After a delay of around two years, the latest model from the manufacturer of lightweight electric vehicles TWIKE is due to be launched in 2022. Shortly before the market launch of the TWIKE 5 with integrated pedal system, the developers had to take care of new components once again: The selected battery partner surprisingly terminated the supply agreement. A replacement has already been found, which should also benefit the range.
The battery pack for the TWIKE 5 was to be 18650 batteries, as used by electric car industry leader Tesla for individual models. After the supply agreement for this was unilaterally terminated at short notice without any prior notice, according to TWIKE, the company had to find a new solution with high cycle stability and temperature behavior that would preserve the service life.
“We would even have accepted compromises in terms of capacity, as we saw potential to further reduce consumption and thus maintain the targeted range of 400 km,” explains the company in a recent blog post. However, it was not possible to compromise on the low overall height. A battery that was too high would have meant moving the so-called H-point – the position of the driver’s hips, which is highly relevant for the seat belt fastening and field of vision – and thus a redesign of the entire vehicle.
According to the company, the fact that TWIKE was denied delivery of the 18650 cell is due to the supplier discontinuing production of this type of battery. The successor cell was not an alternative, as it was probably “snatched from under the nose” of the niche provider by an established car manufacturer. However, the increasing demand from the automotive industry also has advantages, as the supply on the market is now greater and new standards are available.
The TWIKE makers have found a replacement for the 18650 cell that can also be optimally integrated into the battery box of their latest vehicle. The weight will increase slightly due to the more robust design of the individual housings. However, the additional weight also lowers the overall center of gravity of the vehicle slightly. According to TWIKE, the cycle and current stability of the new system are considerably better than the original version. The energy content of more than 35 kWh even suggests a range of over 500 kilometers. More detailed information will be published after the upcoming practical tests.
Source: TWIKE 5 – ecomento.de
