Just an update...I wrote a few months ago seeking advice about retrofitting a new Catrike Dumont with a Copenhagen wheel. I did this back in July, and I want to report that I could not be happier! Granted, I'm not on the road for 12 hours at a time, but I have been up and over mountain passes (Vail Pass, Cuchara Pass) and the battery life has exceeded my expectations. The Dumont rides like a dream, but I would never be able to do what I am doing without the Copenhagen wheel. It's trouble free, incredibly easy to set up and the bluetooth connectivity has never failed me. To be able to adjust the level of assist with a finger touch to my phone is amazing. If you're traveling very long distances, then perhaps this isn't the solution for you, but if going 30-50 miles, even over mountain passes is what you're doing, I highly suggest this.
I have a 2018 Catrike Dumont second hand with the Copenhagen Wheel. Because of distance limitation I would never buy one.
But I like the pedal assist sensors and no wires or battery to store. So simple to exchange to the original factory wheel anytime without any major work. I just like the wheel. I emailed Superpedestrian if they have any plans for adding a spare battery, no direct answer but if they didn't do it yet they probably won't for a long time.
What I found:
The large center of the wheel doesn't move it's stationary. You can put the back wheel on rollers for training and while pedaling charge the battery with their charger. If you do that all assist are blocked out but you can see your mpg & charge % read out.
How can we use this to our advantage?
Superpedestrian Copenhagen wheel does not know if you are plugged into your house 110v or a camping Lithium pure sine wave inverter 110v generator.
Many of them if you google, but I found one 330w, plugged the CW charger to it and it did the same thing as plugging in at home. It draws 90 to 97w using their charger and will bring your CW wheel to almost full charge in about 2.7hrs. The inverter is 8x6x8 weights 7.2lbs cost less than an extra ebatt about $300 Amazon.
In a hurry I bungeed the inverter in the back and took off on a one way 40 miles. I found an outlet at the 40mile mark rested & charged 26% on top of the 19% I had left when I stopped. I didn't want to wait any longer as I didn't want to go home with long miles in the dark. I plugged in the inverter to the wheel using the CW charger and started the 40 mile back. I could see my mpg and the state of charge which was going up at a good clip. I had no assist as long as I'm charging and maintained 10 to 12 mph. In around an hour later I was at 100% without having to wait stationary for the charge. This took me all the way home with 9% left at the finish. On the way home after the 100% charge I mostly used 2nd highest setting (standard)
This now give you options:
1- Do nothing if you go less than 40 miles
2- Bring along a charger and try to charge the bike in a friendly shop, (SP do not advise using an extension cord)
3- Buy the inverter and be able to recharge once anywhere while resting.
4- With the inverter on a battery holder on the bike you can charge while riding without assist.
5- The inverter can be recharged at a friendly shop easier than the whole bike.
Don't forget the camping inverter is designed to charge multiple phones, laptops, lights, small refrig, and has a bright led light if your stuck fixing a flat. I nice idea for a home emergency if you only use it once in a while for your bike.
There is folding a solar panel they claim will charge the inverter in 5 or 6 hrs for those long trips.
Cons:
Pricey $300
The most impractical way to charge your wheel. AC to charge the DC batteries in the inverter AC then to the AC charger to DC, (surprisingly not much loss)
Shlepping around if on a long trip the 7.2 lb inverter
Waiting for a the CW to recharge
Riding while charging with no assist.
All because the wheel has no battery to take out and charge or able to bring along a spar which is the most practical way for long distances.
So even if you decide not to do this you have the idea in the future.
We are using what the CW was designed for. I'm uneducated in this very complicated charging subject.
But it works for me and I love my CW wheel more than ever.
Maybe Superpedestrian with the aid of MIT will start doing the research and give us a spare battery option like everyone else. My inverter Paxcess or something like it.