Shortage of Batteries an Opportunity for Akku Vision & Co.?

Supply bottlenecks and the associated incredibly long waiting times for certain bicycle parts have been part of our daily lives for about two years now. Most of you have probably also heard about the shortage of electronic chips. At the end of last year, there were increasing signs that some ebike batteries would also become scarce in the foreseeable future.

There were scattered reports that market leader Bosch, for example, might be struggling with massive problems regarding the supply of its batteries. Indications of this are the low stocks in numerous online shops. If you search the internet for a top seller like the Bosch PowerPack 500, you often have to move on without having achieved anything and try your luck on the next site.

Replenishment for several components falters

As Daniel Maiberger, managing director of the battery manufacturer Akku Vision, confirms in an interview with Elektrofahrrad24, battery cells or parts for battery management systems are currently in absolute short supply. In general, the situation regarding the procurement of components was “challenging” even before the Covid-19 pandemic. With the pandemic, however, the situation has worsened. In the meantime, even getting hold of things like screws or extruded aluminium profiles has become extremely difficult.

All battery manufacturers are probably facing this development to a similar extent. And at least in the short term there is no relief in sight. As long as pedelecs are in such demand, this also applies indirectly to replacement batteries for the respective drives. Daniel Maiberger, for example, does not expect the situation to return to normal until the second half of 2024.

Alternatives sometimes more powerful

Despite the rather pessimistic outlook, Akku Vision could be one of the winners in the coming months. If manufacturers like Panasonic, Yamaha or Bosch have to adjust their delivery quantities downwards, suppliers like the company from near Aschaffenburg will get into the focus of ebike riders. It already offers replacement batteries for such widely used systems as Bosch’s Active Line and Performance Line from the second generation onwards. These include models that sometimes have significantly higher capacities than the original batteries. The counterpart for the Bosch PowerPack, for example, is available with 624 watt hours or even 745 watt hours.

Competition for PoweTube from Bosch

Akku Vision has announced its own Intube battery for February – in both horizontal and vertical versions. Thanks to its 630 watt hours, it should enable identical ranges as the Bosch PowerTube with 625 watt hours. In terms of weight, both are virtually the same at around 3.5 kilograms.

According to Akku Vision, “cells from well-known Asian brands” are used inside the energy storage unit. This will soon change. A few weeks ago, Akku Vision announced a cooperation with the German cell manufacturer UniverCell. From there, the company will purchase cylindrical cells in the 18650 and 21700 format. As the industry service “Velobiz” reported, Akku Vision will start integrating the cells from the end of 2022 and then gradually increase its production.

Regardless of the cells, Akku Vision is clearly on a par with the aforementioned manufacturers in terms of battery safety. Up to five protective circuits are integrated into the battery management systems of the respective batteries. These function independently of each other and monitor measured variables such as voltage, current and temperature. If one or more values exceed predefined limits, the cell pack is switched off with the help of an actuator.

Full exchange possible, but not mandatory

When switching to a replacement battery from an alternative supplier, the question always arises as to what actually happens to the charger used up to now. After all, hardly any of you want to keep superfluous devices in the household. If a device can be used for as many purposes as possible, this saves valuable resources. In the case of Akku Vision, you can actually continue to use existing chargers. However, the manufacturer also has its own chargers in its range, one with a charging current of four amps and one with six amps. For all those who take their ebikes with them on trips in a camper van, by trailer or by bicycle carrier, the car charger with two amps could also be interesting.

Pictures: Akku Vision GmbH