What to Do With My Lepton?
I have a 2001 Oxygen Lepton SLA model, bought unopened in 2002. I am the only person who has ever ridden the scooter, except for letting a woman ride it around the block in Eco mode, once. It has never glitched or thrown an error code, never broken down, never given me any trouble at all except for the mirror, which I didn't tighten properly at first. Eventually I got on both ends of the bolt and tightened it correctly. The scooter still runs fine, on the original batteries, so that tells you how I've treated it. It has 1668 miles on it, IIRC. It's got new gear oil in it. I had it up for sale all last Spring and Summer, and even tried an Ebay auction. No bites. The is a fantastic scooter for low-speed commutes in urban areas, and is also fine for long country rides at modest speeds, something I used it for a *lot*. Compared to Chinese scooters, the build quality is amazingly good. (It was made in Italy, 25 miles from the plant that makes Vespas, and the body is essentially a Vespa clone.) I'd like to find a good home for it, but need to get some cash for it. As I see it, here are my options:
* Try again to sell it as-is in the Spring, asking $895 and being very open to lower offers. The current range is probably 4-10 miles.
* Replace the aged batteries with Greensavers or gel cell batteries and try to sell it for about $1200.
* See if anyone here wants to buy it for $500 to convert to Lithium (LifePo4) power. Since it's SLA without an onboard charger, and has a roomy battery compartment that's fantastically easy to access, I think this would be a neat, relatively easy project for someone, keeping in mind the top speed limitation of 28MPH - 32 or so running downhill. The only way to make it go faster without over-revving and burning out the motor is to maybe use a taller rear tire. Opinions?
I have exprience on oxygon scooter when I worked on TS battery,our 40AH48V battery is exactly the same size !
I too have a 2001 era Lepton that has been basically rock solid. The only trouble I've had was with a conversion LiFePO4 pack before using a BMS was routine. I don't have enough technical knowledge to repair it myself and the only local friend who did has moved away. I may just go back to SLAs so I can keep using it. Just hate to go back to the weight etc. I've always enjoyed the Lepton, its range and speed are fine around here, and I'd much rather keep using a well built piece of older technology instead of dealing with fancier, more touchy, or less proven replacements.
I wonder how many of these scooters are still in use now?
I suppose the type of use situations they focus on don't need a lot more speed. Crowded surface streets not highways.
Around here I don't really want to be running much faster anyway. We have a lot of big bad tempered wildlife I don't really want to sneak up on and make panic stops for.
I was even *more* surprised to see that they still have that 28MPH top speed, albeit with more range...
28mph = 45km/h is the (completely brainless..) speed limit for Europena L1e class vehicles such as scooters. This class is exempt from registration, taxes and motorcylce driving licence, and they can be operated with any normal car driving licence. Only insurance is required. That is why these 28mph/45km/h scoots are so popular around Europe. In West Germany the limit was 40km/h, later extended to very logical and safer 50km/h (as that is the maximum speed in city driving). In East Germany it was even 60km/h, but they had to come down to 50 after reunification.
Apparently other European countries still had just 40km/h in place when negotiations started for a pan-european vehicle classification. That is how this very strange class of 45km/h came about, as a rather impractical and highly unsafe compromise... But the police (at least here in Germany) will usually say nothing even if you go 50km/h :-)
In Sweden we only had 30km/h for mopeds. Here all 45km/h vehicles needs registration, thought it was the same in all EU....
Hi: I've been reading all your comments in this forum. I've been on the fence in buying another scooter. My 1st venture into EV was with a 500w Wildfire folding bike was was great except for comfort. Because $ were tight I saved and won an auction for a closeout 1500w 48v38ah GreenSaver batteries Thompson branded scooter (same setup, body as alot of others) It was wonderful but decided to upgrade to Lifepo4 for extra range and climbing ability. Again I saved and saved and bought a 48v 40ah duck tape pack with 15A super fast charger made by CoddPower, TOOK THREE MONTHS, Ugh! I assumed, in hindsight now, that everything would work great! It of course did not. Battery box was 3/4" too small so I had a local autobody guy weld a new box to fit. He also reconnected the system without using one of the connections (unsure of location) and it worked great. We both assumed maybe this was the speed limiter since the scooter really had some extra pep and climbing capability. I know the reduction in weight most likely was the reason for this but it felt wonderful that my 1st EV modification (I know this for you is a no brainer, but for me, WOW!, what can I try next!!) Since I am fairly mechanical but NOT electrical, (learning as I go!lol) My problem, on the third charge after only 80 miles upon plugging in the charger and turning around to walk away I smelled smoke and immediately unplugged it from the wall, BMS in plastic box taped on top of battery, still smoking, started on fire as I was trying to pull it off, I managed to yank it off. NOW WHAT TO DO!
I do not have anyway of testing the battery for damages and finding someone local that can repaie and replace the BMS (on order & shipped, just found out this morning that it really is coming from China, thought it was a US company as it has a USPS mailing notification, yet another who knows when it will get here! lol) I am totally afraid of ruining a $1000.00 battery by trying to recharge with the 15A charger although from threads I have read, again I can follow directions but am a TRUE beginner when it comes to most of the threads), I concluded that its possible to recharge without the BMS, not the best choice since I'm not sure exactly how to do this and in fact if I damaged the pack during the 30 seconds or so it took me to pull it off)
The reason for my email is twofold. 1st I really like the 2001 Lepton you have been talking about and am watching your auction, I have been debating for three days on what to do since I really really need transportation. I'd really the retro look and would be able to utilize the Greensaver batteries I have which should fit perfectly according to the CHL thread. I would like to make an offer if it doesn't go too high as I will have to pay someone with a truck to drive me to pick it up.
Also if anyone local to Mass, RI or Southeastern CT can test, rebuild the pack if necessary and add the BMS.
Thanks for any and all assistance!
Ann
I've decided to put new, inexpensive but non-crappy batteries in the Lepton before I try to sell it again. What's a good source for 40-50AH gel cell or AGM scooter batteries? I'd like a set that will fit without modifications to the scooter and cost $75-$100 each, max.