TL;DR
- Lithium-ion batteries (NMC and LFP) account for roughly 80% of the e-bike market today. They remain effective, but come with clear limitations: thermal runaway risks, reliance on critical materials, no truly fast charging, and a technology that has reached maturity.
- New chemistries (sodium-ion, solid-state) are emerging, but they are still being industrialized and are not always suited to micromobility in terms of density, stability, or cost.
- Anod’s hybrid supercapacitor eliminates thermal risk, enables a full recharge in 25 minutes, and offers a significantly longer lifetime.
It provides a safe and high-performance solution tailored to the needs of micromobility.
A technological shift that could well redefine the face of the professional electric bike .
The world of batteries is in a state of great excitement.
As industry giants, from CATL to Toyota, announce new generations of sodium-ion or solid electrolyte batteries, light mobility is also joining the fray.
The electric bike, a symbol of efficient urban mobility, is directly affected: behind its simplicity, everything hinges on a crucial question: how to store the energy of tomorrow?
🔋 Lithium-ion batteries (NMC, LFP)
Lithium-ion batteries have dominated the e-bike market since the early 2010s.
They now equip between 70 and 78% of electric bikes in Europe , thanks to their good compromise between performance and industrial maturity.
They are mainly available in two chemistries: NMC and LFP , which meet different needs.
NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt)
- Advantages : high energy density, good autonomy, compact size.
- Limitations : high cost, dependence on critical metals (cobalt, nickel), sensitivity to heat.
- Energy density : ~180 to 250 Wh/kg
- Number of cycles before battery life decreases: 500 cycles
👉 NMC batteries remain the benchmark for high-performance bikes, but their environmental impact and thermal management make them a transitional technology rather than a sustainable long-term solution.
LFP (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate)
- Advantages : high thermal stability, lifespan 2 to 3 times longer than NMC, no cobalt.
- Limitations : higher weight and lower energy density.
- Energy density : ~90 to 160 Wh/kg
- Number of cycles before a decrease in battery life: 800 - 1000 cycles
👉 LFP batteries are gradually establishing themselves as a safer and more sustainable alternative.
They address the challenges of safety, recyclability and energy efficiency, while illustrating a clear market trend: reliability is better than raw performance.
Despite its progress, lithium-ion is reaching maturity : its energy density is stagnating and its production constraints are being felt, paving the way for new, more sustainable chemistries.
New technologies: sodium-ion, solid-state batteries and supercapacitors
Research is progressing rapidly, and several credible alternatives to lithium-ion are emerging.
Some are already in the industrialization phase.
Sodium-ion: the accessible and sustainable alternative
In 2024, the Chinese manufacturer CATL presented a sodium-ion battery that closely matches the performance of LFP batteries.
It uses abundant and non-critical materials, and is more resistant to cold.
- Advantages : low cost, increased safety, excellent thermal performance.
- Limitations : density still lower than lithium-ion, industrialization in progress.
- Energy density : ~100 to 160 Wh/kg
- Number of cycles before a decrease in battery life : approximately 5000
👉 Although promising for the automotive industry and electric scooters, the sodium-ion battery is not yet suitable for electric bicycles.
It also operates at a lower voltage (approximately 3V per cell), requiring more cells in series and more complex electronics.
Solid-state batteries: the high-end promise
Solid-state batteries could represent the next major breakthrough by reducing the risk of thermal runaway and improving performance.
- Advantages : very high density, enhanced security, better durability.
- Limitations : high manufacturing cost, still immature technology.
- Energy density : 300 to 400 Wh/kg
- Number of cycles before a decrease in battery life : limited data, but very high
👉 Their energy density and safety are promising, but they require manufacturing and thermal management conditions that are difficult to transpose into a format as compact as an electric bike.
Therefore, they are not expected to be used in micromobility for several years.
⚡ Supercapacitors: Instant power
Supercapacitors store energy in electrostatic rather than chemical form.
The result: near-instantaneous charging and discharging power, total safety and exceptional lifespan.
- Advantages : ultra-fast charging, thermal stability, lifespan of several hundred thousand cycles.
- Limitations : low energy density, requiring optimized engine management.
- Energy density : 5 to 10 Wh/kg
- Number of cycles before a decrease in battery life : more than 2 millions
👉 Supercapacitors could, in theory, be used alone, but their total capacity remains very low.
They can also be combined with a conventional battery, but this approach requires complex electronic management to make the two systems communicate effectively.
Finally, hybrid supercapacitors offer an interesting compromise: they store more energy than pure supercapacitors while maintaining their power and safety. However, to achieve truly usable range on an e-bike, they must be combined with an optimized, low-consumption motor and a regenerative braking system, which improves efficiency without adding weight or bulk to the bicycle.
