Pi-POP BY STEE
A DIFFERENT SORT OF POWER-DOUBLE-WHEELER
Who doesn’t like a solution that takes a chronic issue … and simply eliminates it?
A rapidly growing sector of the EV industry – e-bikes - promises major emissions reduction around the world, except for one thing; battery fires. They are a relative rarity, but we hear a lot about them because they tend to be devastating. E-bikes are often stored and charged indoors, setting buildings on fire and killing people when their batteries explode.
The global e-bike market is valued at about USD 50 billion, with projections of USD 86 billion by 2028.
Demand leads to the inclusion of cheaply made versions, which get much of the blame for fires. Regardless, it’s an endemic problem. Lithium-ion cells experience thermal runway, a dramatic increase in temperature and pressure, along with a release of flammable gas, which can ignite from the heat and release toxic gas. Overcharging, damage, and modifications add to the danger.
And of course, we hear a lot about the depletion of lithium and how bad mining it is for the environment.
There is also that battle for more power and range; a cycle that defeats its own purpose. Or as French entrepreneur Adrien Lelièvre describes it, a dead-end. So, he invented the Pi-Pop e-bike, without a battery, using his knowledge of electronics to do what always seems to work best in innovation; level up a known quantity. In this case, a supercapacitor.
The goal is better energy storage, and that’s what supercapacitors have been doing for half a century in photovoltaic systems, such as solar panels, and more to the point here, in digital cameras, elevators, and the like, where rapid discharge - burst-mode power delivery – is required. They are also used in regenerative braking.
Pi-Pop was developed at STEE – Solutechnic Electronic Engineering – in Orléans, France. The initial focus is on how it will perform in Europe.
On level surfaces, where the rider can easily pedal and create a lot of energy, or when braking, the supercapacitor stores it electrostatically (as opposed to chemically). When restarting or riding uphill, that energy is released quickly for the needed assistance. On routes that present a dense mix of flat surfaces and grades, the case in about 80% of European cities, the 3rd generation Pi-Pop is expected to handle elevation gains of 50 meters.
Think about how it also solves the recharging scenario. Another drawback is simply eliminated. And the supercapacitor is expected to have a lifetime of 10 to 15 years, compared to five to six for lithium batteries.
Hitching a ride on this industry trend, or potentially propelling it forward in a major way, STEE is currently producing 100 Pi-Pops per month, and considering fundraising to increase that to 1,000. That would put it on track to make a big entry into the European market in 2025.
