Shimano release new 630Wh batteries

[Gary]

Looks like they won't fit in existing bikes. Shimano seems pretty much void of innovation lately.

Shimano ups battery capacity for more miles per charge

Hmmm.. hold on!
Nowhere in your "linked" article does it say it won't fit existing bikes.
What it does say is
"requires a brand-new fitment port to accommodate the change in its physical size"
The new battery looks taller, but not necessarily longer or wider so I'd save your "disappointment" until you know the facts. ie. can the new fitment port be bolted onto (some) existing bikes?
not that it matters all that much when you've bought a daft 'hidden' external battery frame bike designed by a californian stoner.
TBH I'd be more interested in how much weed you can stuff in that hidden compartment than worrying about sticking 900g more battery in there.

 

[R120]

Yup to me it looks like the external can be retrofitted if you swap out the bottom mount, the battery is clearly a bit wider and taller than the existing 504wh but doesn’t look longer. What not clear if that is the case, is if you fit the new mount can you still slot in a 504 back in? If you can I will definitely upgrade.

 

[R120]

And whose to say some of the current bikes with internal batteries can’t be retrofitted? Manufacturers will have had a heads up on this quite a while ago, wouldn’t surprise me if a few had future proofed their designs to allow for the new batteries.

The Pivot and the Intense have unusual battery Soloutions as they where designed before Shimano bought out any form of Internal Battery that wasn’t a hulking monstrosity in your down tube.

 

[Gary]

Just the press release pics so don't go full columbo just yet...

shimano BT-E8016 (630wh)

and the current BT-E8010 (504wh) battery

 

[WildGuy]

Yup to me it looks like the external can be retrofitted if you swap out the bottom mount, the battery is clearly a bit wider and taller than the existing 504wh but doesn’t look longer. What not clear if that is the case, is if you fit the new mount can you still slot in a 504 back in? If you can I will definitely upgrade.

These guys think it is longer and can't be retrofitted More range: New 630 Wh Shimano battery and new display for all Shimano-STEPS motors | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine
I wonder why the internal versions are always heavier than the external though? I'd have thought the external would be heavier to have a bit of extra protection the internal could do without, so seems a bit counter-intuitive to me.

 

[RickBullotta]

Hmmm.. hold on!
Nowhere in your "linked" article does it say it won't fit existing bikes.
What it does say is
"requires a brand-new fitment port to accommodate the change in its physical size"
The new battery looks taller, but not necessarily longer or wider so I'd save your "disappointment" until you know the facts. ie. can the new fitment port be bolted onto existing bikes?
not that it matters all that much when you've bought a daft 'hidden' external battery frame bike designed by a californian stoner.
TBH I'd be more interested in how much weed you can stuff in that hidden compartment than worrying about sticking 900g more battery in there.

Ha. Fair enough, though "requires a brand-new fitment port to accommodate the change in its physical size " sure sounds like a formula for incompatibility. Oh, and I think my bike was designed by an Arizona stoner. ;-)

I am now painfully familiar with the mounting system in my bike, but I'm also confident that I can design and 3D print a part or two to accomodate the larger battery if the other dimensions (and the connector) fit.

 

[R120]

The internals definitely are, but haven't read any article, including that one, makes clear if the External is. Like I said before it wouldnt surprise me if some of the current mikes can be modified, most have more room in the down tube. Guess we will find out, I have contacted Madison to see if they know.

 

[R120]

Ha. Fair enough, though "requires a brand-new fitment port to accommodate the change in its physical size " sure sounds like a formula for incompatibility. Oh, and I think my bike was designed by an Arizona stoner. ;-)

I am now painfully familiar with the mounting system in my bike, but I'm also confident that I can design and 3D print a part or two to accomodate the larger battery if the other dimensions (and the connector) fit.

Would be awesome if you can, and if you do take photos!

 

[Gary]

These guys think it is longer and can't be retrofitted More range: New 630 Wh Shimano battery and new display for all Shimano-STEPS motors | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine

The article you've linked to says the INTERNAL battery is longer.
it simply says the external battery is "bigger".
and
"For this version, however, bike manufacturers will have to use a new battery holder" which we already know.
But "Once again, a quick upgrade isn’t an option"
Whether switching out a bike's lower battery holder could be considered a "quick" upgrade is still up for interpretation AFAIC

None of these press release articles are written by anyone who even has the new batteries. and most are at best a re-jigged cut and pastes of what Shimano has leaked to them.

