Tag: Baguio City

Well, I’m writing this as a review on my recent purchase of an electric bike or e-bike… I don’t know what brand this is but it looks like from China.. Bought it from shopee where you can see the screen shot below:

Here’s the product I bought:

Well at least it looks almost the same with the one posted at shopee. So far it looks good. For my first test or try, it does work. Me and my brother tested it within just a few meters. Like say 10-15 meters. Thing is I’m planning to use this supposedly for travelling to my work place which is approximately about 7 km. away from our house. And so I have to test drive it, if it can really reach to my work place if ever.

By the way, I live in Baguio City or here in the mountainous Cordillera, where slopes of land and even steep ones are found…

But before sharing my experience on this, below is the shop’s description for this product:

Product Description

⚡         Using car lithium battery – chargeable and lightweight

⚡         Wheel Size: 14″

⚡         size:14inch

⚡         Charging Voltage: 48V

   ⚡      Motor: Brushless

    ⚡     Battery anti-theft lock

   ⚡      Mileage record table

    ⚡     Power 350w/400w (noted this can be check on the motor 350w/400w)

    ⚡     Maximum speed 25km/h – 30km/h ( please note that regard supplier E-bike international standard speed is 25km/h, but our can dismiss this speed and go to maximum 30-35km/h speed) This tested work and can measure using cycling speed tester. If you need this can refer to below link and we will teach how to fix it.

    ⚡         Driving Mileage 40km manufacturer spec ( noted our tested with 90kg person driving can go to about 20km+-) For the mileage driving depend on the heavy seat on bike, ramp, and etc will reduce the mileage

    ⚡         Helping Driving mileage 80km manufacturer spec

    ⚡         ABS brake system

    ⚡         5 Layers Thicken tire

      ⚡       30 degree strong climbing

    ⚡         Foldable bike can fit in car boot

    ⚡         Dimension: 130cm x 75-105cm x92- 105cm( allow 3cm different measurement )

    ⚡         Foldable size: 65cm x 73cm x 45cm ( allow 3cm different measurement )

    ⚡         Weight: 25kg

    ⚡         Can withstand up to 120kg

    ⚡         Charging time 4 to 10 hours (Charging Red indicator when full charge green light indicator On)

    ⚡         scooter Brake method: Front and rear disc brakes

    ⚡         Feature: Removable battery for charging in house

    ⚡         Waterproof :  Waterproof not mean that you can put the bike into water, can drive under not too heavy raining

    ⚡         3 type of mode: Electric mode 100% electric consume, Help cycling mode, 50% electric consume, fully cycling mode 0% electric consume.

    #8A #48V #ElectricScooter  #

For the test drive, I haven’t really charged the battery for this. I just saw that when I switch on the ebike, it lights up and shows a full bar battery. I bought a cheap helmet for me since, I think it is prohibited to use a bike without a helmet.. even bought raincoats in preparation for rainy period if ever.. and oh yes, I’m about 5’7” which makes the ebike really kind of small for me. So when I ride it, it looks like just a toy to be played with and not really a travelling vehicle.

But because crude oil and gasoline are going high in price, and added to this is the traffic jam, I’m considering to use electric bikes. Though the real challenge is the slopy or steep roads we have here in Baguio City.

So October 22, 2022, I tried it for a test drive. And sure enough the max speed that I got on a flat surface was ranging from 25-30 kmph. Sadly I haven’t made a screenshot for this. I just used a random app with my smartphone to see the speed and how many kilometers it can really go.

And you know what? I reached about 11 km. only and my battery was now empty or kind of really struggling to support the bike. It took me almost 40 minutes for that 11 km. (based on the app I was using) which is actually just near my work place (maybe about 50-75 meters far). So I turned back to go home now.

Alas! Without the power of electric or by means of manual pedaling, it was really an exercise! Esp. when it goes up on a steep road. It’s not like a mountain bike that you could adjust to ease up the pedaling. No, it was just simply as it is – requires to exert much effort to pedal. By the way, what was previously displayed by the shop on the weight that can be supported, I think this is based on a flat surface. But when placed in a slope / steep surface, it may not support 120 kg., I would probably set it to about 90 kg.?  given that the slope is not about 25 degrees?.. more than that, I’d rather walk since even the bike itself is really heavy. Oh yes, the bike is really heavy. I haven’t weigh it though but the shop said it’s 25 kg. The one in the video though in the shopee website, they portrayed it as it was not really heavy but in actually I had a hard time carrying it.

