News

The Akku Vision team is growing

On 01 November 2022, the company Akku Vision welcomed Heiko Friedrich to the position of Key Account Manager.

Heiko Friedrich already has over 30 years of experience in the bike industry and has extensive knowledge in customer care, especially in the e-bike sector. In the future, he will actively support the Akku Vision team and take care of OEM customers in the e-bike sector.

"We are very pleased to be welcoming Heiko into our sales team as Key Account Manager (OEM). He brings a wealth of sales experience and with his wide contact network in the e-bike industry, we are certain that new potential OEM projects will be realized in the coming years." Kim Madsen, CSO.

HOW DO I ACTUALLY STORE MY E-BIKE BATTERY OVER WINTER?

Many e-bike riders ask themselves this question as temperatures drop over the winter.

There are also guideline values for the temperature and the optimal charging state of the battery for EBV e-bike batteries.

Often the temperatures are not high enough for the storage of the battery, the self-discharge damages the cells and the battery and they lose capacity.

The right temperature
If you want to store our battery at low temperatures and for a longer period of time, we recommend a temperature of about 17 °C. This is where our battery feels most comfortable and chemical ageing of the battery is reduced to a minimum. Even a short storage period of a few hours at temperatures that are too low or too high can have a negative effect on the battery and cause long-term damage. This is why you should ensure that the battery is stored under the right conditions, even if it is used regularly.

Sufficient charge
With 50 - 70% charge you can store our battery for a longer period of time. The EBV E-Bike Batteries automatically switch to Deep-Sleep mode to reduce the self-discharge caused by the current consumption of the BMS.

Before the next use, the e-bike battery should be fully charged.

Now you can start the new season and get back on your e-bike!

We hope you continue to have fun with our EBV E-Bike Battery!

E-bike battery safety is key for Akku Vision

A key element for the success of German company, Akku Vision, a leading e-bike battery producer, is the high standards maintained when it comes to the functional safety of its products.

The production of e-bikes has become increasingly complex in recent years, primarily due to new model variants, new technologies and new legal requirements. In addition to the engine itself, one component in particular poses a significant challenge to the engineers: the battery. From the lithium-ion cells to the battery management system to the housing, everything must be perfectly in tune to ensure the smooth and safe functioning of an e-bike battery. That’s why the standards for developing e-bike batteries have also become increasingly complex in recent years.

Certifications or test procedures such as UN 38.3, IEC 62133 or the newly-enacted EN 50604-1 (all standards for lithium batteries) and EN 15194 (requirements for electrically power-assisted cycles) are intended to ensure that no malfunctions, short circuits, and other failures occur during use. “The topic of safety accompanies us in our work every day. In the case of e-bike batteries, functional safety according to ISO 13849, which is derived from the requirements of EN 15194, is particularly important. This includes measures that ensure that a battery functions correctly and that the risk of faults is as low as possible,” explains Marcel Wilke, chief technical officer at Akku Vision, a leading e-bike battery producer worldwide.

At its headquarters in Haibach, Akku Vision has been developing and producing e-bike batteries since 2011 for both OEM customers and for the aftermarket. "From requirement analysis to cell selection series production and certification, we offer the full programme from enquiry to finished product," Wilke says. "We develop everything in-house – hardware, software and even most of the testing and inspection equipment come from us. We even have our own test department and also write algorithms ourselves, such as for calculating the charging level of the batteries," he adds.

The German manufacturer places particular emphasis on the functional safety of its products. Elaborate control and test procedures ensure that they not only meet the international standards but even exceed them in many cases – starting with model-specific FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) and FMEDA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Diagnostic Analysis) procedures to the calculation of the statistical failure rates of components and circuit parts (MTTFd) to the determination of the performance levels of the protective functions to the battery management system itself.

"A standard always represents only the minimum requirement. However, our hardware and software often contain further protective measures that are not required by the standard. However, these additionally implemented measures significantly improve the protection of the battery," Wilke explains.

He also points out that the company’s own measures often exceed the guideline values of the international specifications many times over. "Our top priority when it comes to the development is safety. However, the requirements of the standards are often not sufficient to guarantee this in the best possible way. For this reason, we set our own standards. "

Akku Vision, therefore, protects both the individual cells and the entire battery with multi-level safety systems. These systems monitor, for example, the temperature at several points in the battery pack, the functionality of the battery management system, the charging and discharging current and the individual cell voltage. Another focus is on the protection against a possible overvoltage of cells as well as the prevention of deep discharge. Additionally, the system should prevent short circuits. This is achieved through specific mechanisms: as soon as a component exceeds previously defined limits, or another problem occurs, the cell pack is switched off by a protective function. "Depending on the requirements, five to ten of our engineers are involved in developing a battery. Due to the high requirements and the equally high demand for our products, we need about six to twelve months to develop and test a new product," Wilke reports.

Wilke is particularly proud that all development and production steps take place in the company’s own factory. Only training and product certifications are sometimes outsourced. For example, six employees were recently trained by TÜV SGS Saar to become certified Machinery Functional Safety Professionals (MFSP). Currently, there are only 75 such experts in Germany. "So we provide almost 10% of them," says Wilke. Because of this accumulated know-how in his own company, the Akku Vision CTO is more than optimistic about the future. This is all the more true as the standards for e-bike batteries will continue to become more complex in the coming years – possibly at the same speed as the rapidly increasing sales figures of pedelecs worldwide.

