Introduction to E-Bike System Communication Types

When choosing the type of communication protocol for your electric bike battery, it is important to take into account not only how well it communicates with the system but also what are its limitations.

In this blog post, we will take a look at a different type of communication in lev e-drive systems and why CAN communication is usually found in high-end systems.

CAN has many segments but shares the same characteristics. In recent years, CAN has been a more and more popular protocol for high-end electric bicycles. Uart may be a good choice if you have an open-source drive system or want to use more simple software on another platform. Smart BMS is often used on high-end e-drive systems because they offer enhanced safety and security features.

e bike

What are the different types of communication for electric bicycle battery packs?

There are a few different types of communication for the e-drive system.

The first one is Uart which uses a serial connection to communicate between the battery pack and the display or controller and display. It was also used computer data transfer device in early times. In an electric bicycle system, Uart only sends out basic information such as voltage, SOC, etc.

uart

RS-485 is another common communication protocol that is usually used in e-motorcycles. It is a stable and reliable protocol that has been widely adopted in different industries.

CAN bus is a reliable vehicle bus protocol that allows microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other’s applications without the need for a host computer. It’s a message-based format originally intended for automotive multiplexing, which reduces copper usage.

CAN stand for motor controller Area Network which means that it’s a network of motor controllers that communicate with each other over one or more networks. It was originally used by the automotive industry to allow electronic components from different manufacturers to communicate on vehicles without any need for special hardware interfaces between them.

Nowadays, CAN Bus is also popular in high-end electric bicycles because it offers many benefits over other protocols. The CAN bus can support other electronics to connect with the system, such as speed sensors, torque sensors, and others.

Also, the controller can plant different strategies for batteries, electric motors, and other components. Smart BMS is often used on these systems because they offer the ability to process the discharge/charging strategies from the controller at low speeds or higher speeds. And send more detailed information to the controller.

This means that you can use an application on your mobile phone to access information about the health status of your electric bike’s battery. Additionally, you can control the safety parameters of your electric bike’s system in real-time based on the current circumstances. This gives you complete control and allows you to ensure the safety of yourself and others while using your electric bike.

Smart BMS communicates directly with CAN bus systems allowing the system greater control over whole bicycle performance and security features but keep in mind that CAN bus can split up messages, every message sent by the device will be received by all the device connectors to the CAN bus network.

CAN Bus including CAN 2.0, CAN 3.0, CAN open, and Energy Bus. They all belong to CAN, but only in different segments. Discover more details about Can Bus communication and its sub-protocols.

Other communication protocols exist but are not as commonly used as those mentioned above. When choosing a communications protocol for your electric bike battery, it is important to consider all the different factors involved.

Why does electric motor need to communicate?

The main reason for communication between the battery pack and the electric bike drive system is to send data between them. This data can include information such as the battery’s state of charge, voltage, current, temperature, and other diagnostic information. By sending this data, both the battery pack and controller can make better decisions about how to operate.

Some communication protocols are better than others at handling certain types of data. CAN bus, for example, is good at handling large amounts of data quickly. This makes it a good choice for high-end e-bike systems that require fast communication between multiple devices. Uart is a simpler protocol and can be used in open-source drive systems.

Bluetooth, on the other hand, is highly susceptible to interference. In comparison, Bluetooth and similar technologies are significantly less stable than infrared or radio frequency identification (RFID). However, in certain situations, it might aid in resolving an issue. For example, it may restrict the type of connector used or allow for multiple point-of-sale transactions.

When choosing a communication protocol, it is important to consider the needs of your system and choose the one that will work best for you. If you have questions about which communication protocol would be best for your e-bike battery pack, please contact us and we would be happy to help.

How do the battery pack and the e-bike drive system communicate?

The way that communication takes place between the battery pack and the e-bike drive system can vary depending on the protocol used.

CAN bus, for example, uses a network of two wires (CAN H and CAN L) to send messages between devices. Uart uses a single wire to send data in both directions.

can

Bluetooth and other wireless technologies use radio signals to communicate. This allows for system-wide communication but is more susceptible to interference.

What is the process by which the data is transmitted in electric bicycles?

The data that is transmitted between the battery pack and the e-bike drive system can vary depending on the protocol used.

CAN bus, for example, sends messages in a series of packets. These packets are small pieces of data that are sent one at a time. This allows devices to send and receive messages even when they are not actively communicating with each other.

Uart, on the other hand, sends data in a continuous stream. This means that data is sent as soon as it is available and there is no waiting for packets to be assembled.

uart 1

Bluetooth and other wireless technologies send data in short bursts. This allows devices to conserve power by not transmitting when there is no data to send.

When it comes to the process in which data is transmitted, CAN bus and Uart are very similar while Bluetooth and other wireless technologies use different methods. Deciding between these protocols depends on your needs for power consumption and speed of communication.