So, I’m quite having doubts in using it for traveling to my work place… But I figured, maybe it wasn’t really charged to the max. So I would probably test it out again when I have free time and when it is truly fully charged. Anyway, reading the specification, the weight of the person who would be driving the ebike also affects how far it can go. I suppose the slope of the road might also affect the distance on how far it can go. I got home for almost 1 hour and 15 minutes for that matter. Good thing most of the road going back home are going down a slope, few were going up.

Here’s  my screen shot when at home:

Overall, I recommend this for those who are in the lowlands / those with flat areas and for really short distances of travel. As for using this in the mountainous area, if roads are atleast 25-30 degrees slope then that can be still feasible. But if it goes higher, I don’t recommend this as it will really be tiring and defeats the purpose of having an e-bike. So that’s my take for now.

Will edit it if there are changes on my next test drive for the electric bike / e-bike here in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines.

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Well, it is February 18, 2023 and almost 4 months I’ve actually been using this e-bike going to work.

And to correct my previous post, indeed, my first try was not really charged to the full. The battery measuring device may not actually show the real battery power stored. So on a daily basis, I’ve been charging my battery and I think, the max charging time is 4 hours and not 10 hours as the online shop has posted. In fact if it is not that fully drained, it can only charge 1-2 hours, As long as the charging box turns to green. And to note: after charging, one must remove the cable from the battery, as I’ve noticed it seems to discharge when the cable is still stuck on the battery.

And as I have previously posted my thoughts on the battery, it seems to consume more power when going uphill. It consumes less when going down hill. A reason why I have to charge again in my work / office my battery to be sure I get home. Haven’t really tried anymore to have a round trip going from home to office then office to home with just one charged battery. I have to charge in the office since I get half bar when I get to the office and the battery really feels weak when already in half battery. I could feel or observe it when going up hill. There is a difference with a full powered battery going up hill to a half-full battery. That is why I believe the 25 km. max distance covered decreases when the weight and terrain factors are considered. Again this ebike is very much recommended in the plain or flat terrain.

For those here in the mountains, it is a personal decision and risk. But atleast there are terrains it can handle and pedaling also helps. And if you are interested in using it for exercise, this is one good recommendation. Speaking of exercise, I actually need to exercise too and this is one good means. Somehow it gives me time to exercise when going up hill. The downside is, I have to change clothes when going to work. That is why I always bring with me my extra clothes or uniform actually. Atleast, I am not super wet because to be honest, if I would be fully be exercising with just a bike, I probably am super wet and super tired in work. But with this ebike? It is just exactly enough, because I really have not much exercise.

And again, the benefits or advantages of this ebike other than exercise is that, it is “iwas-traffic” (don’t get into traffic jam). Specially these times here in Baguio, traffic jam is becoming a norm. When no traffic, I usually get to work for more or less 30 minutes.. but due to traffic, it turns to 45 minutes to 1 hour or even more if it is super traffic. So getting used to this ebike, I think I get to work just as the same as 30 minutes. It is lesser when going home since my route has more down hill. Other than “iwas-traffic”, it is environment friendly since I use battery. I mean comparing to smoke and everything, this ebike does not give out smoke.

The downside of using this ebike though is, I can’t really use it when I would like to go purchase for groceries or market or something. Although, for the long time I’ve been using this ebike, I’ve encountered (i think) another ebike with a carrier on their back. I think it is more of a trike. Here in my hometown. Just that their speed is I think lessened to be careful of their groceries. And yeah, the speed of this ebike is really not that competitive with others. I mean it is faster than an ordinary bike (though perhaps depends on the biker) but not as fast as a motorbike. Nevertheless, the most important for me is I get to where my destination is. Oh yes, I also encountered another ebike here in my hometown, but as per my observation, his’ is more powerful than mine. Thing is, when going uphill I have to pedal, but him didn’t need to and only used his motor / ebike. I suppose those ebike are upgraded and may be using a much better motor than mine. I just wonder how much was that ebike. I’ve been seeing too some new ebikes on the online shops that are maybe larger than this and have higher or better features but of course has a higher cost.

