Emtbs have changed so much since they started appearing in any numbers. Five years ago, many emtb’s had wide plus-tyres and a frame mounted external battery with a key. The plus-tyres are gone, thankfully!
The external batteries have pretty much disappeared too. But, the battery key is still around. Yeah, all of this can still be found on Alibaba. But I’m talking about proper hard-charging trail and enduro bikes by big reputable brands. Many still use a key to secure and remove the battery.
The 2017 Haibike sDuro allmtn. Back then lots of emtbs had plus-tyres and external batteries.
I believe the key has caused more problems than it has solved. In addition to unlocking things, keys are small, easy to lose and often hard to find.
Most likely, you aren't lucky enough to find your key in the couch.
Battery mounts must be calibrated when the shop is getting the bike ready for delivery. And the mounts can come out of alignment with time. I’ve adjusted battery mounts on a few bikes with both internal and external batteries. Sure, the key isn’t directly to be blamed for this.
But pretty much all bikes with a key use this kind of battery mount. These mounts add complexity, and they’re surprisingly heavy. Mounts and lock cylinder can add up to 500-600 grams.
And then there’s the additional frame weight; manufacturers often need to beef up the frames to account for battery locking hardware, or reinforced areas on frames where a big battery hole is made, especially on frames where a battery is side loaded (Trek Rail) or loaded underneath the down tube (eg, Orbea Wild).
Adjusting the upper battery mount when setting up a 2019 Canyon Spectral:On
The 2023 Pivot Shuttle SL, a lightweight emtb with an internally fixed battery.
Production is simplified and cost is reduced. This isn’t a new solution of course. Already in 2018 I reviewed the Focus Jam2 with an internally fixed battery.
Focus Jam2 with an internally fixed battery and a range extender on top of the down tube.
But having an easily detachable battery is important to some. Not everyone has the option take their bike indoors. Those who live in colder climates need to bring the battery indoors for charging during the winter. It's best to start the ride with a room tempered battery, to optimize range. Having a detachable battery can also be important when transporting a bike on a rack. A 20 kg weight limit is common for bike racks.
Rob did a survey on his Instagram, where he asked what people thought of detachable batteries. I was a bit surprised about how many people prefer an easily detachable battery.
Also, a single removable bolt doesn’t require the big battery mounts and it requires less frame reinforcement.
The battery is located as low in the frame as possible, which improves weight distribution. This requires the front of motor to be tilted upwards, to avoid blocking the battery opening. Not everybody likes the looks though. The frame is quite bulky in the crank area.
Also, it’s more challenging making a waterproof solution for connecting the power cable. Specialized improved their battery power plug for 2022.
Rob removes the battery from a 2022 Canyon Spectral:ON CFR.
Other manufacturers have since used the same method, but I think it’s surprisingly few. Removing the battery by sliding it from the bottom of the bike is more time consuming, and slightly more hassle. But I don’t think that’s of much importance to most people, not on an emtb.
Trek has a similar slide-in solution on the new Fuel EXe, but they decided to attach the battery using two smaller allen bolts.
The lower bolt holds both the battery cover and the battery. The upper bolt only holds the battery. Removing the battery takes some time. But the battery is removable, and that’s the most important thing. This design doesn’t add much weight compared to a non-removable battery.
The Trek Fuel EXe battery is removable.
Late 2019, Shimano introduced a new internal 504Wh battery. The traditional lock cylinder and key was gone. Now you only need a 4mm allen key to remove the battery. Several brands decided to include the tool in the bike. Merida fitted the tool in the rear axle. I found it a bit difficult operating the unlocking mechanism, it wasn’t easy seeing where the bolt head was.
Still, I like it, it’s an improvement. There are other solutions that relies on an allen key too. BESV simply swapped the locking cylinder for one that is operated with an allen key.
BESV simply installed a lock cylinder that opens with an allen key. Easy and convenient
The Bosch 750Wh battery will be on lots of bikes going forward. This is one long battery, so it’s difficult making room for it in the frame. The battery mounts have to go, there isn’t room for them. Some chose to fix the battery, making it non detachable.
Rotwild keeps the regular battery mounts, but the lock cylinder is replaced with a button. Easy and practical!
Moustache use a screw on the top side of the down tube. The screw is finger-operated, and the battery tilts out of the down tube in the regular fashion. The frame needs reinforcement around the big opening in the downtube but avoiding the big battery mounts saves weight.
Now the time has come for more brands to invent more clever ways of implementing the battery. And I think it's time to say goodbye to the battery key. You won't be missed!
The external batteries have pretty much disappeared too. But, the battery key is still around. Yeah, all of this can still be found on Alibaba. But I’m talking about proper hard-charging trail and enduro bikes by big reputable brands. Many still use a key to secure and remove the battery.
The 2017 Haibike sDuro allmtn. Back then lots of emtbs had plus-tyres and external batteries.
But it’s nice to have a key, right?
Sure, with a bit of imagination, I can think of some scenarios where the key is an advantage. Locking the battery could be an advantage on rental bikes. But, for the most part, I think the key is a disadvantage on an emtb.I believe the key has caused more problems than it has solved. In addition to unlocking things, keys are small, easy to lose and often hard to find.
