The E2 has a new LCD display, it allows to check Supercapacitors charge level and AA batteries energy level. It shows also if the auto test is not OK, when the Pressure Relief Valve is ON and when the USB-C is plugged. The E2 has a brand-new Automatic Pressure Relief Valve to relief airbag pressure, 3 minutes after inflation. This electronic valve switch ON 3 minutes after inflation. This is to reduce the stress on the seams and fabric of the airbag, ensuring a longer lifespan inflation after inflation. By minimizing the pressure balloon, it could allow to the buried riders to move the head under the snow.

The E2 compressor is 40% smaller than the E1 compressor: 1.19 liters of useful volume vs 2.05 liters for E1 The E2 kit airbag (compressor + balloon + trigger) is 140g. lighter than the E1: 1140g.for the E2 vs 1280g for E1 The E2 airbag balloon is 12 liters larger than the E1: 162 liters for the E2 vs 150 liters for E1 The new E2 has a new USB-C plug for faster charging vs micro-USB on E1 The E2 AA batteries compartment is redesigned for a better access The E2 has a new deflation knob with external access, it allows to deflate the airbag without opening the backpack

The purpose of this valve is to reduce the airbag pressure 3 minutes after inflation. This is to reduce the stress on the seams and fabric of the airbag, ensuring a longer lifespan inflation after inflation. The pressure relief valve also allows passive and partial deflation of the airbag by reducing its pressure but does not allow complete deflation of the airbag (it’s not an active deflation with a pump). The partial deflation could also allow the buried riders to move the head under the snow.

SuperCapacitors provide energy without chemical reaction (unlike batteries) and are therefore almost insensitive to temperature, so they perform much better at very low temperatures than batteries, which makes them the ideal energy source for an avalanche airbag. In addition, their lifespan is much longer than a battery because SuperCapacitors do not wear out with charge and discharge cycles.

SuperCapacitors discharge faster than a battery, so AA batteries are useful for keeping SuperCapacitors charged. Without AA batteries, the SuperCapacitors would discharge in 15 to 30 hours. AA batteries are also essential for recharging the SuperCapacitors after inflation. As soon as inflation is complete, the AA batteries will automatically recharge the SuperCapacitors so that the airbag can be quickly reinflated if necessary.

Yes, but only AA lithium-ion 1.5V batteries, it's a very good solution for the E1/E2, it allows you to replace disposable batteries, moreover rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have the following advantages: fast recharge, low self-discharge and good performance at low temperature. On the other hand, NIHM 1.2V rechargeable batteries are not recommended because the voltage/performance is too low.

No, the 2 AA batteries give the E2/E1 an autonomy of several months and it is therefore not necessary to recharge it regularly. For example, two new alkaline batteries, inserted after charging the SuperCapacitors, give an autonomy of about 2-3 months, with lithium batteries (non-rechargeable) the autonomy is 3-4 months.

The SuperCapacitors can be recharged with batteries or with USB, the USB plug has priority over the batteries, so if you plug the USB when batteries are in the E2/E1, the recharging will be done with USB without discharging the batteries. If you unplug the USB plug, the recharge will be done automatically with the batteries.

Technically you can use the E2/E1 without batteries if the SuperCapacitors are charged, however the autonomy will be limited to 15-30 hours, recharging after inflation will be not possible and the time to engage the Pressure Relief Valve after inflation will be limited as well. We do not recommend the use of E2/E1 without AA batteries and always carry sufficiently charged batteries. Please note that using the E2/E1 without batteries will not alter or damage the system in any way.

No, SuperCapacitors are not batteries, and they have the advantage of being able to be stored without having to be charged for long periods (months, years) without altering the functioning. If the SuperCapacitors are completely discharged after several months, they can be recharged with USB or batteries. Note that de charging time will be longer than after inflation because the SuperCapacitors are completely discharged.

Only remove the AA batteries and store it in a suitable place (dry and sheltered from the sun)

In general, the recharge time depends on the remaining charge of the SuperCapacitors. The “standard” recharge time indicated in the manual is the recharge time after inflation (SuperCapacitors charged before inflation). The recharge time can be up to twice as long if the SuperCapacitors are completely discharged, after a long period of storage without batteries, or when the bag is new, on the first charge. With the USB plug, the charging time may also depend on the type of charger used. The E2/E1 has an overcharge protection system and if it does not detect a conventional charger, the E2/E1 will limit the charging current and therefore the charging time will be longer. With batteries, the charging time will depend on the type of batteries, the residual charge, the quality and the temperature of the batteries.

All Alpride airbag systems (1.0, 2.0, E1 and E2) can be removed from the backpack, it only takes a few minutes to mount/dismount an airbag system.

All Alpride airbag systems (from the same product family) are standard and can be interchanged from one bag to another, even if it is a different brand of backpack. For example, all E2 systems can be mounted in an E2 compatible bag, regardless of the brand. However, the prints on the airbag can be different from one brand to another. Only airbag systems with a different handle (e.g. handle with respirator) are not standard.

No, the bags are only compatible within the same product family, an E1 bag can only be assembled with an E1, a E2 with a E2 airbag, 2.0 bag with a 2.0 airbag etc…

The best thing is to take the bag in the cabin, it allows you to explain that it is a system without cartridges and without batteries, that it works only with two AA batteries. If you have any further questions, you can print the technical documents under https://www.alpride.com/user-manual

It’s important to check that your E2/E1 has the last firmware version, please check under https://www.alpride.com/software-update-e1 if not please follow the procedure to update it. We have tested our airbag system E1 and E2 in laboratory with sensors to measure interferences and we have also tested E1 and E2 in terrain with different model of popular beacons. For the E2, by wearing the E2 at 50 cm standard distance from the beacon, the E2 don’t significantly influence the beacon in search (RX) or send (TX) phases: E2 don’t significantly influence beacons during the signal search phase RX E2 don’t generate “ghost signal” during search phase RX E2 don’t significantly influence beacons in send/transmission phase TX E2 don’t significantly influence beacons in fine search phase RX For the E1, by wearing the E1 at 50 cm standard distance from the beacon: E1 don’t generate “ghost signal” during beacon search phase RX E1 don’t significantly influence beacons in send/transmission phase TX E1 don’t significantly influence beacons in fine search phase RX For the signal search phase RX by keeping the E1 with 50 cm distance from the beacon, we have measured that the E1 can reduced of few meters the search range. By keeping with 60 cm, the E1 don’t significantly influence the search range. During the signal search phase (only during this phase), it’s recommended to maintain 60 cm between E1 and beacon. As soon as a signal is detected, a standard distance of 50 cm is enough.