| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
http://www.sys-con.com/node/2772666 | ||
| M2typhoon |
Makes complete sense actually. Based in CA and technically just as new as EBR is. Makes me wonder if this has anything to do with the new hybrid ideas. | ||
| Slaughter |
Been running one in the racebike, got another in Sunny's 1984 VF500F. It's nice to have a non-lead-acid battery AND not carry an extra 5 pounds. Makes sense that EBR carries the Shorai as standard issue. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The "problem" with the Shorai isn't really a problem, it's a cost / benefit decision. If you want a smart cell balancer charger LiIon battery, EBR will sell you a brilliant one. If you want a non integrated smart cell balancer, Shorai will sell you one. When I first saw the non smart charger bike batteries being released, I did my smug little EE dance in my head and thought people were stupid for ruining perfectly good LiIon cells. But then I thought about it more. The non regulated charging of the cells (or more accurately, not precisely regulated) means the cells don't reach their maximum theoretical lifespan. But guess what? Most of my precisely regulated cells don't reach *their* lifespan either. Something happens... other damage, device obsolensce, other failures, mechanical swelling, etc. And when you look at the price, if you are paying 30% as much and getting 50% of the lifespan, then who am I to judge? (just recycle those cells please). Particularly for race applications, like Steve's, where there simply aren't that many cycles per year. There would be two very cool outcomes of this announcement. I'm rooting for both. 1) Shorai and EBR co develop a built in precise charger version of the Shorai cells in a more economical package. 2) Shorai and EBR co develop a stack of super batteries for use on an incredibly cool hybrid powered adventure bike (batteries tuned for extremely high capacity and extremely high charge and discharge rates, at the cost of "high self discharge" over time.) Number two would be cooler than cool. Very high charge rates and discharge rates mean you could plug the thing into a wall and top off the battery and keep it plugged in and topped off. Or the bike could use the gas motor and regnerative braking to charge up the battery sufficiently for a 30 second 100 HP "turbo boost" for your next acceleration. If you unplugged the bike or parked it, the charge would self bleed out over the next 30 minutes. No big deal, because it is a hybrid, you just run off gas for a bit to charge it back up. |