Most likely, you aren't lucky enough to find your key in the couch.
Complex, heavy and costly
Another problem is batteries that don't attach to the frame properly, causing knocking or rattling, or even batteries falling out in some cases.Battery mounts must be calibrated when the shop is getting the bike ready for delivery. And the mounts can come out of alignment with time. I’ve adjusted battery mounts on a few bikes with both internal and external batteries. Sure, the key isn’t directly to be blamed for this.
But pretty much all bikes with a key use this kind of battery mount. These mounts add complexity, and they’re surprisingly heavy. Mounts and lock cylinder can add up to 500-600 grams.
And then there’s the additional frame weight; manufacturers often need to beef up the frames to account for battery locking hardware, or reinforced areas on frames where a big battery hole is made, especially on frames where a battery is side loaded (Trek Rail) or loaded underneath the down tube (eg, Orbea Wild).
Adjusting the upper battery mount when setting up a 2019 Canyon Spectral:On
No key, less weight
Currently, it seems there are as many lightweight emtbs being launched as heavier, full fat emtbs. A lightweight emtb will of course have to be reasonably lightweight. Therefore, these bikes mostly come without a battery key. And most of them come with a non-removable battery.The 2023 Pivot Shuttle SL, a lightweight emtb with an internally fixed battery.
Fixed battery
Fixing the battery inside the frame is the easy solution. Batteries can be installed using simple and lightweight mounts. So, there is no need for a huge hole in the down tube for battery removal. And there is no need for extra frame reinforcement in this area. This can double the weight savings.Production is simplified and cost is reduced. This isn’t a new solution of course. Already in 2018 I reviewed the Focus Jam2 with an internally fixed battery.
Focus Jam2 with an internally fixed battery and a range extender on top of the down tube.
But having an easily detachable battery is important to some. Not everyone has the option take their bike indoors. Those who live in colder climates need to bring the battery indoors for charging during the winter. It's best to start the ride with a room tempered battery, to optimize range. Having a detachable battery can also be important when transporting a bike on a rack. A 20 kg weight limit is common for bike racks.
Rob did a survey on his Instagram, where he asked what people thought of detachable batteries. I was a bit surprised about how many people prefer an easily detachable battery.
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Batteries that can be inserted into the bottom of the frame
Specialized made a good solution for a removable battery on their 2019 Levo. They made a small opening at the bottom of the frame. Here the battery is inserted and attached with a hex bolt. Most of us carry hex keys in a tool box or even on the bike, making it far less likely to be stuck somewhere without a key that fits!Also, a single removable bolt doesn’t require the big battery mounts and it requires less frame reinforcement.
The battery is located as low in the frame as possible, which improves weight distribution. This requires the front of motor to be tilted upwards, to avoid blocking the battery opening. Not everybody likes the looks though. The frame is quite bulky in the crank area.
Also, it’s more challenging making a waterproof solution for connecting the power cable. Specialized improved their battery power plug for 2022.
Rob removes the battery from a 2022 Canyon Spectral:ON CFR.
Other manufacturers have since used the same method, but I think it’s surprisingly few. Removing the battery by sliding it from the bottom of the bike is more time consuming, and slightly more hassle. But I don’t think that’s of much importance to most people, not on an emtb.
Trek has a similar slide-in solution on the new Fuel EXe, but they decided to attach the battery using two smaller allen bolts.
The lower bolt holds both the battery cover and the battery. The upper bolt only holds the battery. Removing the battery takes some time. But the battery is removable, and that’s the most important thing. This design doesn’t add much weight compared to a non-removable battery.
The Trek Fuel EXe battery is removable.
The old implementation without a key
Some brands chose to keep the battery mounts but ditch the key. This doesn’t necessarily reduce bike weight. Still, I think it’s an improvement.Late 2019, Shimano introduced a new internal 504Wh battery. The traditional lock cylinder and key was gone. Now you only need a 4mm allen key to remove the battery. Several brands decided to include the tool in the bike. Merida fitted the tool in the rear axle. I found it a bit difficult operating the unlocking mechanism, it wasn’t easy seeing where the bolt head was.
Still, I like it, it’s an improvement. There are other solutions that relies on an allen key too. BESV simply swapped the locking cylinder for one that is operated with an allen key.
BESV simply installed a lock cylinder that opens with an allen key. Easy and convenient
The Bosch 750Wh battery will be on lots of bikes going forward. This is one long battery, so it’s difficult making room for it in the frame. The battery mounts have to go, there isn’t room for them. Some chose to fix the battery, making it non detachable.
Rotwild keeps the regular battery mounts, but the lock cylinder is replaced with a button. Easy and practical!
Moustache use a screw on the top side of the down tube. The screw is finger-operated, and the battery tilts out of the down tube in the regular fashion. The frame needs reinforcement around the big opening in the downtube but avoiding the big battery mounts saves weight.
Moustache has a clever way of making the huge Bosch Powertube 750 battery detachable. |
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Not completely gone
I believe emtbs with a key will be made for years to come. But my claim is most new bikes won't have a battery key. This was an easy solution that we accepted initially.Now the time has come for more brands to invent more clever ways of implementing the battery. And I think it's time to say goodbye to the battery key. You won't be missed!