2022-03-29
Development and production of ebike batteries
Interview with Daniel Maiberger, CEO of Akku Vision GmbH
Briefly introduce your company and give us an insight into the goals you are pursuing?
Daniel Maiberger: Akku Vision GmbH was founded in 2011 to distribute replacement batteries for e-bikes. After the rebranding in 2020 and the move to our new location in Haibach near Frankfurt, we do not only develop - produce and distribute replacement batteries, but also supply drive manufacturers and e-bike manufacturers as original equipment manufacturers. Our goal for the future is to become the leading supplier of battery systems in the field of micro-electromobility.
What are your company‘s core competencies?
Maiberger: Our core competence is the development and production of e-bike batteries. These are sold as replacement batteries for established systems under our E-Bike Vision brand or individually developed and manufactured as OEM products according to our customers‘ requirements.
What does your current product portfolio offer and what are the unique product features? Which sales channels have you established? Which new products do you have in the pipeline?
Maiberger: We offer replacement batteries for the most common drive systems, which we constantly adapt to the current technical requirements, so that we can offer our customers the highest range and safest battery. Distribution takes place through long-term partners, from large online stores to all bike dealers in Europe. Dealers can conveniently purchase our batteries via our B2B online store. We are currently focusing on the production of our new EBV E-Bike Battery Intube, compatible with the Bosch* Active (+) / Performance (CX) drive system and are pleased with the high demand and numerous pre-orders.
How about OEM solutions, is that something you also offer and do you focus entirely on Micro Mobility?
Maiberger: With our Bespoke Battery Concept, we offer our OEM customers a complete solution of an Intube battery with up to 864 Wh in the future and the associated peripherals. Currently, the focus is actually on the energy supply for e-bikes, but in the future we will expand our portfolio into other areas.
How can your company compete against the competition from Asia and can you mention your advantages that benefit your customers?
Maiberger: With our own development department at our central location in Germany and the resulting proximity to our customers, we offer short communication channels, fast development times and the best possible response times to fluctuating demands from our customers. Our focus is always on offering the customer the highest energy density and therefore the greatest range with the smallest housing dimensions.
What do you think are the biggest challenges the battery industry will face in the next 5 years?
Maiberger: In addition to the introduction of new technologies with higher energy density with shorter charging times to meet customer needs, the battery industry will face the challenge to continue meeting the continuously growth in demand for mobile energy supplies. The market is growing faster than the supply.
This will only reverse in five to six years, when the giga factories have started to operate in Europe.
What investments are you planning for your company to ensure it is well positioned for the future?
Maiberger: We continue to invest in our facilities and qualified employees and will further expand our warehousing in order to offer our customers the fastest possible response time to increasing demands. Of course, we also optimize our existing products and take into account the necessary requirements for new developments in order to keep the production automated.
When we talk again in 5 years, what has Akku Vision achieved?
Maiberger: If we look back and consider the development of Akku Vision so far, in which we have evolved from a small supplier of replacement e-bike batteries to an industrial company, this development will continue to accelerate over the next five years. The demand for accumulators developed and produced in Europe will boost our growth.
For further information:
Mr Daniel Maiberger Managing Director tel.: +49 (0) 6021 3289288