Fenix Power: A new third party battery replacement?

[SageBrush]

They claim at https://fenix.systems/news/2020/02/01/5 ... rvations-2 and other places that they're getting their batteries from BigBattery. I recall seeing a pic of that some of that company's inventory before but can't find it right now.

I've read the same -- refurbs that come with 10+ capacity bars, paired with the Fenix 'warranty' of free replacement when capacity drops below 9 bars.

That is an awful deal for the consumer, and a deal that I doubt Fenix can make good on warranty wise due to installation and logistics costs.

I've said it before and my opinion remains the same: the Fenix business plan is going to leave their customers in trouble and in debt.

[Lothsahn]

Getting a decent pack for a reasonable price is far trickier for now, and I don't see how Fenix is going to improve matters. If anything it is just a middle-man whose only 'value' is financing and promise of warranty.

This smells bad.

They claim at https://fenix.systems/news/2020/02/01/5 ... rvations-2 and other places that they're getting their batteries from BigBattery. I recall seeing a pic of that some of that company's inventory before but can't find it right now.

I agree about the "value" portion.

The part that makes me sad is stuff like this:
Buddy T Alam
Bill Bysinger I believe your company will survive and thrive. Just bought an used LEAF after reading about your company. Will buy another one for my wife.


Full disclosure: I am a reservation holder (from the initial wave years ago, although I went and replaced my battery myself). I just hate to people make super risky decisions like buying 2 leafs because of an unproven company.

I'm rooting for Fenix, but they still haven't delivered anything and have consistently missed on promises.

[cwerdna]

https://fenix.systems/blog has now been updated w/the jazz about DigniFi at https://fenix.systems/news/2020/09/12/s ... -a-new-way. It's useless for those who are still wondering when they're going to get their used Leaf packs installed.

[RonSwanson]

i predict in 10 days we will see something like "We are lined up with 100+ installers across the USA and other countries. Financing is on board! Things are moving, but due to the continuing COVID crisis we are having some supply chain issues but I have some great news to share: Our first install is scheduled to go in by Halloween! Spoooooooooky "

[cwerdna]

This smells bad.

I thought it smelled bad a few hundred posts ago. The smell has long since moved onto foul.

From that FB thread:

I have already paid in full for my CPO. When am I going to get scheduled for replacement?

From a quick skim there's at least that guy and another guy who claim to have paid in full. Seems crazy that they're still screwing around and haven't gotten their batteries installed.

[jlv]

I've worked at a number of high-tech startups. Like many startups, most were failures. I heard this exact same message at every company that failed, and never once at any of the companies that succeeded.

Bill Bysinger on FB: We are a young company and to have someone of this caliber interested in working with us is an important validation of our vision and market direction.

Of course, all the companies I had experience working at had actual products that they built. Their failure was usually because it wasn't a product people wanted to buy. After realizing that, I learned how to pick startups that would be successful.

Contrast to Fenix which still doesn't have a product, after all this time.

[dsh]

Yesterday 09/14/20 at 8:55am via https://www.facebook.com/groups/FenixPo ... 1806605593

Bill Bysinger
"We are in the final process of certifying installers. Should begin battery shipments to installers this week with installations to follow based on distance from our warehouse of CPO Batteries on the West Coast. This has taken COVID Protocols and Financial Issues resolved to deliver."

[cwerdna]

The direct link to that comment for me is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FenixPo ... 6316551142.

How much time should we give them? Still around Sept 28th as I suggested at viewtopic.php?p=590115#p590115?

[jlv]

Bill Bysinger
"We are in the final process of certifying installers. Should begin battery shipments to installers this week with installations to follow based on distance from our warehouse of CPO Batteries on the West Coast. This has taken COVID Protocols and Financial Issues resolved to deliver."

People who care should actually question what it means to be "certifying installers". Writing it like makes it seem like something important is happening.

It's also interesting how he calls the separate company (BigBattery) who they are buying the batteries from "our warehouse of CPO Batteries on the West Coast". This implies something that isn't close to being true.

[RonSwanson]

I'm honestly surprised we don't have some buddies of the owners commented yet how they got a battery installed.