Chinese AKKU Bosch Battery first test

[Gubbins]

Received my new 8.8 amph battery from Germany in just 4 days for £218 delivered. Battery doesn't look Chinese, if there actually is a Chinese look.... in fact it looks just like any other brand name power tool battery, and the absence of any logos makes it look reasonably good on the bike. Battery arrived half charged and and it took 1 hr 40 mins until full with charger disconnected.as soon as the 5th light stopped flashing, and then battery was stored overnight in a cold garage.
My test ride was on the road over 25 miles with about 1000 feet to climb riding in "Tour" mode which is my usual choice on longer runs. Ambient temperature was 5 Deg C and my normal cruising speed is about 15 MPH (just under or at the cut-of) First 7 miles were into a stiff breeze, but otherwise conditions were reasonably good.
First segment went at 0.5 miles
Second at...................8.8 MIles
Third at.......................24.5 Miles
Still showing a range of 20 miles
My conclusions..
I was a bit worried when the first light went out at half a mile, but was pleased with the rest of the ride. Bike feels just the same as normal and I suspect that I just didn't charge it enough. I intend to do a few similar discharge cycles before trying some heavy climbing, but so far it looks like a good buy..

 

[The Cycle Tourist]

Keep us posted on how the battery performs over time. At that price it is tempting to buy 2 as backups for our upcoming e-bike long distance record ride.

 

[Gubbins]

One thing to be aware of. The batteries are still the same price they were 6 months ago at 278 euro plus shipping. The thing that's changed is the collapsing euro so at 1.35 to the pound it is a good deal. Some experts suggest that the euro will bottom out at 1.45 ish by june, but if it goes the other way the price of these batteries will rise with it. I will happily post more in time but I don't do much on the winter. ..

 

[Gubbins]

Second ride on new battery,
Recharged yesterday.. Another even stiffer breeze to ride into and a tad colder..
First segment again at 0.5 miles,
Second at.................. 13.5 miles
Showing 28 miles to go
Nearly got knocked off in Skipton (again) and really cold so came home.
Observations..
I am a bit worried about the first segment going down so soon.
I have noticed that the "Range" changes in relation to the terrain much quicker than with my other battery..

 

[flecc]

Both those indicate the voltage under load is not being as well sustained as from the genuine article. This is likely to show up as soon being a somewhat lower capacity than specified, exactly as another purchaser found with a similar Oriental substitute battery.

At the price you'll probably still get your moneysworth though.
.

 

[Gubbins]

I suspected this might be the case.. I was hoping for a 25 mile reserve battery to enable longer runs without having to keep trying to economise and
/or worry about running out of juice and I looks like it will do this easily proving that it doesn't fail. I think moving forward I should keep using it , looking for weaknesses.

 

[RobF]

Bike Discount has Bosch Classic 11ah batteries for £460.

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/praesenz/search/q-ebike+battery?q=ebike+battery

Still a lot of money, but a bit less than they were.

 

[Gubbins]

Battery Update...
Decided to run it flat today and have covered 37 road miles climbing 1600 ft mostly in tour but with about 5 miles in turbo into a strong wind . I wasn't trying to economise, just riding normally.

Points of interest that might mean something to the experts..
Differences to using Bosch battery..

1/..Bike seems to ride in all modes the same using both batteries

2/.. Range changes much quicker on the Akku both going up and coming down hills (a bit like it does in a car) whereas with the Bosch the range drops more slowly on hills and takes a much longer time to recover if at all.

3/ Performance drops off on the Bosch when nearly empty, it seems to have plenty of grunt at a low cadence in the last segment, but drops off quickly as cadence increases and range gets near zero
Akku battery maintains performance right to the end. Range was showing 0 miles but was still working just as well as when full

I dont know if all this is good or bad, but I am more than happy with the miles..

 

[flecc]

That range is certainly good, the differences you've observed may be no more than cell make difference characteristics than any inferiority.

The Akku performance maintained to the end might indicate lower internal resistance in the cells, sometimes a characteristic of somewhat lower capacity, but the range indicates that can't be severe.
.

 

[Gubbins]

Just a quick update for anyone interested in buying one of these..
3rd recharge, this time from flat and I already notice a difference..
Just been on a short run to the post (4 miles) and first segment didnt drop off at half a mile as in the past and it is still showing a full tank after 4 miles..
At less than half the price of the Genuine article I am happy and only task now is to fabricate a carrier for it..

 

[The Cycle Tourist]

That's really good news, I have been reading your updates with great interest. Looks like it is time to order two, nothing better than a field test to get a genuine indications of a product's worth!

 

[Gubbins]

That's really good news, I have been reading your updates with great interest. Looks like it is time to order two, nothing better than a field test to get a genuine indications of a product's worth!

My next outing will be up hill... High discharge. ..

 

[Gubbins]

Price is now down to £ 202

 

[Gubbins]

Tried a turbo pull up a decent hill and battery seemed to do better than my other one, but it might be my imagination, anyway.. 15 miles done (most in Turbo) with 10 left on the clock.

Having a spare and carrying one are 2 very different things as being a weighty plastic object it needs to be safe and secure, not just dropped in a pannier and left to swing and sway......

I have used an old Rack top bag I bought some years ago, with the internal packaging from the delivery box. .. All fits in nicely, takes only a few seconds to swap, is safe and secure if riding gets a bit rough with the polystyrene blocks that are supporting the battery weight resting on the rack and it doesn't interfere with the panniers..
All in all, one of my better projects..

 

[falmouthtony]

Can't wait till they do the latest performance line version at a sensible price.