The current yarbo battery is sufficient for a lot of tasks, but with winter time coming up in the north it’s no question that battery capacity can make or break how well yarbo can handle a storm. Battery technology has been advancing quite quickly in the past several years and there is availability of cells with similar temperature handling, massive current handling, and more than double the gravimetric density. Double the run time would have a huge improvement on the storm handling as well as the manageable weekly acreage for mowing duty. Is this something on the team’s radar?
Which chemistry would you recommend?
Let’s go with LiPo’s and a sprinklered fireproof box where it can park and charge 
I got a lot of “C” batteries left over from back in the day.
But seriously they need an expansion pack, for more run time.
Yes they do
If they want to stick with NMC Li-ION (I’m not sure the exact cells used now but these types of packs are usually assembled with 21700 cells), they could move over to the Linkdata 65P 6500mah cells (tested and abused for quite some time now in demanding PEV applications), or wait until early next year for the Molicel P70X (7000mah) to have broader availability. They have the temperature handling and for sure better current handling than what was available when the original yarbo pack was developed. Additionally around the time, cell capacity was more typically in the 3500-4200mah range. These new cells have possibly double the capacity and more so will be more efficient under load - so the discharge curve will be less dramatic as the current needs increase (I imagine having quite the impact for higher demand activities like the snow blower faces). It doesn’t even necessarily need to become a replacement by any means.. Cell prices will be higher, so offer it as a high density pack at a premium
I feel like the current battery is overpriced and could be lowered considerably in cost and the premium one could maybe inherit the current battery cost.
I agree, and the premium one would probably do some wonders for the figures in their marketing materials
Oh no marketing strikes again
They are now coming out with these incredible solid state packs as well…
ehhh.. the solid state technology isn’t really there yet… lot of claims that ended up being pure nonsense and some of the companies that claimed to be producing solid state batteries turned out to not even be solid state technology.. I think it will be a few years before we see something more commercially viable with that tech
Yeah I can call firm solid state is a ways off yet from consumers.
I feel like everything from Yarbo is quite overpriced. I obviously understand they are doing way more than other companies product wise, but their good setup is now starting in the $7,500 range if I read the latest news right, while other companies have those under $2,500 and have far less problems. A jack of all trades is a master of none.
I didn’t used to feel that way. I originally thought their pricing was quite reasonable. Especially on their accessories and supplies. That has all gone crazy lately. I don’t think they will be alone though. I’m sure the rest of the industry will have to raise prices too. The cost of shipping has apparently gone through the roof along with everything else.
As for competitors with less problems, I’d also argue that the others have their problems too. I am in the forums for most and see the same complaints across every single mower out there. There isn’t a competitor for a snow blower or leaf blower as of yet that I’m aware of. So we shall see how that goes when there is. There are definitely some in the works.
You can buy a used Maserati ghibli for less than a full Yarbo setup, and the fully loaded Y40P easily compares to a 2004-2009 Bentley Continental GT price. Its nuts. Bentley or lawn mower is a question most don’t envision asking. I feel like they are taking advantage of the elevated media coverage on robotics more than I feel like their supplies are skyrocketing.
This is strange logic
I have 2 Lubas (Gen 1) that I think are great. The forums are filled with people who complain constantly and say they are going to buy a Lymow or Segway etc. Then in the Lymow groups, there are people who complain and say they are going to buy a Luba.
There really isn’t another peer to the Yarbo. No one else makes a functional autonomous snowblower.
All these robots suck for the amount of money they cost.
It’s true. Maybe their parts value is more than their value in what they can accomplish
Maybe they’re trying to offset the losses from the constant stream of warranty cores flying around.