Self-reliance is the name of the game. That’s what John Robinson, the owner of Johnny Velo Bikes in Columbus, Ohio, USA, was apparently thinking. He was looking for a fireproof bag for ebike batteries. These are now available from several manufacturers worldwide. As a bicycle dealer, he should have known this. But there must have been something that bothered him about them. And so the man now not only sells ebikes, but also special bags that he has designed himself. These allow you to safely store and transport the battery of your ebike.
Originally, John Robinson’s idea was aimed solely at his own business. He wanted to store each battery separately to protect it from fire. In addition, customers repeatedly asked for a comparable solution so that they could carry an additional battery with them at home and on the road without hesitation. Robinson thought about a solution that could suit both applications and finally came up with the bag.
From aeroplanes to ebikes
He was inspired by the fireproof containers that airlines use to store batteries for remote-controlled vehicles and laptops during flights, for example. With cycling in mind, this was certainly not a very helpful model in terms of aesthetics. However, it was in terms of the material. Robinson’s bags are based on the identical three-layer design that he encountered there.
The top layer is an aluminium foil that is extremely resistant to fire. This is followed by a layer of padding made of a wool or cotton wool that is not further defined. This is primarily intended to protect the batteries from damage caused by impacts and similar effects. The third layer, on the inside, is a silicone-coated fiberglass fabric. This is also often used by other manufacturers. It keeps both fire and water away from the battery. Overall, the bag is certified to withstand temperatures of well over 1,000 degrees Celsius. The Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) has certified that it provides effective protection against the jetting flames emitted by a lithium-ion battery.
On the website of the brand Battery Safeguard, which was founded specifically for the bags, you can see the results of some own tests. John Robinson told the industry magazine “Bicycle Retailer and Industry News” that he had held a burner in the bag himself. According to him, only the seams on the handle of the bag melted. Since then, the charred bag has served as an “great sales tool”.
Useful features
Fortunately, the entrepreneur has kept his eye on other details of the bag, in addition to such daring experiments. The shiny silver outer material is designed to effectively block out sunlight, keeping the battery inside cooler than it would be in other bags. The colour also increases your visibility in road traffic. There are two straps on the underside of the bag. These help to attach it to a conventional rear rack. You can access the battery’s charging port via a Velcro-secured opening on one of the front sides. This means that you can charge the battery while it remains in the bag.
With a length of 47 centimetres, a width of 17.7 centimetres and a height of 10.1 centimetres, the Battery Safeguard Bag is large enough to accommodate numerous batteries. However, numerous does not mean all. For example, it is just not long enough for a Bosch PowerTube 750.
John Robinson currently offers the Battery Safeguard Bag online for a price of 49.99 US dollars. Our attempt to buy one of the bags in the online shop failed. The reason for this is probably that shipping to Germany is not yet offered. We have not tested other destinations. Fortunately, those who want to protect their battery with such a bag have a number of alternatives. For example, you can use a fire-retardant safety bag from Fahrer to store an additional battery at home while you are out and about with the other one. And with the help of a few extra straps, this bag can also be easily attached to a battery on the rear rack.
Pictures: Battery Safeguard; Fahrer Berlin GmbH