Tag Archive: E-bike

1. Podbike tours Europe and further enhances the FRIKAR design

   12/09/2022 14:03 Comments Off on Podbike tours Europe and further enhances the FRIKAR design

   LEVA-EU member Podbike has toured the uniquely designed FRIKAR e-bike around various European trade shows, delighting audiences and making fresh engineering discoveries along the way

   ‘Podbike, meet din 79010’ – Germany’s strict safety standards

   Germany’s rules for bike design and safety are the gold standard across Europe. The Podbike FRIKAR is so unique, that it’s not completely clear which category of bike design it belongs in. Podbike has chosen to abide by Germany’s rules for cargo bikes, as the LEV can carry two people: one big, one small, or one rider and cargo in the rear.

   For example, the FRIKAR should be able to roll off a curb onto the road without any fear of damaging the bike. These simple drops from curb to road surface occur all the time on a bike, so it was necessary to test the effects of constant bumping such as this over time.

   To simulate long-term riding, Podbike has developed a power-driven test rig that allows a FRIKAR to ‘drive’ for days and days on rollers without a break. The fatigue data gathered provided interesting insights, which will assist in ensuring Podbike is first-in-class when it comes to velomobile stability and durability.

   What to do when shock absorbers are not absorbing sufficient shock?

   The biggest finding was that the front suspension wasn’t behaving as expected, being too stiff for the test rig. The suspension wasn’t absorbing enough kinetic energy, making for a bumpy ride and some complex handling. Additionally, unnecessary pressure was exerted on the bike’s chassis which would cause damage over time.

   As a result, Podbike has chosen to change the springs on the FRIKAR’s front shock absorbers. In laymen’s terms, the team has made the front suspension softer. This more supple suspension creates more give in the front end of the FRIKAR, reducing stress on the chassis, and taking a load off the front of the chassis and all the bike’s other components.

   The new springs have different diameters and steel thicknesses than the old ones. They will add a little extra weight, but not much – just a few grams.

   Why redesign the front suspension now?

   Readers may ask, why did Podbike wait until this late stage in the design process to make this change?

   The short answer is that there was not enough test data until now, despite the FRIKAR undergoing 2 years of test driving with the old suspension springs on roads in Norway.

   After some stress cracks appeared in the chassis, it was realized that reinforcement was required. Following this, it was assumed the issue would be solved, but the amped-up fatigue testing this summer on the roller rig revealed that more refinement was needed. Hence, additional suspension development!

   Development enhances the FRIKAR to the max.

   The good news is that following the installation of softer front shocks it was discovered that they extended the FRIKAR’s projected longevity by three to four years!

   A great result, but Podbike is committed to further development as to meet the German cargo bike standard.  Unfortunately, these changes to the front suspension mean the bike’s production will be delayed a little longer. However, while disappointing for some, Podbike’s dedication to quality is highlighted, ensuring only the most superior of products reach end-users.

   

2. The TILER Charging Tile helps MOBIAN on its way with shared e-bike fleets

   22/08/2022 13:42 Comments Off on The TILER Charging Tile helps MOBIAN on its way with shared e-bike fleets

   Source: NieuwsFiets.nu

   Park and Ride provider MOBIAN has expanded its range of shared bicycles with electric shared bicycles in Amsterdam, utilizing LEVA-EU member TILER’s innovative product to combat previous drawbacks.

   

   The new e-bicycles are wirelessly charged on a TILER charging tile via a special charging stand. The e-bikes are charged immediately after use with no hub administrator required.

   The booming market for electric bicycles continues to bring fresh innovation. The e-bike charging process is redesigned with TILER’s product, which has transformed the traditional methods for charging e-bikes. “Parking is charging and nothing else needs to be done. All it takes is a Charging Tile and the bike stand must be replaced with TILER’s own Stand,” says TILER marketing manager Amarins Tamminga. “This is ideal for unattended shared bicycle fleets, where charging is sometimes forgotten by the user and standard chargers are very fragile and not made for such intensive use.”

   ‘In TILER we see a cool vandal-proof solution’

   MOBIAN founder Sven Snel speaks of “an awesome, new, and accessible way to charge e-bikes. The trend of the e-bike has not escaped our attention in recent years, but to be able to offer electric shared bicycles in a good way on our MOBIHUBS turned out to be quite a challenge. We have ventured into e-bikes before, but too often encountered destruction of our charging products,” says Snel. “In TILER we see a great vandal-proof solution and are therefore happy to take on the challenge of adding e-bikes to the shared mobilities on our MOBIHUBS again.”

   Charging solution for rental bicycles

   MOBIAN is not the first to collaborate with TILER; the brand is already active in other shared bike concepts, such as rental bicycles in hotels and fleets of e-bikes for staff. They have also recently started a project with a bicycle sharing hub at Arnhem Central.

