French startup Anod has developed an e-bike powered by hybrid supercapacitors instead of lithium-ion batteries, citing fire risks and durability issues with the industry standard technology.
Hybrid supercapacitors are energy storage devices that merge features of batteries and supercapacitors, allowing for rapid charging and a long cycle life. Compared with lithium-ion, they typically offer faster charging and greater durability, though lithium-ion still provides higher energy density in most applications.
“Security issues are too serious not to be taken seriously,” Anod CEO and Co-Founder Arnaud Malrin told Zag Daily, stating that fires and explosions are the consequence of the thermal runaway phenomenon inherent in current battery technologies.
Founded in 2022, the Vendée-based company designs and assembles its products in-house at its Fontenay-le-Comte factory in France.
Anod’s proprietary storage system, branded S.A.F.E., is designed to remove fire risk, deliver fast charging and extend battery lifespan. The company says a 75% charge can be achieved in 15 minutes and a full charge in 25 minutes. It claims the units last ten times longer than lithium-ion, with comparable range and a 10-year warranty.
The e-bike also features a new motor that produces 1,000 W of peak power and 60 Nm torque. Anod reports that the system consumes 50% less energy than competitors thanks to regenerative braking.
Malrin described the shift as a technological break rather than an incremental change. “The future of mobility will be written with hybrid supercapacitors,” he said. “The technological leap is too significant to be just one more innovation, it is a disruption.”
The company is preparing to release its Hybrid 2 model as a demonstrator for the technology. Looking beyond e-bikes, Anod intends to establish itself as a system manufacturer to accelerate adoption across the wider mobility sector.
Plans are underway to expand applications to scooters, light electric vehicles, outdoor equipment and robotics, with the company positioning hybrid supercapacitors as a cornerstone of the industry’s transition to safer, simpler and more sustainable power.
