Gouach is making what it describes as its fireproof e-bike battery directly available to consumers and manufacturers so customers can safely service their own e-bikes.
The Gouach Infinite Battery, compatible with 90% of e-bikes, is a rebranding of the company’s battery that French shared operator Pony has used on 1,500 of its e-bikes for the last two years, employing the same technology.
The only difference in the rebranded battery is its fireproof casing designed to minimise the risk of fires to protect customers who will be able to service their own e-bikes.
“We have made this battery available to the public so that those who want to assemble or maintain their own batteries can do that,” Gouach Founder and CEO Alexandre Vallette told Zag Daily. “However, since we are selling directly to customers, we must ensure that there is no risk of fire, even if they make an error or use failing cells for example.”
According to Alexandre, a dead battery can often result from just one cell that is failing in a pack of 40. However, wires, spot-welding, and glue makes it difficult to access those cells and servicing the battery can increase the risk of fires, meaning the whole battery must be replaced.
Therefore the Gouach Infinite Battery has been designed for customers to access the cells via three bolts, with no wires or spot-welding to obstruct the customer. This means customers can replace the specific failing battery cells rather than the whole battery before placing the pack back into its aluminium fireproof closure.
Alexandre advises changing all of the cells in the battery, even if only a few are failing, for a new battery without the cost of replacing the entire unit.
“I’m getting 50 emails a day from customers telling me they’re excited to have control over their battery and e-bike. It empowers them. Some people say they’ve been able to service their own car but until now there hasn’t been a way to service their own e-bike.
“When you work in B2B, people don’t really tell you your product is great because they want the lower costs and as many orders as possible. With B2C, I’m already seeing the great demand for this product and feeling the love.”
The end goal for Alexandre is to create a circular economy where customers can send back cells that are too used to serve other purposes. French battery management startup Bib Batteries found that micromobility batteries sent for recycling still have an average of 70% to 80% of their residual capacity, and both Voi and Dott have demonstrated how they can give micromobility batteries a second life.
Gouach’s Infinite Battery will be available to consumers and manufacturers in the US and Europe. The company has already received thousands of pre-orders and multiple brands ordering the new battery model.
Gouach is currently measuring customer willingness through an early-bird offer, and it will launch a Kickstarter campaign in September.