   “We are very excited to start this project with MOBIAN, especially because they have experienced for themselves that there must be a charging solution if you want to offer e-bikes in autonomous hubs. TILER’s vision is to change cities, more focused on people and nature, and the combination with MOBIAN’s park & ​​ride concept fits perfectly with this,” says Christiaan van Nispen, founder of TILER.

   From this week on, e-bikes can be rented at the MOBIHUB Ijsbaanpad location and later this month also at MOBIHUB Amsterdam West. If the project is successful, the companies hope to be able to further roll out the scheme in various Dutch cities.

   

3. LEVA-EU member Rad Power Bikes launches UK website

   13:17 Comments Off on LEVA-EU member Rad Power Bikes launches UK website

   Rad Power has recently announced the launch of a new UK-only website for customers in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In 2022, the brand’s priority is to improve its processes and create a better experience for customers, and this new initiative aims to do exactly that! 

   The details:

   The new website; radpowerbikes.co.uk is built to serve customers in the UK. Products, prices, and inventory levels are specific to deliveries in these regions, dispatching from a Manchester-based warehouse. 

   What does this mean for Rad Power customers? 
   With this new addition to UK operations, Rad Power will shorten the delivery timeframes for in-stock products from eight weeks to 15 working days on all UK deliveries. 

   The radpowerbikes.eu site will now only serve customers with delivery addresses in the EU.

   

4. Time to test ride: VanMoof reveals the all-new S5 & A5 are ready to take to the streets

   13:09 Comments Off on Time to test ride: VanMoof reveals the all-new S5 & A5 are ready to take to the streets

   LEVA-EU member VanMoof reveals that the VanMoof S5 & A5 are available to test ride in Amsterdam and Berlin (with test rides to be available in other cities across the globe throughout August and September).

   Following a record-breaking launch in April that achieved unprecedented website traffic and an international buzz, VanMoof’s latest e-bikes are now ready to take to the streets. Riders can test ride both models of the brand’s latest generation of groundbreaking city e-bikes, the VanMoof S5 & A5.

   Test ride schedule

   While Amsterdam and Berlin are the first two cities to launch test rides, riders will be able to book test rides in London, Paris, Hamburg, Munster, New York City, and San Francisco later in August and September. 

   Test rides will be available in further cities across the world through September and October.

   New bikes, new frames

   Both new 5-Series frames offer riders the easiest and accessible way to ride a VanMoof. The S5 is a refresh of the unmistakable VanMoof straight frame with slightly smaller wheels. The high riding position remains the top pick for controlled cruising. The brand-new A5 model has a lowered step-in frame, making it easy to jump on and off on nimble city rides. The all-new frame was designed with people new to biking in mind.

   Engineered to perfection

   The VanMoof S5 & A5 feature a re-engineered ultra-silent and powerful motor, a long-range battery, an extra powerful Boost button, and all the latest VanMoof anti-theft tech. The new handlebar interface made of LED Halo Rings communicates real-time feedback on speed, battery levels, unlocking and more. The all-new lowered step-in A5 frame opens the opportunity for more riders worldwide to have their first e-bike experience. The VanMoof S5 & A5 come in a gray finish and are available to buy for the introductory price of $2998.

   How to book a test ride

   Riders can view which cities worldwide currently offer test rides and book theirs here.

   

5. Bafang completes the building of its EMC Laboratory

   13:04 Comments Off on Bafang completes the building of its EMC Laboratory

   The electromagnetic compatibility facility will substantially and positively impact on LEVA-EU member Bafang’s product development, driving up quality and efficiency while reducing costs

   After two years and a capital investment of more than ￥10 million (approximately 1.44M€), Bafang has successfully completed the building of an Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) laboratory, becoming one of the few companies in the global electric system industry to own such a facility. The Bafang EMC laboratory will provide a large amount of test data support for future product projects and effectively achieve the key aims of “cost reduction, efficiency increase, and quality improvement”.

   

   What is EMC?

   Imagine that when you turn on a vacuum cleaner, the TV next to you becomes blurry. This phenomenon is called Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), occurring when a device conducts its voltage or current and influences other devices. In the process of product manufacturing, solving the EMI problem is a key task, and EMI interference will be exposed through EMC testing. An EMC laboratory can fully verify the immunity of a system‘s equipment in its electromagnetic environment, which could be also called electromagnetic sensitivity. In addition, an EMC lab can judge whether the system equipment causes EMI that is above a particular limit to other equipment.

   Bafang‘s EMC Laboratory

   The Bafang EMC laboratory covers an area of about 120 m² and has both a Semi-Anechoic Chamber and an EM Shielding Chamber. The testing capabilities cover eBikes, civilian goods and components, and can fully meet the EMC testing requirements for motors, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), controllers, sensors, batteries, chargers and various other products.

