Halfords electric bike faulty battery

lovetea

I bought an electric folding bike from Halfords in March 2017. The battery is found dead now, and they say that it was due to me neglecting the maintenance of the battery and they ask me to pay £250 for a new battery.

I did not use the bike for a month or so, but then when I tried to use it, it did not switch on whatever i did. I used to use the bike regularly and top up the battery regularly, so I can say that I was not neglecting the battery maintenance (although I cannot prove this to Halfords, who says the battery needs to be 60% charged all the time). I have another electric bike which I bought in 2013 (not from Halfords). This bike had not been used for about 3-4 months when I found my Halfords one did not work. Despite the period of time I did not use that older bike, it worked no problem when I charged it up.

I took the bike to Halfords, who said that it was me who killed the battery as I left the bike unused for a long time. I told them my other bike had no problem (despite that it was older and it was left unused for a longer period of time) but they said they could not argue about that.

They ask me to pay for a new battery (£250). The bike is less than 1 year old. I have to say the quality of the battery is very bad if it died completely just because I once did not use it for a month or so. Therefore, it could be a faulty, which Halfords denies.

I called their customer centre yesterday but their answer was the same. What should I do?

ssparks2003

You are going to have to prove that there is a fault with the bike rather than poor maintenance, an engineer's report is the way forward for you.

lovetea

Hi, thanks for your reply!
Well, actually my bike (+ battery) has been with Halfords for a week or so for a check. They then concluded that it was my poor maintenance of the battery that caused this problem... I got a phone call last week from Halfords saying that. So it looks like there is nothing wrong wth the bike itself...

ssparks2003

So you either accept their statement and theree is nothing more to be done. Or you commission your own report that shows that there is an inherent fault go through the small claims route to resolve (and claim the cost of the report back)

KeithP

Speak to the experts on the Pedelecs forum.

Of course it is possible that the battery is no longer any good, but it is often possible to bring an apparently 'dead' battery back to life with a bit of TLC.

I would certainly seek advice elsewhere before accepting what Halfords have told you.

Even if you do need a new battery, there are alternative suppliers that may well work out cheaper.

lovetea

Thank you, ssparks2003. Halfords said that they did some checks on my battery and they could tell that the battery was not a faulty - I don't know how they could tell that, though... I wonder if any battery could die that easily, especially when it was so brand new... compared to my other electric bike, i have to say the quality of the battery is so bad. I feel that I cannot go on a holiday any more as I may get charged again for a new battery!

lovetea

Thank you, KeithP. I will definitely look at the forum you mentioned! I will seek advice there then.

I feel like I do not want to buy anything any more from Halfords now. If I get a new battery from them, I will have the same problem again. Every time I go on a holiday, i may have to buy a new battery!!

I talked to a man from a different electric bike shop (where I bought my other bike). He said that the battery shouldn't go dead that quickly, and I should get a new battery for free, or a refund for the bike...!

Shaka_Zulu

Many retailers suggest charging the battery at least once a month if the bike is not ridden much, and say that the more the bike is ridden, the stronger the battery will be. All batteries, though, will deteriorate in time
Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/electric-bike-batteries-everything-you-need-to-know-235153#BeOJS6zpStq4K1S6.99

forgotmyname

Lithium batteries degrade faster when left dead or even fully charged, 80% is a good storage charge. It does appear you didnt do that from your comments.

You claim to have maintained it but the fact your other bikes battery goes uncharged and still works fine. That does seem to suggest that you didnt maintain the battery with regular charges or even monitor the battery state of charge since your last holiday.

Of course the man at the shop will tell you that, he wants to be on your side and sell you a new bike or a new battery. I would do the same.

Refund for the bike because of a flat battery? Im sure he does that for all his customers???

Fit decent branded batteries and look after them.

firefox1956

Not my area of expertise but knowing Halfords prices you can probably find the battery at half their quoted price.
HTH

lovetea

thank you for the information, Shaka Zulu. Then I wonder what people would do when they go on a long holiday... Hmm... I learned that how delicate the battery is though. I have been just so lucky with my other older bike...!?