Every time when changing something related to batteries, many other parameters potentially change at the same time: Chemistry, response to load, max/min voltages and discharge curves, etc. In a way, it feels like being a novice TWIKE pilot again – you really don’t know how your battery will react and – in consequence – how far your will be able to drive. Without a reliable total charge capacity figure, any subsequent computations are meaningless. I’m currently driving with the 29E-config I just left in-place since my 35E pack has at least 14% more capacity. It would, nevertheless, be interesting to […]
Finally: My 51Ah pack has arrived!
Samsung’s 35E cells weren’t available when I ordered TW560’s new Dreifels 51Ah battery pack. Thanks to a very kind offer by Ralph from dreifels, I was still able to go on my yearly TWIKE adventure and experience a large pack / range with his personal 29E/45Ah pack. During my vacation Dreifels sent me an email telling me that they had received the cells and were having them spot-welded at a third-party supplier. After receiving the welded cell-packs, Dreifels then builds battery-blocks consisting of multiple cell-packs, adding up to a standard voltage of 180V and 17Ah. I’m really looking forward to […]
A 2nd Life for TW560’s previous batteries
My last battery-related entry was on TW560 getting a new battery pack. (Finally, I have the time to write an entry after my epic 10-day TWIKE adventure across some of the highest passes of Europe with less charging stops. 🙂 ) This entry is dedicated to the previous’ pack’s second life as a stationary battery pack for a Swiss household. The application they are going to be used in is very simple: Solar panel – charging circuit – battery – inverter – 230V-loads in household… grid. The idea is to keep renewable energy in-house and only send energy to the […]
Professional photos from TDAF2016
On day 3 of this year’s TWIKE adventure TDAF2016 whilst climbing Le Col de la Bonette, we had some professional photos taken of our ascent. After waiting 2 weeks, finally, the images were sent to us and we’re really happy with the result. Not much else to say than … enjoy:)
TDAF2016 – Day9: Higher than expected / 0.5kWh for 69km / Home Sweet Home
Welcome to the last day of TDAF2016 – currently, we are at an alpine resort called Aprica at 1100m. Toady, we have a day full of alpine passes waiting for us: 1181m – Passo di Aprica – Italy 2621m – Gavia Pass – Italy 2291m – Foscagno Pass – Italy 2315m – Livigno Pass – Switzerland-Italy 2328m – Bernina Pass – Switzerland 1815m – Maloya Pass – Switzerland 2117m – Splügen Pass – Italy-Switzerland First thing in the morning, I open my window to be greeted by the usual blue sky that has followed us during all our trip. Thinking […]
TDAF2016 – Day8: TIP in Milano & snow
Welcome to the 8th day of TDAF2016, TW560‘s yearly trip to somewhere outside of Switzerland. Currently, our total cost for energy still is at €0. Last year’s trip totaled at €2.5 for 2900km 🙂 I start my day by opening the tall windows of my room, just to be greeted by… …yet again. My family and friends have sent me grey and rainy pictures for the last week. I’m getting increasingly reluctant to send back anything pertaining to weather. 🙂 We leave our place to have some Italian-style breakfast somewhere at the main square. Unlike yesterday, the street […]
TDAF2016 – Day7: Dual carriage, normal, single lane… no road at all.
Today gave us a comprehensive mix of everything we like about our trips: cruising along a coastal road, lots of small towns and villages, super-small roads, very steep climbs, beautiful views and very friendly encounters with people we met along the road. Our trip starts after a warm farewell by the hotel staff. Our day off yesterday sees us back on the road, very much looking forward to what today will bring us. We’re very happy that there are some clouds in the sky – every time we drive into the sun, it gets very hot really quickly. The roads […]
TDAF2016 – Day6: R&R in Diano Marina
Everyone needs a break from time to time. Same for us – after 5 Days on the road, we decided yesterday that we would add an additional – drive free – day in Diano Marina. Instead of a travelogue, today, just some impressions of what we were up to. (Add a generous afternoon siesta for me). A walk along the beach, then drive to Diano Marina old town. We then decide to have our hair cut and be shaved. Go back to the beach… it’s still really quiet there. (First wave of tourists start arriving […]
TDAF2016 – Day5: Italianità on the Ligurian coast
Our travelogue for today is short. Since our aim is to be on a much more relaxed schedule than last year, we leave from Menton at 9am after sleeping well in our very basic hotel. All our battery indicators are back to normal, since we’ve allowed for a full and normal charge and are looking forward to meaningful information by our onboard computer. (Since we only changed the maximum charge voltage yesterday, our computer was trying to cope with the fact that we were still able to recuperate over 500Wh into the battery although it was ‘full’ from its point […]
TDAF2016 – Day4: One of the best roads for TWIKEing…in the world
Welcome to the fourth day of TDAF2016, a yearly adventure with TWIKE 560 making its way to the sea after 3 days relentlessly crossing some of the highest (and the highest) passes in Europe. No passes were crossed off our list today. This, however, doesn’t mean that we didn’t get to climb a few hills… below 2000m 🙂 Spoiler alert: Lots of fun, heart-wrenching sounds, beautiful roads and places you have to visit coming up. After some very fitful sleep we are engaged in long conversations with the other guests and owners of the Grand Chalet. They absolutely wanted us […]