   Based on the ISO17025 laboratory management standard, the Bafang EMC laboratory not only has comprehensive testing methods, but can also achieve mutual recognition of data with top laboratories in the world due to the advanced equipment within.

   R&D & Cost Reduction Advantages

   With the continuous accumulation of experience in EMC testing and rectification, Bafang will cultivate more excellent and highly talented EMC-focused testing teams and hardware professionals, with the aim of minimizing EMC-related problems across the product range. Bafang‘s EMC Laboratory will also speed up overall project R&D progress and provide a solid foundation for R&D innovation.

   It is foreseeable that with its high utilization rate and relevant industry qualification certification, the Bafang EMC Laboratory will accelerate a considerable reduction in costs related to EMC pre-compliance testing and components‘ CE certificating, and so, will truly achieve the company’s “cost reduction” goal. In line with Bafang’s commitment to creating advanced laboratory facilities, in addition to the EMC laboratory, the Bafang Laboratory Centers also feature spaces dedicated to Environmental Reliability, Battery, Mechanical Reliability, Aging, Acoustics and more. This large-scale, comprehensive laboratory structure ensures product stability and effectively improves the competitiveness of Bafang in the market.

   Scan the QR code to view a VR panorama of Bafang Laboratory Centers

   In the future, Bafang will strive to obtain laboratory qualifications accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS), and continue to promote quality management to a new level.

   

6. Slovenia beach town benefits from bicycle ambulances

   11:58 Comments Off on Slovenia beach town benefits from bicycle ambulances

   Source: TheMayorEU, T.V. Iolov

   Paramedics on two wheels offer healthcare with improved flexibility, mobility, and speed in some scenarios

   For the past four years, residents and visitors to Izola, a small coastal city in Slovenia, have benefitted from a unique service – paramedics on bicycles. Initially, the idea came about when considering the best way to deliver first-aid services to participants of the Istrian Marathon, which was hosted in the city.

   Igor Crnić from the Izola Health Center explained for Radio Slovenia how the idea was born: “When we realized that the paramedics have to follow (the race participants) even where the ambulance cannot, and that they have to get to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible so that the injured or accident victim can more easily wait for the ambulance.”

   Now implemented during other peak times following the scheme’s success, this service highlights the advantages and adaptability of alternative transportation methods to motorized vehicles – particularly in narrow or crowded spaces. Today, first-aiders ride specialized e-bikes, fully equipped with the necessary equipment and adapted for unpaved path riding.

   The paramedics on bicycles are on site every weekend in the summer and during holidays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. They are connected to the dispatch center, which is aware of their location at all times and, if necessary, will call them in to intervene. Last summer saw 26 interventions by bike-riding paramedics.

   The most common cases were of sudden weakness and injuries, which can be treated directly on the ground. Thus, the emergency medical aid system elsewhere is somewhat relieved, says Crnić, who is satisfied that the project is no longer dependent on volunteer work: “The Municipality of Izola pays the Health Centre Izola, which, according to the contract, pays the rescuers who perform the work. But we’ll see how it goes in the future.”

   

7. QWIC, Bafang and Enviolo to provide a fully integrated cycling experience

   30/05/2022 17:59 Comments Off on QWIC, Bafang and Enviolo to provide a fully integrated cycling experience

   Source: Enviolo

   Enviolo and LEVA-EU member Bafang have successfully completed the integration of Enviolo’s AUTOMATiQ control units into Bafang’s drivetrain system and display unit. The new firmware integration allows the cyclist to change all bike and ride settings such as the cadence setpoint or calibrate Enviolo’s AUTOMATiQ interface through the Bafang system. This provides a fully integrated user experience as all settings can be changed through one display control unit resulting in a clean handlebar. Additional LEVA-EU member QWIC will be the first bicycle company to launch e-bikes with the Enviolo and Bafang integration.

   

   Billy van den Ende, Director of Brand Experience at Enviolo: “Our goal is to get people out of the car and onto a bike but we need to build great bikes to be able to achieve this goal. We believe that by offering a fully integrated user experience we are creating a safer and more pleasurable ride experience. Bafang is one of the leading manufacturers of complete e-drive systems and it only makes sense for us to integrate the Enviolo AUTOMATiQ systems with Bafang’s motor system. QWIC is a long-term Enviolo partner and we are very proud to have this new technology on QWIC’S innovative Premium i Auto model.”

   Jos Schutte, Technical Innovation Lead at QWIC: “With every generation of e-bikes we work on making them smarter and better. But “smarter” should not, of course, mean that the bike becomes more complicated. On the contrary, we strive to make cycling itself as enticing as possible. The cooperation between Enviolo, Bafang and QWIC allows us to improve the cycling experience for the user. A big benefit of the QWIC Premium i Auto model is that it’s now possible to change desired cadence setpoint of Enviolo AUTOMATiQ through the Bafang display, eliminating any need for extra controllers and ensuring a clean handlebar.”

