Half sized race battery?

[Beagle]

Damn, now I want this Varg trail bike with extended range!

Add 50% more battery to get to 10 kWh (+14 kg), put in an onboard charger (+6 kg?), add some lights and accessories to make it road legal, if it stays below 145 kg / 320 pounds, the game is on.

 

[DonCox]

There are different cells that could be used for specific uses. The Samsung 50S cell gives 5000mah capacity, but create more heat at high current. But for trail riding or range, it gives you 20% more range than the Molicel and the same weight. But Stark has to start offering these options. Special batteries for specific needs. Here is a real good and educational Test YouTube of most of the best cells on the market for our application. You can see the different cells for longevity versus high current

 

[Beagle]

There are different cells that could be used for specific uses. The Samsung 50S cell gives 5000mah capacity, but create more heat at high current. But for trail riding or range, it gives you 20% more range than the Molicel and the same weight. But Stark has to start offering these options. Special batteries for specific needs. Here is a real good and educational Test YouTube of most of the best cells on the market for our application. You can see the different cells for longevity versus high current

Wow this guy is insane
Definitely the good kind of insane but 4 hours video 🫣

He's the anti-influencer, super interesting content, poor video skills. I mean , even the summary is over 20 min, youtube is not a good platform for that. Unfortunately that will limit his reach a lot, if videos are not his thing he could try a substack or something. But terrific work for sure, kudos to him.

One thing that jumped at me while having a glance (really useful chapters) is that P50b is merely 2.6 g heavier than P45b so switching to P50b would increase capacity by 10% (from 6.5 to 7.2 kWh) while gaining 1 kg. Not worth the hike in cell price though.

 

[AgileMike]

I wish it was possible to have modular batteries like it is possible to have modular power stations.
We could have a 9 kwh battery split into three modules having 3 kwh capacity each: when you do motocross, you use one 3 kwh module while another one is under charge in the parking lot, ready to be swapped; if it's not enough, you use 2 X 3 kwh modules. If you need more range for enduro, then you will use all three modules.

This is a perfect concept.

 

[AgileMike]

Early on I had an email conversation going with an EV powertrain engineer & expressed the same thought of reducing battery mass for a lower OA weight & reduced range.
I believe the Varg battery is about 77 lbs, a 30 % mass reduction would likely be about 18-20 lbs lighter as some of that 77 is the case, But a 240-ish LB Varg would be terrific, yes ?

Apparently the issue throwing water on that premise is a perennial EV nemesis & everyone's favorite uncle ; heat.
I was informed that a 30% reduction in battery mass ( less cells ) results in double the heat load & corresponding temperature increases for the same available power output as in the full capacity battery.
So .. either the power gets reduced ( thats no fun ) or thermal limiting enters the chat once temps rise to a given point, which they will, & quickly on an MX track.
Now the Varg has the same Achilles heel as the Alta did all those years ago ...

File under ; there's no free lunch.

I start/race mine in 48HP mode, so I wouldn't care about some reduced maximum power output at all. I understand there are trade offs, the point of my post is that for most moto/moto practice riders that aren't professionals would be very happy with a 1/2 size, 1/2 range battery. Especially if the weight savings was in excess of 10 lbs.
Again, I'm only talking about moto guys. I realize that enduro/long trail riders wouldn't want this setup. I realize that pro riders wouldn't be happy with 48hp. However, 48hp is plenty of power for ametuer riders.

Another poster talked about 30 minute motos. At least in America, I don't know of any ameatuer motos that are 30 minutes long. Our pros race 30 mins + 2 laps, but that is not the target market for my hypothetical ametuer motocross battery.

 

[Erwin P]

I was the one talking 30 minutes motos.
That is in the Netherlands and at nationals level. Amatures ride 15 minutes + 1 lap. But even faster amatures drain 50-70% in such races.
A few people i know drain theirs empty in roughly 20-25 minutes and those arn't even top amature riders.

I on the other hand take about 30-40 minutes to drain it empty.

Is to be said we almost exclusively have sand tracks here. I don't think even 1 half size battery will be sold out here but i can imagine it will on hard pack tracks.