 

[R120]

They are now on Shimano website - you can clearly see the external is taller, but doesn't look longer IMO.

BT-E8016

 

[Gary]

Arizona

Same weed, same place

 

[WildGuy]

Hmmm.. hold on!
Nowhere in your "linked" article does it say it won't fit existing bikes.
What it does say is
"requires a brand-new fitment port to accommodate the change in its physical size"
The new battery looks taller, but not necessarily longer or wider so I'd save your "disappointment" until you know the facts. ie. can the new fitment port be bolted onto (some) existing bikes?
not that it matters all that much when you've bought a daft 'hidden' external battery frame bike designed by a californian stoner.
TBH I'd be more interested in how much weed you can stuff in that hidden compartment than worrying about sticking 900g more battery in there.

Whether it can be retro-fitted via the "brand-new fitment port" or not I think @RickBullotta can still be justifiably "disappointed". I've already made the investment in two BT-E8010 batteries, and also have two bikes on order which will also come with BT-E8010 batteries. This battery has the best capacity to weight ratio Shimano offer, even after these newly announced batteries. This will be the best option for me to use under all normal circumstances. However, would have been great if I could have bought a 630Wh battery that could also be used, but I can hardly be switching the battery mounts and wiring every time I want to switch batteries. And so if this new battery isn't even any longer, why couldn't it have used the existing mount? Quite disappointing?
And even if I did always want to ride with a 630Wh battery, seems a backward step that this battery has less than 25% more capacity but almost 35% more weight? Quite disappointing?

 

[RickBullotta]

They are now on Shimano website - you can clearly see the external is taller, but doesn't look longer IMO.

BT-E8016

View attachment 30689

I have a message into Chris at Pivot for this thoughts. Will let you know what I hear back in terms of compatibility and sizing.

 

[R120]

I would have thought Pivot will switch to the internal specific batteries when they update the frame design - when the Pivot came out in 2018 it was a very clever workaround to be able to use the lighter external battery, but mount it internally ( aside form how many bolts you need to undo on the cover IMO) and there thinking out the box back then contributed a lot to how good the bike is to ride. Now they dont need such a workaround.

 

[Gary]

Whether it can be retro-fitted via the "brand-new fitment port" or not I think @RickBullotta can still be justifiably "disappointed".

Being disappointed by something that isn't even materialised yet is a first world problem of the highest order.
and being disappointed in your future options when you've already bought enough Lithium ion to burn a school down even more so.

How about just chilling and being patient FFS

 

[Shane(NZ)]

Fast charging 504wh in 4hrs(full charge), 80% charge in 2.5 hrs
I guess it's a subjective thing but I wouldn't call that fast by any means.

 

[WildGuy]

Fast charging 504wh in 4hrs(full charge), 80% charge in 2.5 hrs
I guess it's a subjective thing but I wouldn't call that fast by any means.

Surely not more disappointment lol
I guess they could make it faster but then the battery would be toast before too long

 

[WildGuy]

I would have thought Pivot will switch to the internal specific batteries when they update the frame design - when the Pivot came out in 2018 it was a very clever workaround to be able to use the lighter external battery, but mount it internally ( aside form how many bolts you need to undo on the cover IMO) and there thinking out the box back then contributed a lot to how good the bike is to ride. Now they dont need such a workaround.

Yes but would they when isn't their big selling point how light their bike is and this new integrated BT-E8035-L 504Wh battery is 550grams heavier than the BT-E8010, which is what I was saying in post #11 How come?

 

[R120]

IIRC The external batteries tend to be lighter because they are mounted on the frame, and as such dont have to be as strong/rigid in construction, unlike the internal batteries which have to be a bit stronger due to the frame being cut around them. This is why bikes with integrated batteries are quite often heavier than those with external, since you need to beef up the frame and battery when you cut a hole in the downtube.

Going back to earlier posts this is where Pivot where thinking out of the box with the Shuttle as they wanted to use the lighter external battery, but still have it concealed.