⚡⚡⚡ Anod Hybrid Supercapacitors: the Best of Both Worlds
Hybrid supercapacitors offer an extremely compelling compromise: they store more energy than pure supercapacitors while maintaining their exceptional safety, very high power output, and impressive stability under heavy loads.
- Advantages: maximum safety (no risk of thermal runaway), fast charging (15 min to 80%, 25 min to 100%), usable in sub-zero temperatures, long lifespan
- Limitations: requires integration with an optimized system (high-efficiency motor and/or regenerative braking system)
- Energy density : 132 Wh/kg
- Number of cycles before noticeable capacity decrease: more than 8,000
👉 The only technology that combines safety, performance, and durability.
Anod is the first system manufacturer to have introduced hybrid supercapacitors to micromobility. With our S.A.F.E. technology, we combine the instantaneous power of a supercapacitor with the storage capacity of a battery. This architecture achieves an unprecedented balance between performance, safety, and sustainability.
This combination is possible thanks to a high-efficiency engine, energy recovery during braking, and intelligent energy management.
The result: an innovation that marks a true technological breakthrough in the way energy storage and use are conceived. It leads to a safe, responsive and sustainable system, in line with the new requirements of modern mobility.
To learn more, you can explore safety tests we conducted and performance tests.
Visual comparison: power vs. battery life
The graph below shows how each technology is positioned between energy density (autonomy) and specific power (responsiveness, fast charging).
Safety: a central issue in micromobility
The safety gaps between technologies are not theoretical, and their consequences are evident in real-world situations. As of this writing, 146 fires have been recorded since the beginning of 2023, an average of one per week. These incidents almost exclusively involve lithium-ion batteries, across all brands.
This reality serves as a reminder that particular vigilance is needed during charging phases, where the majority of incidents occur, and that the material damage can be considerable. 📍 To track the evolution of these incidents, consult our interactive map of battery-related fires.
In this context, the differences in behavior between technologies become truly significant: some tolerate shocks or heat better, while others offer intrinsic stability that makes any runaway impossible.
NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt)
NMC cells are very efficient, but extremely sensitive to shocks and deformations.
An impact or overload can cause an internal short circuit and violent thermal runaway, fueled by oxygen released from the cathode.
👉 The riskiest chemistry in micro-mobility applications.
Learn more: INERIS – Risk profile of Li-ion batteries
LFP (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate)
LFP cells are more thermally stable: they heat up more slowly and react less violently in case of failure.
Their phosphate structure limits the release of oxygen and reduces the risk of fire, but the electrolyte remains flammable.
👉 Enhanced security , but a residual risk remains.
Learn more: INERIS – Risk profile of Li-ion batteries
Sodium-ion (New generation lithium-ion)
Sodium-ion batteries show better thermal stability than lithium NMC batteries.
They heat up more slowly, release less oxygen-rich gas, and spread less heat between cells , which limits chain fires.
👉 Good level of security , but the technology is still in the industrialization phase.
Solid-state lithium batteries
Solid-state batteries eliminate flammable liquid, which greatly reduces the risk of fire , especially under normal use in controlled conditions (moderate temperature, appropriate loads, normal vibrations).
However, if an internal short circuit occurs, thermal runaway is still possible, even on a solid electrolyte battery.
👉 Very high security potential , but still young technology .
Learn more: Safety concerns in solid-state lithium batteries: from materials to devices
Hybrid supercapacitors
Hybrid supercapacitors are virtually non-flammable: no runaway is possible.
Even when subjected to shock, overload or short circuit, they produce neither flame nor gas, only slight heating.
👉 Maximum security , adapted to urban micromobility.
Hybrid supercapacitors underwent a battery of laboratory tests to evaluate their robustness. We have summarized the results in a dedicated article: Robustness and Stability Evaluation of SAFE (Anod) Technology
Why batteries are no longer enough: the importance of energy intelligence
In the coming years, the performance of electric bikes will no longer depend solely on the battery, but on how the energy is managed .
Optimize engine fuel consumption
A high-efficiency engine consumes less energy for the same torque.
This optimization makes it possible to take full advantage of lower density technologies, while maintaining competitive autonomy.
Click here to learn more about our motor comsumption.
Recovering energy during braking
Energy regeneration is becoming a key feature, especially for urban fleets and logistics.
On our Anod Hybrid 2, it allows us to recover up to 30% of the energy expended in urban journeys.
Managing energy intelligently
The efficiency of an electric bike no longer depends on a single battery, but on a global management of energy: anticipating the needs of the motor, regulating the power according to the effort required, reinjecting the recovered energy at the right time.
This coordination between engine, storage and regeneration creates a coherent system, capable of offering more autonomy, safety and longevity without increasing energy capacity.
Let's write the future of mobility together
At Anod, we believe that energy innovation is not measured solely in Wh, but in ease of use, safety and real sustainability.
If you share this vision or would like to integrate our technologies into your products, please write to us at contact@anod.com
