USB-C e-Bike charging is a game changer.
I came across an e-Bike company yesterday (Ampler) that sells a charger as an optional extra. That might sound like aftermarket shenanigans, but it’s not, because you probably already have a suitable charger at home; a USB-C charger for your laptop.
If you don’t have an e-bike you might be wondering why this is a big deal? Bike charging is still a wild west of standards and each manufacturer sells their own. A weird and wonderful array of connectors that go into the battery has proliferated, and your chances of turning up somewhere and borrowing a charger are slim.
If you’re going on a long journey that requires a recharge you have to take your charger, and they’re often heavy and bulky. That reduces what you can carry and the extra weight will reduce your range slightly.
A charger which is small and compact that you may be bringing with you anyway to charge your laptop makes a lot of sense and I hope it’s the way forward. When you get to your destination if you’ve forgotten your charger, there’s a high likelihood someone will be able to help out with a charger of some kind.
It also opens up the option of charging from a power bank, the kind you use for your phone.
The bike battery can also be used to charge your devices. This can be quote common on more premium bikes that can charge phones from an outlet attached to the bike battery, but they’re usually not of the kind that has enough oomph to charge a laptop. Ampler’s battery system can power laptops, tablets and phones.
One downside is that it’s not a removable battery. So if you’re travelling over a number of days then you would have to take the bike indoors and that may not always be an option. But these are really utility bikes, designed for everyday use, commuting to work and therefore you’d probably be likely to charge at home or the office.
I hope this becomes standard. It’s practical, reduces waste, adds to the utility of the bike and when done right, USB-C charging is fast.