Volabike Range Extender

[WayWayUp]

Hi. I live in the USA, own a Specialized Creo SL (1.1 ENGINE MODEL) and would like to travel to Europe with my bike. That, of course, means removing the main battery. Then, on arrival, powering my ride with with only a Volabike (volabike.com) 480Wh external battery (range extender). Is it safe? Is overheating a concern? Actual experience anyone?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It looks an interesting product. I'm afraid you would be an early adopter, though. I googled out this review for an Orbea Range Extender by Volabike:

Orbea Gain Volabike range extender | CycleChat Cycling Forum

Anyone using one of these? Looks interesting.

www.cyclechat.net

This thread is for the Creo extender from Volabike:

Mahle SL 1.1 DIY/3rd Party Extender

i've bought aftermarket 480wh extender for KSL Got a link for that?

www.emtbforums.com

My question is: What are you doing with the Extender after your trip has completed?

 

[Allan47.7339]

Hi. I live in the USA, own a Specialized Creo SL (1.1 ENGINE MODEL) and would like to travel to Europe with my bike. That, of course, means removing the main battery. Then, on arrival, powering my ride with with only a Volabike (volabike.com) 480Wh external battery (range extender). Is it safe? Is overheating a concern? Actual experience anyone?

People I know that have traveled to Europe to ride, go with two Specialized RE's in carry-on. The Volabike extender batteries at either 240 Wh or 480 Wh are too big to fly, so you would have to have it shipped to your location. Volabike refers to it as an extender and doesn't mention using it alone. You would need to ask them to clarify. The Specialized RE's have firmware that allows them to be used in place of the main battery. In the one thread about the Mahle 3rd party range extenders they are a little careless with terminolgy so you have to read it carefully to see they don't think the Volabike can be used alone without the main battery in that thread.

 

[Dazmanturbo]

I did look into these previously. The firmware is only for the SL1.1 and will not work fully with Creo 2. Similar to the existing Specialized RE's if the firmware is not up to date, it will only offer reduced power on the Creo 2. The Creo 1 does not have this issue. The cost was quite off putting for me. Where are you heading to in Europe? I am in UK and have 2 spare main batteries for the Creo 1 and could pass one one at a far cheaper price than the Volabike RE

 

[WayWayUp]

It looks an interesting product. I'm afraid you would be an early adopter, though. I googled out this review for an Orbea Range Extender by Volabike:

Orbea Gain Volabike range extender | CycleChat Cycling Forum

Anyone using one of these? Looks interesting.

www.cyclechat.net

This thread is for the Creo extender from Volabike:

Mahle SL 1.1 DIY/3rd Party Extender

i've bought aftermarket 480wh extender for KSL Got a link for that?

www.emtbforums.com

My question is: What are you doing with the Extender after your trip has completed?

Sell, trade or donate after the trip's completed. Thanks.

 

[WayWayUp]

I did look into these previously. The firmware is only for the SL1.1 and will not work fully with Creo 2. Similar to the existing Specialized RE's if the firmware is not up to date, it will only offer reduced power on the Creo 2. The Creo 1 does not have this issue. The cost was quite off putting for me. Where are you heading to in Europe? I am in UK and have 2 spare main batteries for the Creo 1 and could pass one one at a far cheaper price than the Volabike RE

Purchasing a Creo main battery, having it delivered to my European destination is an alternative. Question for you: I have been advised that installing a different main battery requires/doesn't require a firmware update. What's your experience? Thanks.

 

[Dazmanturbo]

Purchasing a Creo main battery, having it delivered to my European destination is an alternative. Question for you: I have been advised that installing a different main battery requires/doesn't require a firmware update. What's your experience? Thanks.

For my Creo 1, I purchased 4 main batteries off Ebay as untested. 3 were good and I have 1 dead one. I was able to swap all these batteries into my Creo 1 with no firmware update needed and the live ones all worked well. I can do a battery swap in about 10 mins and once done a few times, it is a fairly simple job. One of the batteries was virtually new, so I popped this in the bike and used it for several thousand miles and no firmware was ever needed.

For the batteries to work in the Creo 2, they need be installed in the bike and updated with firmware to supply the higher draw. It is the same with the Range Extender. If the firmware was not updated from Creo 1, then the power for the whole bike is restricted. No issues with the Creo 1 with this.

I sold my Creo 1 and passed on one of the batteries with that bike, but still got 2 left in the cupboard.

 

[Allan47.7339]

Are any of the speed settings in the battery firmware?

 

[Dazmanturbo]

Are any of the speed settings in the battery firmware?

No, speed settings are held in TCU. The old firmware restricts the available power to draw on, as the Creo 2 is more powerful and needs more. The BMS (battery management system) will only allow a certain draw unless the firmware is updated