After clocking 54,000km since 2013, my DIY eBike conversion has indeed surpassed my expectation.
Photo of now and then.
Update since then:
Upgrade to a Bigger Battery:
The one on the photo above is my 3rd one (14Ah Tiger Shark Battery).
My 2nd set of battery has performed better compared to my first one by simply doing these:
- Fill any gaps with silicon grease. No more water ingress!
- Don't leave it fully charged and then leave it unused, especially on hot days.
Second bullet point above is important if you want to extend your battery life. My 2nd set of battery is now just under 9Ah capacity left (original 11.6Ah) after 1,000 deep cycles. Where as my first one degraded to just under 8Ah after same 1,000 deep cycles (see Note 1 below).
What happened to my previous batteries? Are they polluting the landfill?
Glad you ask! (of course you didn't)
They're joining my battery storage in my shed. I've upgraded my off-grid shed to include my ex-eBike batteries! Also, after getting an extra solar panel couple years ago (super cheap 2nd hand panel), my commute has been totally charged by the sun, even in winter cloudy days! Well, ok, half-lie there, as the other way charged at work, ha!
Note:
- 'Deep cycle' here is 7Ah average per ride after 1,000 cycles. Individual rides vary between 6 to 9Ah, which highly depends on head-wind.
