Lack of quality with e-bike components ?

[Tubamanandy]

I never seems to amaze me how e-bike's are expected to be reliable and last a long time yet many of their components are so flimsy.

Very recently had cause to have a close look at my Kudos e-bike after a major problem after only 14 months (still unresolved). I find my controller on the downtube in a poorly fitting plastic box and not sealed in any way from the elements, very flimsy small electrical connectors coming out of the controller (in common with other controllers I've seen), flimsy speed sensor mounted at the lowest part of the bike where all the muck/water hits under the crank etc etc

I guess Kalkhoffs are probably built to a much higher standard to my bike but I guess you get what you pay for and a similar Kalkhoff would be circa £800-£1K more than my bike.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Kudos Typhoon, but when I eventually get it fixed I wonder how reliable it will be ?

 

[trex]

lots of progress have been made recently in Chinese made bikes, albeit still lagging behind European designs. Controllers are smaller and integrated inside battery casing or inside motor casing, thus benefiting from their better water protection. Pedelec sensors are also smaller, often encased inside the bottom bracket, so impervious to mud or road chippings. Almost all cabling are now largely based on multi-pin waterproof connectors. Also, the LCD and its buttons are encased in double waterproof membranes. If you look at the woosh Karoo for example, you won't see any of the problems you mentioned.

 

[acm2000]

My woosh Krieger controller is locked away in a rather sturdy looking sealed metal box and the cables all seem to seal fine with a satisfying squish.

But at the end of the day you get what you pay for, of you can afford a kalkhoff, buy a kalkhoff, if not then Chinese is the option.

 

[flecc]

I don't think it's entirely a matter of price or manufacturing source, but more a matter of hub and crank motor units. The greater integration of the latter makes waterpoofing and a reduction or near elimination of exposed connectors much easier, while the multiple scattered components of a hub motored bike are difficult to fully protect.
.

 

[trex]

Elimination of exposed connectors: that goal has been met by Chinese bikes for some time now, with Bafang and bmsbattery.com leading the way. Braking: hydraulic brakes are getting more popular. Kudos and Woosh offer that choice. Suspension: most forks on German e-bikes are made in China, the choice is there, up to the vendors. The current effort is on rolling components. Tyres: Kenda is still well behind Schwalbe but on cranksets, Chinese bikes are catching up with SR cranksets. I don't think there is much difference in quality of components (available to Chinese bikes vendors) now except high quality framesets that are still not possible on small runs.