Two-wheel electric transport has stamped its personality on Asian cities, and transformed the lives of Western youth. Purchasing batteries from the original supplier is important, but come what may they take up space. Therefore, users should understand the difference between cell-to-body, and cell-to-chassis batteries.
Unpicking the Cell-to-Chassis and Cell-to-Body Debate
There’s been a steady move away from enclosing cells in separate modules, and slipping these into two-wheeler compartments. That’s because these portable enclosures can account for up to 30% of battery weight.
Hence the attraction of cell-to-body batteries (C2B), and cell-to-chassis batteries (C2C) too. The bottom line benefits include improved energy storage per weight, and lower energy costs. These things matter greatly, especially if you are e-biking deliveries:
- C2B batteries pack directly into an opening in the upper part of a two wheeler body, where their terminals connect to contact points.
- C2C batteries take this a stage further. They stack into a structural part of the chassis, where they may become load-bearing elements.
- C2C batteries may help absorb vibrations from the road surface. They MAY also contribute to two-wheeler structural rigidity.
So What Two-Wheeler Battery Arrangement Is Best?
Cell-to-chassis batteries occupy a hitherto unused part of two-wheelers, for a practical purpose. However, if the e-bike has an accident, then the shock COULD damage the batteries permanently.
Cell-to-body batteries rob the rider of scarce storage compartments, they could otherwise use for something else. That said, the batteries are MORE likely to avoid permanent damage in an accident.
Four-wheeler electric vehicles mostly protect their much-larger batteries in removable modules under their passenger compartments. There are signs of a trend towards packing them directly onto the chassis – again because of the weight saving.
EV Reporter suggests this strategy could increase driving range by 30 miles. Incorporating EV batteries inside a chassis is an unexplored area as far as we are aware, and is beyond the scope of this blog.
More Information
Potted E-Bike Batteries Hint at a New Era
