E-Bike designs...getting less clunky, more stylish, better integrated...

[Deleted member 4210]

Very refreshing to see some of these new designs, from more and more brands...
https://electricbikereport.com/priority-embark-electric-bike-review-part-1-pictures-specs/

If the industry keeps it coming, mainstream adopters which switch from regular bikes in even greater numbers, and convert people who haven't been been riding bikes much at all, into getting back in the 'saddle.'

 

[TForan]

Much easier to integrate such a small battery. The PowerPack 400 is a 36V 11ah lithium battery that has a 400 watt hour capacity.

 

[MisterM]

Much easier to integrate such a small battery. The PowerPack 400 is a 36V 11ah lithium battery that has a 400 watt hour capacity.

Yes, easier, but it's no excuse for slapping on bulky batteries on downtubes as still happens WAY too often - at the very least, how hard is it to place an elegant cover on them?

Haibike and Specialized's new emtbs have much larger batteries (630-700wh) and almost look like their analog cousins

 

[Solom01]

There's a downside to this "integration" and "sleekness" however. By not standardizing on battery shape and size you may very well end up with a relic in a few years when the original manufacturer is either out of business or no longer supporting that model - at which point your only option will be to throw out a bike that is otherwise in great shape or try to find a third party supplier or battery repair service which can be mega expensive. It also allows vendors to charge extremely high prices for their batteries since there is no competition. Not quite the same thing, but after having to throw away a good iZip bike with a battery in the frame I learned my lesson. When cars all used basically the same 12 volt lead acid batteries you could replace them just about anywhere at low cost. Now that more and more cars are using non-standard sizes replacing a battery is basically something that has to be done at the dealer for many times more.

 

[Nova Haibike]

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the Priority e-bike is "ugly." They obviously tried (and failed) to make the battery more integrated. Either go full on and use an in-tube battery, or create a paint-matched cover for a standard battery, but don't have a cut-off tube in front of the battery. That just looks odd.

 

[MisterM]

There's a downside to this "integration" and "sleekness" however. By not standardizing on battery shape and size you may very well end up with a relic in a few years when the original manufacturer is either out of business or no longer supporting that model - at which point your only option will be to throw out a bike that is otherwise in great shape or try to find a third party supplier or battery repair service which can be mega expensive. It also allows vendors to charge extremely high prices for their batteries since there is no competition. Not quite the same thing, but after having to throw away a good iZip bike with a battery in the frame I learned my lesson. When cars all used basically the same 12 volt lead acid batteries you could replace them just about anywhere at low cost. Now that more and more cars are using non-standard sizes replacing a battery is basically something that has to be done at the dealer for many times more.

You mean it's impossible to use a standardized battery AND design an elegant bike? I beg to differ.

 

[CodyDog]

Very refreshing to see some of these new designs, from more and more brands...
https://electricbikereport.com/priority-embark-electric-bike-review-part-1-pictures-specs/

If the industry keeps it coming, mainstream adopters which switch from regular bikes in even greater numbers, and convert people who haven't been been riding bikes much at all, into getting back in the 'saddle.'

I agree.