Dick van de Steeg – co-founder of Battery Control
Dick van de Steeg – co-founder of Battery Control
Over the past years, the sales of electric bikes and motorized scooters with lithium-ion batteries have skyrocketed. Unfortunately, the number of these batteries spontaneously catching fire has grown proportionally. Dick van de Steeg of Battery Control has a background in the bicycle industry and, already in 2019, he and his partners knew that this does not bode well. By collecting data, developing a unique testing method and igniting many batteries in a controlled setup, the solution against battery fires was born: the Battery Box.
The Battery Box is a safe box for storing an e-bike battery as it recharges and significantly reduces the consequential damage in case the battery ignites. The box can withstand the explosive pressure created during a battery fire, it keeps the fire and the high temperature under control and contained, and toxic fumes are discharged safely. Doing this responsibly not only required the design of a very solid box but also of an electronic door detection system to ensure the box is always securely closed. Naturally, this called for a specialist assembly process and Battery Control contracted Cimar Electronics to help them with these final two steps.
Battery Control is all about collaboration: doing, growing and improving together. During the conversations with Cimar Electronics, their collaboration DNA proved to be a perfect match as Cimar equally focuses on transparent communication and complete openness when it comes to working and developing together. As Dick puts it himself, ‘Working with the people at Cimar gives me so much energy’. Cimar Electronics is the perfect and reliable partner they were searching for, for both the development stage and the ultimate production and assembly of the Battery Box.
Today, many Battery Boxes are shipped off to bicycle stores and pizza deliverers each month. They are even finding their way to railway stations that are doing initial tests with electric rental bikes. If it were up to the insurers, this high-tech solution to contain battery fires could well become a standard requirement. But whatever decisions are made, Battery Control is ready to meet an even higher demand for their Battery Box, as is Cimar Electronics!