Homemade ebikes are often a lot cheaper than standalone ebikes, constructed using cheap bikes and similarly cheap motors and batteries. The main cause of fires appears to be a mismatch of charger and battery, according to the charity Electrical Safety First.
How can someone have the knowledge and skill to assemble a homemade ebike, yet not know how to match the battery and charger???
It’s like a Michelin star chef who doesn’t know how to use a can opener.
That said, if that’s the main cause, it should be a REALLY easy fix with some public education.
I think you overestimate the skill required to create a home made ebike.
Idk, i tried to convert my bike last year and shredded the front dropouts.
I just went ahead and bought a prebuilt after that, as well as replacing the fork on my “analog” bike
Not sure what you do though, they did sell those conversion kit that came with the wheel, just have to install the tyre and tube and plug in all those gadget to the controller to get it running.
It’s likely they get a higher rated charger thinking it might “fast charge”. And i also heard some people don’t use BMS and will keep an eye on the charge.
And since it’s a diy, it’s also likely they use rescued cell from other source, and pretty much badly build without safety considerations.
And i also heard some people don’t use BMS and will keep an eye on the charge.
Jesus. Why even go through the risk? A BMS is cheap, and a brand new, UL-certified battery + charger would be a few hundred bucks. Losing your home or a family member just isn’t worth the shortcuts!
And since it’s a diy, it’s also likely they use rescued cell from other source, and pretty much badly build without safety considerations.
That’s entirely possible. Again, it begs the question of how someone could have the ability to even spot weld a battery pack, but not know about pairing a charger.
But we are speculating here. I think it’s cheaper and easier for someone to get a conversion kit (motor, battery, electronics), rather than source a mix-and-match of parts to hopefully get it all working. And invest in a spot welder, loose cells (dozens of them!), etc. Too much work for someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing! LOL
It’s also possible they simply purchase the battery pack and charger separately with no knowledge of pairing, or the seller paired it wrong. It’s just too much variable when a battery pack catch fire
