Specialized introduce battery charge limit

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We've known for years that lithium batteries degrade faster at 100% state-of-charge. Still, the manufacturers didn't see this as a big issue. I've asked other manufacturers about this, and they've told me the battery degradation isn't that bad. The battery will out live the bike, and it will definitely out live the 2 years warranty before degradation gets too bad.

Still, wouldn’t it be nice to have the option to set the maximum charge limit? To feel a bit safer after the warranty has expired. Or to keep using the battery on the next bike?

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Turbo system update​

Specialized has just released a new “Turbo System” software update with the “charge limit” feature. This will limit the maximum state-of-charge to 80%. This is fine for long term storage. Also, Specialized claim most users don’t use the full 100% on their rides, so charging to just 80% will be fine for many of us.

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How to get it?​

You can get the new feature on your existing bike. Download the Mission Control 3.11 app to enable it. If that doesn’t work:
Your bike may require a full system update, including a battery and display update, to enable this feature. This update needs to be applied by an authorized Specialized retailer*. Please contact your retailer to schedule an appointment. Once completed, you can enable Charge Limit in Mission Control.
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My take​

One could argue it’s not a big deal charging the battery to 100%. I won’t tell people to stop doing it. But it’s nice to have the option to set a limit. I can’t see any downside to having this charge limit option. It’s about time someone introduced it!

Sure, Giant did this years ago, but that was a 60% limit intended for battery storage. An 80% limit is much more useful. But why stop there? Why not let us choose between 70, 80 and 90% limit in the app?
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About author
knut7
Knut Nes
Started mountainbiking in the 90s. Moved to emtbs in 2014 and have been reviewing them since 2016. Contact me here https://emtb.no/contact/

Comments

Kingerz
The Lifepo4 batteries in my solar generators can now take 100% ok and last 2500 to 3000 cycles (ten years of daily full recharge) and still be 80% healthy. we will see this tech on eMTBs.
 
knut7
I think we need better energy density in lithium iron phosphate before it gets commong on ebikes. Also, it's more difficult for the BMS to keep track of the SOC as there is little variation in voltage over a big part of the battery charge. I'm not sure the gains in cost and durability makes LFP worth it at the moment. But battery tech is evolving, and at some point we'll stop using NMC type batteries on ebikes.

Edit, also, LFP will have worse performance in cold climate. I'm not sure they'll work very well at sub 0*C temps. Which is important where I live.
 
Doomanic
At bloody last!

Currently, I either charge when I get home if I’ve depleted the battery or the night before a ride if I came home with over 30%. Part charging is not an option for me because I’ve got a mind like a sieve… 😂
 
rzr
and it will definitely out live the 2 years warranty before degradation gets too bad.
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of course... that's the only thing manufactures care ....
 
Freezer
Uhhh…. and just unplugging the charger when you get to your desired charge state is too difficult? 🤷
 
Streddaz
Freezer said:
Uhhh…. and just unplugging the charger when you get to your desired charge state is too difficult? 🤷
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It's a pain in the arse! Who wants to keep going out and checking to see what your battery charge is up to? Are you going to set an alarm to get up in the middle of the night to turn it off when charging overnight? Even then you have no idea exactly how long it will be before you get close to 80% charge. I think it's a great idea! Just gives you the option to do 80% charges and you don't need to go back and keep checking on it.
 
Streddaz
Doomanic said:
At bloody last!

Currently, I either charge when I get home if I’ve depleted the battery or the night before a ride if I came home with over 30%. Part charging is not an option for me because I’ve got a mind like a sieve… 😂
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Yep, it's a great idea for those who don't want a full charge and look after their batteries. I always charge to 100% as I usually charge overnight. Now if I want to I can set it at 80% and forget about it. Nice work Specialized!
 
Freezer
Charging overnight or when you’re away from the house isn’t a good idea. Charging Li-ion batteries results in a lot of house fires every year. Charge when you’re around and awake and get a smoke alarm to alert you if the battery overheats. I’ve seen LiPo batteries for RC airplanes go off like incendiary devices. Not something you want to happen when you’re asleep!
 
Zimmerframe
Freezer said:
Charging overnight or when you’re away from the house isn’t a good idea. Charging Li-ion batteries results in a lot of house fires every year. Charge when you’re around and awake and get a smoke alarm to alert you if the battery overheats. I’ve seen LiPo batteries for RC airplanes go off like incendiary devices. Not something you want to happen when you’re asleep!
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It's probably not practical for everyone to sit there and watch their bike charge for 4-6 hours each time after/before a ride. Fine if you do have the time and enjoy that kind of thing, but I think the majority of people don't. I suspect most people have lots of other Li items on charge whilst they sleep .. phones, laptops, power tool batteries, torches, cars, watches, shavers, home energy storage devices, games systems, cameras, usb powerbanks, wireless everythings ..
 
B
Streddaz said:
Just select whether you want the limit or not in the app. Of course, if you have the limit turned on you will have to turn it off to charge to 100%.
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So you can actually turn it off ? They mentioned a toggle switch confirming it was on but I never found anything clear about turning it off again or maybe I missed it. I do require 100 percent quite a lot .
 
Zimmerframe
Binhill1 said:
So you can actually turn it off ? They mentioned a toggle switch confirming it was on but I never found anything clear about turning it off again or maybe I missed it. I do require 100 percent quite a lot .
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In the "Tune" page within Mission Control :

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kombos
I use a simple selectable wall socket timer to set a charge time I want. Then I can partially charge to say 60-80% until I final charge to 100% closer to my ride day/time.
 
STLC22
Binhill1 said:
So you can actually turn it off ? They mentioned a toggle switch confirming it was on but I never found anything clear about turning it off again or maybe I missed it. I do require 100 percent quite a lot .
Click to expand...
You can turn it on and off as you like and when turned on it will charge 100% every 10th charge for internal calibration.
 
B
I updated this using app earlier on . The charge limit toggles to on and then goes off after about a second. Saying system is up to date .
 
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