Expert battery advice needed - Aixam Mega City
Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:30 pm
Hi
this is my first post - I am looking for some advice about battery replacement for an Aixam Mega City.
The car currently has in it 8 x GNB M83CHP12V24 batteries. I have been told by Aixam's service agents that they need to be replaced, but that the cost of replacement will be £2,400 + VAT (i.e. £2,820) , which seems like quite a lot to me!
The service agents themselves have tried a cheaper option - which involves replacing with their own sourced batteries, rather than Aixam supplied ones - the cost of these is slightly better (but still not cheap) - at £1,500 + VAT, BUT (and here is the big but!) they don't work properly, as apparently the charging cycle for these batteries isn't matched by the charging programme in the car's charger. Aixam say that the only solution to this is to replace the entire "brain" of the car, which costs another £1,600 + VAT - so this "cheap" option turns out to be ridiculously expensive .
So, where does this leave me? As I see it, there are several options:
i) Go with the Aixam option for £2,820 - too expensive.
ii) Try to source replacements for the GNB batteries - the risk is though that this model is no longer made - though GNB tell me they have a replacement which should work fine (the AF12080XO) - though these are almost £200 each.
iii) Try to find an alternative battery which will work with the charging cycle already programmed into my car - any suggestions most welcome!
iv) Try to find an alternative battery and find somebody who can adjust the charging cycle of my car without charging me £1,600 for the privilege - again, any suggestions most welcome!
I am a rank amateur at all of this - so if anybody is able to suggest any expert to help me out (I am based in North London), that would be enormously appreciated.
with thanks and kind regards
WB
this is my first post - I am looking for some advice about battery replacement for an Aixam Mega City.
The car currently has in it 8 x GNB M83CHP12V24 batteries. I have been told by Aixam's service agents that they need to be replaced, but that the cost of replacement will be £2,400 + VAT (i.e. £2,820) , which seems like quite a lot to me!
The service agents themselves have tried a cheaper option - which involves replacing with their own sourced batteries, rather than Aixam supplied ones - the cost of these is slightly better (but still not cheap) - at £1,500 + VAT, BUT (and here is the big but!) they don't work properly, as apparently the charging cycle for these batteries isn't matched by the charging programme in the car's charger. Aixam say that the only solution to this is to replace the entire "brain" of the car, which costs another £1,600 + VAT - so this "cheap" option turns out to be ridiculously expensive .
So, where does this leave me? As I see it, there are several options:
i) Go with the Aixam option for £2,820 - too expensive.
ii) Try to source replacements for the GNB batteries - the risk is though that this model is no longer made - though GNB tell me they have a replacement which should work fine (the AF12080XO) - though these are almost £200 each.
iii) Try to find an alternative battery which will work with the charging cycle already programmed into my car - any suggestions most welcome!
iv) Try to find an alternative battery and find somebody who can adjust the charging cycle of my car without charging me £1,600 for the privilege - again, any suggestions most welcome!
I am a rank amateur at all of this - so if anybody is able to suggest any expert to help me out (I am based in North London), that would be enormously appreciated.
with thanks and kind regards
WB