What does this mean for you?

These communication protocols can seem intimidating, but they don’t need to be. CAN bus and Uart have been around for a long time so most electric bike manufacturers are familiar with their use.

Bluetooth and other wireless technologies offer different benefits that may or may not work well in your situation. In some cases, these technologies might be a good way to resolve an issue. In other cases, the CAN bus or Uart may be better suited for your needs.

Do all batteries have communication features?

No. There are different types of batteries and CAN bus, Bluetooth, or other wireless technologies might not be available for all battery types. It is important to check with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision based on communication protocols alone.

Some battery does not have communication features. These batteries usually use hardware BMS, which means it is the most basic and cheapest BMS. There is no CAN bus or other features on these battery types.

It means that they are less safe than others and this type of BMSs usually does not communicate with your electric bike drive system. And the display is reading the SOC by the battery voltage. It is common on conventional bike update packages.

If you are looking for a battery with CAN bus or other communication features, make sure to look for the term smart battery management system or smart BMS. This will indicate that the battery can communicate with your electric bike’s drive system.

Discover more about BMS and its features

Does the hub motor need communication?

Yes. CAN bus, Bluetooth, and other wireless technologies are common communication protocols for hub motors. Hub motors need to communicate with the electric bike drive system to function properly so these types of communication protocols offer a great solution.

hub motors

These high-performance hub motor systems can use CAN bus or Uart while older models might only have one of these options available. For example hub motor kit or front hub motors.

Which Brand is using the CAN bus?

CAN bus is a common communication protocol in the electric bike industry. Many different brands use it to communicate with their drive systems.

Some of the more well-known brands that use CAN bus include Bosch, Shimano, Bafang, and Yamaha. If you are looking for a battery pack that uses CAN bus, these are some of the top brands to check for. CAN bus is a common communication method in the electric bikes industry so it is not necessary to specifically look for CAN, but this term does narrow down your search results.

Which Brand is using Uart?

Uart is a common solution in e-drive systems. It is simple to use but has limited performance. CAN and BMS have many segments but share the same characteristics.

UART stands for Universal Asynchronous Receiver Tx/Rx which means it can be used on most of all types of battery types (not only CAN bus). It looks like CAN, but it is simpler and slower. CAN has many segments but shares the same characteristics while UART only has one segment which allows devices to send and receive messages even when they are not actively communicating with each other.

Uart is a common solution in e-drive systems that communicate over CAN bus. Some of the more well-known brands that use Uart include Curtiss, Vintage Electric, Faraday, and Bafang. If you are looking for a battery pack that uses Uart, these are some of the top brands to check for.

What are some advantages and disadvantages of each type of communication for an electric bike battery?

The first one is Uart, which is a common solution in e-drive systems. it is simple to use but has limited performance.

CAN and BMS have many segments but share the same characteristics.

CAN bus improves safety by limiting communication between functions that are not needed at any given time while BMS ensures there are no conflicts between the battery cells.

RS-485 is common on the elder e-motorcycle. It is a common communication method in the industry.

Advantages:

  • CAN bus improves safety by limiting communication between functions that are not needed at any given time while BMS ensures there are no conflicts between the battery cells.
  • Uart is a common solution in e-drive systems that communicate over CAN bus. CAN and BMS have many segments but share the same characteristics while UART only has one segment which allows devices to send and receive messages even when they are not actively communicating with each other.

Disadvantages:

The CAN bus can be complex to set up and requires a higher level of expertise, whereas BMS ensures there are no conflicts between other devices.

Uart on the other hand is limited by its performance. Which is when the number of the device in the network increase. Uart can not handle that large amount of data sharing. Especially in the high-end electric bike, which offers support even APP on mobile phones for riding data, and other relevant data.

smart app pack and cell detecting
smart app pack and cell detecting

The future of e-bike batteries

The future of electric bicycle batteries looks bright with the continued development of CAN bus communication. CAN has many advantages over other types of communication, such as UART. It is faster, more reliable, and can handle a higher volume of data. This makes it the perfect choice for high-end e-drive systems.

Also, wireless communication has huge potential in the electric bicycle market. It can provide a more user-friendly experience by allowing riders to control their electric bike without having to touch any buttons. This could include features such as starting and stopping the electric motor, changing gears, and adjusting the settings on the display.  

display

What we can do

Tritek has rich experience with CAN 3.0, CAN open, Uart project experience, etc. Our smart batteries with our server software in BMS have been used on many well-known brands such as Specialized, Cannondale, Giant, and more. Our ability of R&D and quality has also been approved by the world’s top E-drive system company. For more information on our electric bike batteries with CAN bus or CAN open communication types, please contact us.

BMS

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