cross-compatibility of Ezee batteries with mounts of other makes....