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

Akku Vision introduces first ever intube batteries

German Akku Vision GmbH is reaching a new milestone by launching 2 new intube models to its collection under the wellknown E-bike battery brand E-Bike Vision.

The intube models are compatible to Bosch* Active (Plus) and Performance (CX) drive systems and can be charged with original Bosch* charger. Optionally, Akku Vision offers 3 different chargers with standard 4A and 6A output for faster charging and 2A car charger.

The models are assembled with in-house developed Intelligent eBV Battery Management System (BMS), Gen. 3 and the main features are:

Four Safety Levels

• Control of cell and BMS temperature
• Single cell voltage monitoring
• Passive cell balancing
• Battery pack voltage monitoring
• over voltage protection (cells & pack)
• deep discharge protection (cells & pack)
• Battery pack current monitoring
• for charging
• for discharging
• short-circuit protection

Communication port

• CAN Bus (Bosch* Active / Performance compatible)
• Compatible with Bosch Diagnostic Tool
• Integrated Bluetooth Chip for firmware updates

SoC (State of Charge) Display

• 5 LEDs and communication to HMI for display of SoC and Range

The 17.5 Ah/630 Wh is available from February 2022 with a price tag of recommended retail price of 689.00 € whereas the 12.8 Ah/461 Wh is delivered from March 2022 and it’s recommended retail price is 519.00€

Both models come in horizontal and vertical versions.

For more information:
Mr. Kim Madsen CSO/CMO Mobile: +41 470 6526
Mr. Daniel Maiberger CEO Telephone: +49 (0) 6021 3289288

Akku Vision launches B2B Shop

As of 23.09 September, Akku Vision has opened their new B2B shop on the www.e-bike-Vision.de homepage. The shop is open for dealers in Germany and Austria and with a few clicks availability, prices and ordering of ebike batteries are conveniently at hand for the customer.

"E-commerce is becoming a vital part of our business and now the dealer can access our shop and place their order 24H any day. We hope our customers will welcome this new buying portal and it will add to our continuous sales growth of replacement batteries". Mr. Daniel Maiberger, CEO.

For more information:
Sales Team, info@akkuvision.de, Phone: +49 (0) 6021 3289288

Akku Vision to launch Panasonic Next Generation compatible batteries

German Akku Vision launches 2 new models to its collection under the wellknown E-bike battery brand E-Bike Vision.

For the popular Panasonic 36V Next Generation drivesystem, there will be 2 versions, 17 Ah (605 Wh) and 19 Ah (691 Wh), both developed and assembled in Germany.
Some of the main features are use of modern 18650 cells, low weight of only 3500gr., smart bluetooth connectivity for updates and offers up to 500 cycles.

The batteries are 100% compatible to Panasonic Next Generation drivesystem and can be charged with original Panasonic charger. As option, Akku Vision offers 2 different chargers with standard 4A and 6A output for faster charging.

17 Ah is released in May priced at RRP € 989,- and 19 Ah is released in July at RRP € 1.189,-

Main features:

• Nominal Voltage 36V
• Nominal Energy 605Wh (17Ah) and 691Wh (19Ah)
• 18650 Cells
• Integrated bluetooth connectivity
• 500 charge cycles
• IP64 splashproofed housing
• Weight approx. 3500gr

For more information:
Sales Team, info@akkuvision.de, Phone: +49 (0) 6021 3289288

E-BIKE VISION TO BE REBRANDED AS AKKU VISION GMBH

With effect from 28 August 2020, the former E-Bike Vision GmbH will be known as Akku Vision GmbH.

Mr Daniel Maiberger, CEO of Akku Vision GmbH, explains the reasons behind this change: "Akku Vision is a suitable name for our future business, as we are expanding our product portfolio to include other categories such as intralogistics, hobby and leisure, while remaining a supplier of high-quality replacement batteries that are compatible with electric bike drive systems from leading brands."

In preparation for this expansion, Akku Vision moved to its new premises in July, which span more than 5,000 square metres. The following services will accommodated at the new premises: Storage, service, research and development, administration and production. We are proud to announce that our quality management system has received ISO 9001 certification.

The management team was expanded with the appointment of Kim Madsen as Sales and Marketing Manager and Marcel Wilke as Technical Manager, who will lead a new team of hardware and software engineers. Both have many years of experience in their respective disciplines and will ensure that the long-term strategy is correctly implemented.

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with such a motivated and enthusiastic team. My job is to expand our aftermarket business which we currently operate in Germany, Switzerland and the Nordic countries with our own sales office and Benelux via our distributor MyMicroGroup B.V. and to manage our international OEM sales. We are seeing increasing demand from OEM customers for battery systems produced in Europe and we know that with our change to Akku Vision cements us as a qualified and competent partner," says Kim Madsen.

For further information:
Mr Kim Madsen Sales and Marketing Manager mobile: +41 470 6526
Mr Daniel Maiberger Managing Director tel.: +49 (0) 6021 3289288