Comment by dust42
4 days ago
> you compare maximum hardware capabilities of the raw battery with a vehicle, set up for longevity. Look, there are reasons I don't charge my 18650 batteries with their maximum 5C current, but at a gentle, slow rate. Virtually all the electric cars have default maximum charge set to 80-90% - not because a car maker lied
But that is exactly what the CEO claims in the video [1]: "This pack charges in as low a 5min and is still build for longevity [Video shows time lapse of charging from 0%-100%]. You can fast charge every single day for years. [...] It is designed for 100,000 cycles"
Especially for motorcycles that definitely would be a game changer: 5 minute stop to top up to 100% while stretching your legs...
And the guy from Verge Motorcycles says: "A new long range version delivering up to 600km of real world range."
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-aPS2AwMbc @ 10:54 the 600km statement @ 12:59 the talk about the charging
> 100% in 5 min
Fair, I was wrong to pick up on that particular one given the above, my apologies, however I'd expect bikes and cars to be set up to charge less and slower anyway.
And I agree for a bikes it would be a game changer. Currently I wouldn't take electric for a few hundred miles ride, too much hassle, but I'd absolutely love the scenario you picture.
Concerning range though, I think their estimate is pretty fair as far as the marketoid speech goes -- it can be 600 km, even though no one will be buying this bike to commute exclusively within city limits while much cheaper moped would be better.
> Concerning range though, I think their estimate is pretty fair as far as the marketoid speech goes -- it can be 600 km
I don't know what 'real world range' means to you. A bike of this size uses roughly 9kWh/100km. The battery has 33kWh capacity you will usually look for a charger at 20% and charge to 80%. So 'real world range' will be around 200-250km.
The last version with a 20kWh battery made a record run from 100% to 0% with 350km. Which translates to 577km on this bigger battery. At least I don't consider the need of a car following me with a trailer a 'real world' scenario.
And another funny thing: if you watch the video, you actually can see that the battery starts to bulb during the charging starting from 67% on and then the video cuts out at 82%...
Btw, the CEO never speaks of cells, only of batteries. In the industry the battery is usually considered the structure plus the cells. He doesn't even speak about a factory or production. So if he buys white label cells in China he is technically not lying.
It is an absolutely fantastic marketing video and cleverly done: Verge says on their website only 33.3kWh capacity and 10min to 80%. We connect the dots in our brains which aren't there.
It is a decent motorbike used to make donut look legit and donut is used to create hype for the motorcycle, likely made in China with a bit of assembly in Europe to call it Finnish.