There is a group of entrepreneurs in the UK that have taken to Kickstarter to fund their latest creation with the goal of making your commute easier. Building upon the popular A-bike design from a decade ago, this project is adding electricity to the mix to make that morning journey to work a little more enjoyable.
A-Bike Electric claims that it is the “smallest and lightest” e-bike in the world. It appears that Kickstarter backers agree that there is a need, this campaign has already raised 133% of its $60,000 goal with a few weeks remaining. It’s most likely the price point that has sparked such an interest: an early bird pledge of $695 (now sold out) delivers one of these bikes for over 30% off the final retail price. That cost pails in comparison to quality bicycle offerings that can cost 5-10 times as much.
The idea is simple, A-Bike Electric has a foldable design that weighs about 26 pounds. It’s 24V lithium rechargeable battery can provide about 15 miles of use and plugs into a USB port to power back up in 2.5 hours. A-Bike has a switch that toggles between manual power and electric assist. A series of telescoping and folding pieces can bring the bike down to roughly 8 x 15 x 27-inches. The campaign video proudly displays multiple users easily folding the bike up and taking it all over town.
There is a lot to be interested in with this campaign, its small design and rechargeable battery will likely be a hit in Europe. It may not be as well suited for larger cities in the United States but it has a chance to make its way over given the increase in urban bike-sharing programs. Currently a pledge of $915 will deliver an A-Bike Electric in October.
FTC: Electronicsforward is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links
Subscribe to the Electronicsforward YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!