 

[RickBullotta]

I would have thought Pivot will switch to the internal specific batteries when they update the frame design - when the Pivot came out in 2018 it was a very clever workaround to be able to use the lighter external battery, but mount it internally ( aside form how many bolts you need to undo on the cover IMO) and there thinking out the box back then contributed a lot to how good the bike is to ride. Now they dont need such a workaround.

I'm certain we'll see a more mainstream battery system in any future Pivot eMTB. As soon as the new battery is out on the wild and I can get some detailed dimensions on it, I'll explore what the options are. Pivot has no specific plans to support the new battery in existing frames. Also, the battery cover/carrier is an integral part of the frame's structure, so any "hack" needs to be well thoughout and not just a plastic cover. I have some ideas, but I will wait until I can get actual, down to the mm measurements on the dimensions of the battery, position of the connector, position of the charging port, position of the switch/display, and so on.

 

[WildGuy]

Ok, now in an extremely chilled and patient way, so as not to agitate a particular person's sensibilities: I'm now thinking - because I do believe this kind of speculation on something that hasn't even materialized yet is very important - that what R120 mentioned in post #8 really could be the case. I never considered a new mount that could fit both the old and new external batteries like R120 had the foresight to, but, they're making a new 504Wh internal battery that also fits the form factor of the new 630Wh internal battery. But no mention of a new 504Wh external battery that fits the form factor of the new 630Wh external battery. Now is that because they don't need one because the old 504Wh battery will fit? Ooh ooh I'm so excited feel like I wanna go and out and buy some more lithium ion batteries like they're going out of fashion!

 

[R120]

Don’t worry boys, if there’s one thing I am known for is that the moment a new piece of kit is announced by Shimano for the E8000 sytem and if it works on my bike, I buy it to try out. Already got my LBS trying to preorder the 630wh external for me along with the bracket . .

Hence I have the full suite of mode switches , displays and other bits and bobs tried tested and discarded as appropriate and banished to a man draw somewhere! I will probably get the new combined controller/screen to see what it’s like to use all in the aim of enlightening the masses on here ?

 

[electricbogaloo]

But even if you can mechanically connect the new battery with the e8000 wouldn't the firmware don't recognize it? And even if some guy like vadl can make a workaround it's still not really convenient to mounta different mount every time you want to use a different capacity battery...

Also if the new mount requires a new mounting hole pattern I would hesitate to drill new holes into my downtube.

Yes but would they when isn't their big selling point how light their bike is and this new integrated BT-E8035-L 504Wh battery is 550grams heavier than the BT-E8010, which is what I was saying in post #11 How come?

Maybe it miraculously has more range than the old "504"Wh-battery...

 

[Mabman]

They probably just made a new case to house fatter/higher mAh 21700 cells to get the additional 126wh's. Specialized has got it worked out so that both their wh batteries can fit in the same slot. They use 18650 cells in the 500 and 21700 cells in the 700 to the same effect.

Anybodies guess if it will be backwards compatible it seems but would sure benefit them to make them so. Even if you have to change out the cradle connection.

 

[R120]

All Shimano e bike components can works with each other on a software/connectivity level, that’s one of the great thing about the Steps ecosystem is that you can chop and change out parts such as displays and controllers to suit you preference.

The limiting factor is a parts compatibility with the frame of your bike, not the software.

To me the 630wh mouth looks the same form factor as the 504wh, just taller, the one thing that is not clear is if the catch tab for the battery (the bit that hold the battery to the mount) is taller too, meaning it wouldn't work with the 504wh

 

[Cyclopath1000]

This is the existing mount for my commencal 650 meta power ..if the new battery has different dimensions it's not going to retrofit this bike. If both the 500 and now the 600 aren't interchangeable then these new items are for new bikes...seeing I own two old Batts, it seems like a non issue for me. This is progress so I'm not complaining but my current e-bike is flawless for my needs and/
or not jumping out to buy another e-bike until the difference is much greater. Everything evolves especially when people want bigger Batts. For all u folks throwing away your 500 externals,mail them to me.

 

[Stray cat]

Wondering if this new bat can fit in my Norco Sight. Currently running a Simplon 630Wh battery.

 

[R120]

No is the answer, though Norco do a smaller version of the battery and a 360wh range extender too

 

[Stray cat]

I know it,but mine it’s 2019 version and doesn’t accept any extender.

 

[R120]

There are some third party range extenders the mount to the water bottle bosses