One of my colleagues though have shared a possible cons on this ebike. That is, what if the parts are destroyed, does it have replacements? sure enough that is one. But I hope online shops can offer these. Anyway, I do think ebikes or e-vehicles will be a thing of the future, so I hope these will be dealt with sooner or later. Speaking of which, crude oil or gas are still going up and it seems there are no plans of lowering these things. That is why these times, I’m trying to invest in renewable energy such as using solars for that matter. I am not an expert on these though that’s why I’m asking my brother who is an Electronics and Communications Engineering.

Overall personal verdict, this ebike is just plainly useful and beneficial for me. I just hope it will last long and it will justify the almost P15,000 worth.

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Update: Here is a video of me using my ebike:

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Edited: September 15, 2023

Well almost a year now, I’ve been using my ebike and there are some let’s just say “wear and tear” that I have observed… and it’s my battery.. it seems it is getting weaker as time has passed by… although it can still be enough to be used for my travel to my work and back to home (anyway I charge the battery at my work just to be sure).. thing is it feels like half of it’s battery capacity is now like totally unable to charge.. well that’s just my observation . I’m not really into this techy side. I mean on electric matters.

Nevertheless, I’ve been able to order again a new battery with a higher capacity.. my old battery is labeled as 8Ah while the new one is 20Ah… I haven’t tested it yet… but will try it soon, probably tomorrow if it is not raining. Oh by the way.. I rarely use it esp. when it is really raining. I have to commute if that happens.

So will update this when I have tested my new battery.. which is by the way.. more than half of the price of this ebike I bought.

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Edited: November 11, 2023

Hello again! This is now my review on my ebike having a new 20 Ah battery and a new seat since my old seat actually had a broken…. what do you call that? the metal rod that holds the seat or something….? well, it broke and seating on it was dangerous.. It can’t support me anymore… Which is the reason I got to buy a new one… So I would also give my feedback on the product I bought… PLUS!??? I got a new action cam… not a GoPro.. but a simple and cheap Action Cam….. let me show these products first… Right now, I all bought this at Lazada.com….

Here is the battery I bought and the price and I think I’ll go on to my review or feedback right away on these products I bought online:

Here are the others I said I bought:

Here’s the seat I bought online… At first use… I actually wasn’t comfortable… it was like I think “hot” sitting on it… and I wasn’t really comfortable… I couldn’t feel the cushion or the spring…. So I can’t really tell if this is legit or just an imitation.

when pressing though, it seem to have cushion. So I was thinking… maybe it can not support my weight. Cause at some point I am quite heavy… but recently, I think I’m getting the hang of it.. but still I don’t feel the comfort or the cushion or the spring….

So if you are planning to buy this.. Buy it at your own risk…

Here is the other one that I bought in Lazada.com…. an Action Cam…. and a cheap one at that:

well? this cam is not really that well known like the GoPro… To me at my first glance I thought it looks good… But alas! When I bought it? It looked like a toy camera to me.. it had plastic covering… but the screen was alright though….

Have tested the memory that was part of what I paid for… it was a 64 GB memory… and it was legit as I’ve tested it.

But how was it using it? I must say, it functions well… But again since it is cheap, it has it’s kind of down side of it… as I have said, it’s shell was like simply plastic.. and it is looks very fragile so it needs much taking care of it…

And so as I tested my ebike… I also tested my cam… and so far it was working well… the video may not be as sharp as others would provide.. but it works… given that I think I bought this a little lesser than a thousand.. (Cause of the discounts or vouchers)

You can see the videos below.

Someone previously asked on the battery or how long its battery last? well it somehow lasted 30 minutes and the battery wasn’t even exhausted. If I remember it right, I think it only consumed one bar as I looked at the battery..

Overall? I think it was fine for me to buy it… I might use it later… Just that I don’t believe it is a 1080p… You can see the actual take on my video below.

Now here are the videos I recorded testing my battery, my camera and my seat… By the way, this video is actually a 30-minutes long but since watching it for 30 minutes are boring, I made it short or fast forwarded it into 5 minutes and 15 minutes.

here is the 5 minute video with some editing (an auto-shake feature).. please note that at the end is an arrow pointing in my battery gauge for the ebike… which is still 3 bars left unlike my previous battery where it is already usually at one bar arriving to work.

here is the 15 minute video with not much video editing.. and again, on the arrow

So… that’s all for now.. hope at least you get to enjoy my video… =D