in association with ELECTRIC BIKES
New battery technology to revolutionise e-bike market?
Latest technology, ten years in development, promises high-end results at far lower costs than lithium By: Jonathon Harker
ATRAVERDA HAS created a new type of lead battery offering performance similar to that of lithium cells, but at a fraction of the cost. Atraverda’s ceramic lead batteries have been in development for ten years and are now being touted commercially for the first time. The firm revealed to BikeBiz that it is currently in discussion with five or six companies in the electric transport sector, with a view to signing a deal to put its batteries into transport products. “We have three fundamental USPs,”
Atraverda CEO Graham Ryan told BikeBiz. “One is energy density performance at low cost, and I think that’s crucial that we are at low cost. “The second is the form factor – we can make our battery any shape we want – so if you wanted a battery to fit between the seat tube and the back wheel for instance, we could actually make a triangular battery. “Thirdly, we at Atraverda can add layers onto the battery to produce batteries of different voltages.”
The Atraverda boss explained how the
gap in the battery market arrived: “There was an initial feeling that lithium batteries would take over the whole space. But it’s quite interesting as the e-bike market mirrors what we’re seeing in the overall electric vehicle market – that yes there’s a place for the lithium high-end, but the vast majority of people buying e- transport can’t necessarily afford it.
“The other problem is that traditional lead acid is too heavy and bulky, so with our technology we’re able to bridge the gap between lead acid and lithium batteries – we’re extending the performance envelope of lead acid batteries. The performance isn’t as good as lithium, but it’s pretty close. As the markets mature I see that there will be an increasing need for that advanced lead
acid technology, so I see a great opportunity for us. “Inside it’s still a lead battery. The key point is that our price is a quarter to 20 per cent of lithium batteries so you can have four changes before you spend that kind of money,” Ryan added. Read the full interview online at
www.BikeBiz.com Atraverda: 01495 294 026
Upper Street electrifies Cycle Show NEC-set event to include greater focus for the e-bike industry
BIKEBIZ CAN reveal that this year’s Cycle Show will include a ramped up electric bike presence.
This September at the NEC Birmingham event, Cycle Show will include a new electric bike area in partnership with the E4 group, the British Electric Bicycle Association (BEBA) and Electric Bike Magazine. In practice, the partnership will include a section of the show dedicated to electric bike brands as well as an e-bike- friendly extension to the outdoor test track. An incline challenge has been added and electric bikes will get their own section of the track’s pit area. “We at BEBA strongly believe that it is
imperative to get as many people onto the saddle of an electric bike as possible,” said BEBA chairman David Miall. “Offering test rides is by far the best way to convince riders of their magic. The new test track at this year’s Cycle Show with
34 BIKEBIZ MAY
its ramped area will enable riders to experience the all-important hill climbing capabilities. Electric bikes are quietly becoming mainstream in the UK just as they have in Holland and Germany for the last several seasons. With all our members reporting marked increases in sales volumes over the spring of 2012 we are convinced that this is the year of the electric bike and are looking forward to building on the success of last year’s Cycle Show at the NEC.” Wisper, Storck-Raddar,
EBCO, Hero Eco, Batribike, Barnes and Robinson, Green Zebra Cycles and Oxygen are among the companies signed up to the event so far. Cycle Show 2012 runs from September 27th to 30th. Trade day is Thursday 27th.
www.cycleshow.co.uk
BIKEBIZ.COM
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