This week we imported a large shipment of the latest version of the Segway Extended Range battery packs.
First released in 2019, Segway's Extended Range packs use Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) chemistry cells to provide around 30% increased range-per-charge over earlier Lithium packs. In 2022 the packs were improved again ("Revision AB") providing greater stability and reliability. During the past 18 months not a single one of the many hundreds of Revision AB packs we've imported has failed, nor exhibited any early signs of degradation in performance.
Between 2005 and 2018 Segway produced Lithium packs using Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry cells, with Valance 'Saphion' technology. LiFePO4 has a lower charge density than Li-Ion. That is, it stores less energy per kilogram, so the range-per-charge is less.
However, when comparing Segway packs it is not as simple as comparing the storage capacity, measured in Watt-hours, between different kinds of packs. This is because Li-Ion cells have a different voltage drop discharge curve to LiFePO4. The Segway PT does not use all of the energy stored in a battery pack. Once the voltage drops below a critical level the PT will consider the pack to be "flat" and perform a Safety Shutdown. Even though the specifications on a Segway Li-Ion pack may list a capacity (in Watt-hours) around twice that of a Valance pack, the amount of extra capacity that can be used by the Segway PT is about 30%. As Scotty once said to Kirk, "Ye cannae change the laws of physics, Captain".
This shipment from the Segway-Ninebot factory in China also included assorted replacement parts for Segway Personal Transporters (PTs).
We maintain a full compliment of new component parts for Segway PTs in our warehouse for all current i2 SE-X and x2 SE-X models, and for all recent i2 SE and x2 SE models (2013-2019).
We also have just about every new part for i2 and x2 models (2007-2013), and some new parts for Gen 1 models (2002-2006): i167, p133, i170, i180, XT, GT. For any parts for older models that we no longer have available brand new, we have 'certified used' parts available.
Segway PTs are built to last, and we continue to support every model we've ever imported since 2003.