   Joe Jiang, Marketing & Sales Director at Bafang: “Bafang and Enviolo are two pioneering companies in the e-bike drive world that have built up an excellent reputation in recent years. Therefore, it was only a matter of time for both companies to work closely on new projects together. Bafang has found Enviolo to be an ideal partner. Together we provide the right concept and the right, future-oriented product to meet the existing and future demands and requirements of the bicycle industry. Both companies are enormously innovation-driven and are therefore looking forward to a new, inspiring, processive and forward-looking projects that are oriented towards the customer and meet their needs.”

   

8. European first – e-bike sharing system that crosses international borders

   23/05/2022 16:30 Comments Off on European first – e-bike sharing system that crosses international borders

   Source: fietsberaad

   Parkstad Limburg claims that Velocity is the first European sharing system with e-bikes that can cross national borders.

   Velocity, a new e-bike sharing system, currently operates 20 substations in Parkstad, Netherlands. Eight of the stations are in Heerlen, five in Kerkrade, two in both Beekdaelen and Voerendaal, and one each in Landgraaf, Brunssum and Simpelveld. With locations in places such as Heerlen and Kerkrade, cycling to Aachen in Germany is possible.

   The e-bike sharing stations are all located next to public transport nodes, allowing a seamless switch between low-carbon travel options. Stations are also located at large-scale institutions that invite large footfall, such as the Zuyderland hospital, the Brightlands Smart Services Campus, and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences. Further expansion will aim to place stations in the region’s business parks.

   Velocity is co-financed by the Region Deal Parkstad Limburg investment program. The aim is to eventually scale up to the Heuvelland, the rest of South Limburg, and other parts of the Euregio, creating one e-bike sharing system with connections across national borders.

   

9. New mobility EU pilot project starts with SWOBBEE & URBAN DRIVESTYLE in Berlin

   15:26 Comments Off on New mobility EU pilot project starts with SWOBBEE & URBAN DRIVESTYLE in Berlin

   The e-bike manufacturer URBAN DRIVESTYLE and the Berlin GreenTech startup, LEVA-EU member SWOBBEE, announce a partnership and launch an innovative exchangeable battery subscription model for the utility e-bikes from URBAN DRIVESTYLE in Berlin.

   The exclusive fat e-bikes in a casual signature look from the Berlin manufacturer URBAN DRIVESTYLE are ideal companions for long journeys in the urban environment – the perfect vehicle for fun, family, friends & work goes every mile. Both the UNI MK CLASSIC and the UNI SWING are developed and handcrafted in Berlin, Niederschöneweide, and are, therefore ‘Made in Germany’. With one charge, both e-bike models cover distances of up to 80 kilometers at a top speed of 25 km/h.

   The extensive range of stations offered by the exchangeable battery network provider SWOBBEE is now expanding the UD Bike Community’s radius of use. The utility e-bikes UNI MK CLASSIC and UNI SWING from URBAN DRIVESTYLE are now being delivered with SWOBBEE-compatible AES batteries. If necessary, the battery can be exchanged for a full one at the SWOBBEE changing stations in just a few seconds – the range and operating times are therefore almost unlimited, a great plus in terms of flexibility for commercial customers. The new interchangeable app for iOS and Android and the operator dashboard offer easy access: Drive straight to the station, log in with the app, swap the battery and continue driving. Simple, convenient, and fast. The SWOBBEE station network will be rolled out in all major German cities by 2024.

   The SWOBBEE test subscription in combination with the UD e-bikes was presented for the first time at the VELOBerlin – with test rides of over 1000km on the two days of the fair it was a complete success.

   “The puristic fat e-bikes from URBAN DRIVESTYLE show that the turnaround in mobility can be really stylish. We are very happy to work together to make the URBAN DRIVESTYLE e-bikes even more attractive as a sustainable, city-friendly mobility alternative through innovative battery-as-a-service offers,” explains Tobias Breyer, Head of Marketing & Co-Founder, SWOBBEE.

   “What connects us with SWOBBEE is above all the claim to promote the traffic turnaround through innovative concepts. The flexibility provided by the SWOBBEE exchangeable battery stations is a perfect benefit for our customers. The partnership is therefore an ideal, logical next step for us and we look forward to further cooperation,” says Tilmann Eberhard, URBAN DRIVESTYLE.

   Together, the two partners are also implementing a pioneering pilot project that offers a glimpse of the future of urban mobility. The starting signal for the “Berlin Bike Booster” campaign will be given shortly, as part of which the SWOBBEE Sharing Points will be opened for b2c applications for the first time.