Thinking of building ebikes for sale in Philippines

[radiorobert]

Hi all,

I just looked, and see that I joined this forum in 2011, and this is my first post. Does that make me a "lurker"? I am from Seattle Washington, and now on extended vacation in Davao City Philippines.

For the past few years, I have been wanting to build a couple e-bikes for myself, but never got around to it. Now that I'm here in Phil, I have lots of time, but not a lot of resources.

Thinking to help the family that I am staying with, my idea is to put together a few inexpensive bikes, and see if they will sell here. If you know anything a bout the Philippines, you already know that it would have to be very inexpensive. I have a background in electronics and mechanics. Putting the bikes together should not be difficult. I can teach them how to do it themselves when I am not here. If it works out, the family will have a little business here when I go back to the USA. If not, at least I get to see Davao and vicinity from an e-bike perspective.

By the way, I have spent many hours reading here in the past 3 years. I have all the basics on hub motors, controllers, and batteries. Thanks to everyone here for the education and entertainment.

What I need help with is to learn the best way to get inexpensive components here in Phil. Ship cost from USA and Canada are prohibitive, so I'm thinking China direct will be the way. I see the china sellers on ebay, and that currently looks like my best option. I am hoping someone here can direct me to a china direct seller that is better to work with than the current ebay sellers. I think I will only purchase single kits, or sets of components, at least for now, so I need to work with someone that can do that.

Im thinking to build a 20' wheel folder, already here with a direct drive hub and a full size mountain bike same. Then possibly a cargo bike with a geared motor. Looks like lead acid batts for these guys. But lipo for the one I ride......

Any thought or input is appreciated, and I will surely update with my progress.

Robert

 

[dogman dan]

Sounds like you have it figured out, except who to buy from. BMS battery maybe? Or just try random ebayers? Sunthing is the only ebay vendor with anything close to a good reputation on this forum. I don't know if he sells kits.

Vpower hk sells kits of course, but don't buy his battery.

 

[radiorobert]

Thanks Dogman,

I know that If I don't have it figured out, you guys can help, but yes, I remember reading some posts where some here bought direct from a china supplier, but now I cant find the posts. Those are the ones that might have some input for my current questions.

I will get some bikes done regardless, but it would be great to hear from those that have found a china supplier that is worthwhile. That seems to be hit and miss from what I have read. Here in the Philippines, that connection could be the difference between success and failure. I have learned that the average worker guy here makes the equivalent of about 200 USD per month so cost is a great consideration. I will post some pix here soon so you can see what the "transportation system" is like.

I'm thinking it is the perfect place for basic e-biking, for work or pleasure.

But some call me a dreamer.
Robert

 

[tmho]

How about the rules governing e-bikes in Philippines?

 

[radiorobert]

As far as the laws around e-bikes here in the Philippines, I really don't know much.

I see the e-bike sellers in Manilla advertise, "no license or registration needed". Other than that, Im not certain of what the laws are. It is not posted online that I can find.

That said, based on what I see on the road every day here, it seems that it is kind of a "run what you brung" place. I notice that many cars are not registered and many motor vehicles don't even have license plates. I think a bike with a hubmotor would never be noticed. I see dad, mom and baby riding 100 cc motorbikes all the time. Once in a while you see 4 people on a motorcycle.

Glad you brought it up though, I do need to check into the legal issues to be safe.

Still hoping someone that is buying inexpensive kits direct from China will chime in with their experience.

Robert

 

[radiorobert]

After a little more checking, It appears that there are no laws in the Philippines that regulate e-bikes. The police here in Davao see them as regular bicycles.

Good news.

Robert

 

[dogman dan]

I suspected that. It could be fun then, to get a welder and make bikes using scooter hubmotors for the rear tire.

Cost will be the rub though, for the cash strapped locals. So a weak 200w gearmotor that runs on sla's might be the best thing for them, just like it has been for china. Mo power just means mo money for the battery.

But for you, a 5000w bike like John in CR runs would be the tits.

 

[zombiess]

As far as the laws around e-bikes here in the Philippines, I really don't know much.

I see the e-bike sellers in Manilla advertise, "no license or registration needed". Other than that, Im not certain of what the laws are. It is not posted online that I can find.

That said, based on what I see on the road every day here, it seems that it is kind of a "run what you brung" place. I notice that many cars are not registered and many motor vehicles don't even have license plates. I think a bike with a hubmotor would never be noticed. I see dad, mom and baby riding 100 cc motorbikes all the time. Once in a while you see 4 people on a motorcycle.

Glad you brought it up though, I do need to check into the legal issues to be safe.

Still hoping someone that is buying inexpensive kits direct from China will chime in with their experience.

Robert

Philippines transportation system... well I will say this, it will get you from one place to another fairly quickly and inexpensively. It's certainly not what your average Kano (American aka Joe if you are white) is use to lol. I found it fun. It's fascinating to see some of the "enjuneering" that occurs. Some amazing, some amazingly scary.

It really is a run what you brung place, especially if you are in the Barangays. I doubt there is going to be legal issues because I doubt anyone knows what the laws are, after all kids can and do buy cigs and alcohol at almost any sari sari.

Your cheapest solution is going to be importing directly from China. You might want to contact Cellman who cells the MAC and other low cost kits which are known to be of good quality. Your biggest hurdle is probably going to be getting everything through customs without a hassle or bribe, but that all depends.

BTW, every time I go to the Philippines I play the game find the most people on a motorcycle / tricycle. Record i've counted is a family of 5 on a 250cc (3 small kids, one on the handle bars). For a tricycle it was 15 or 16 with kids on the roof (the driver was going slow and just taking them across the highway). My personal tricycle record is 4 in the cab (i'm 6'1 175lbs, a literal giant there) and 2 sitting behind the driver for a total of 7 people lol.

I've got pictures and video. Post up what you have so others here not familiar can see what the system is like. Free enterprise rules there. Almost all the major transport, being jeepneys, tricycles and bijocks (sp) (bicycle with side car), I've seen there is family owned small business.

Hopefully you won't need a fixer.

 

[sflorlando]

Awesome!

Ive also been to the Philippines and really enjoyed my time there. The transportation system is so different than in the states. Hardly any cars, people travel place to place on jeepnys or on motorcycles. I remembered once a buddy of mine and I got a ride on a motorcycle with a little side car. I sat in the side car and my buddy sat behind the driver. I was about 170lbs at the time and was extremely cramped in the side car. We gave him 5 pesos or whatever the price was and off we went. We got to the first stop sign (if there really was one) and some guy hailed the motorcycle and jumped in, trying to squeeze his ass into the side car with me. Eventually he just sat on top of my lap! Quite the shocker for this ugly American.

Petrol is expensive for most people, and electricity is sparse with rotating power outages since a lot of locals steal electricity (at least that's what I remembered). I honestly see little to no market for ebikes, of course I can be wrong. Maybe in Manilla or some larger cities, but very cost prohibitive in the rural areas.

 

[sflorlando]

Thinking about this more...In China you see ebikes everywhere and in most cases the infrastructure is the same. Large groups of people commuting short distances really makes SLA ebikes a good choice for China.

Adoption rates in China happened because the gov't outlawed the use of small gasoline vehicles in major cities (I remember hearing that). Without gov't regulation you wont see the mass adoption in the Philippines. Again just my thoughts, but I do wish you the best.

Ken