Not Just Bikes 🇳🇱Apr 3, 2025

I've been saying this for years: ebikes should have USB-C PD ports for charging!

Finally a manufacturer has actually done it. In this case using 140W power delivery, which is way higher power than any ebike charger I've ever used. And USB-C PD now supports up to 240W, which is more than enough for ebikes.

I hope this becomes the norm:

https://www.theverge.com/news/639681/usb-c-charging-e-bike-ampler-nova-specs-price

Finally, an e-bike that charges off USB-C

The Ampler Nova e-bikes can be charged in three hours using a standard 140W USB-C PD 3.1 laptop charger.

The Verge
Show threadCharlie Stross
@notjustbikes Not only that: it should be possible to plug your phone/tablet/laptop into your bike for a top-up over USB-C PD2. (Ahem: some sort of device authorization mechanism will be necessary to stop random strangers draining parked bikes for shits and giggles.)
Apr 3, 2025 at 12:24pmWeb
Show threadComplexity of systems 🏳️‍⚧️Apr 3, 2025
@cstross @notjustbikes I would be willing to bet at that there are a lot of devices that could theoretically support acting as a battery bank I actually bought a pier of cheap wireless headphones during 2020 and the case for them had just a USB A port in addition to the USB c port because they had apparently recycled the part of the guts for a power bank due to component shortages
Show threadComplexity of systems 🏳️‍⚧️Apr 3, 2025
@cstross @notjustbikes I've had at least one Bluetooth speaker that had the same thing except that just used the charge control IC (according to a tear down I looked up) and didn't have a direct means to charge without doing some feely invasive modifications to it honestly with stuff with USB C a reverse charging mode for emergency should be like standard like if I can drain my speaker or my flashlight to get an extra 20% out of my phone when I really need it that would be nice
Show threadComplexity of systems 🏳️‍⚧️Apr 3, 2025
@cstross @notjustbikes I really can't believe more things which are USB c devices don't support that kind of thing because again it would probably be trivial from a BOM perspective to include it would just take extra design effort
Show threadmayor of tr*nny townApr 3, 2025
@cstross @notjustbikes would be nice to have a charging port near the back of my bike so I can route a charging cable into a pannier and charge while I'm riding. I have a good battery bank but I don't leave valuables on my bike so if I choose to take it it makes my backpack much heavier