Continental’s development and production service provider, Continental Engineering Services (CES), is cooperating with battery specialist Varta to develop new e-mobility technologies and products.
In a first pilot project, both partners have jointly developed a replaceable 48V battery pack for electrically powered two-wheelers with a power of 10kW and more. According to Continental, such vehicles are comparable in engine power and top speed with conventionally powered scooters from 125cc engine displacement.
The battery pack consists of Varta’s V4Drive high-performance cell based on lithium-ion technology. A specially developed battery management system from CES allows the use of the battery cell in automotive two-wheeler applications.
At 9kg, the lightweight battery pack gives a range of 50km and power of 10kW. It can be detached from the two-wheeler with a pull and charged externally.
In addition, any number of battery packs can be connected and controlled via new battery management systems. As a result, the range of an e-scooter can be doubled to 100km by using two batteries.
“The battery system has a high power density, meets the automotive standards in its performance class and can easily be removed from the scooter and charged quickly,” said Alex Rupprecht, director, driveline and electrification at CES. “This is an ideal solution for commuters who don’t have a charging opportunity at their parking space.”
Components and system development already tested in large-scale production can be customised and further developed. According to Continental, the new battery system for two-wheeled EVs was realised in six months, from the first idea to fully functional prototypes.
