Technology

E-biking is about to become accessible and affordable thanks to a new British invention that’s disrupting the status quo

© Nick Rickert

It’s no secret that Elon Musk has changed how we make cars and how we think about sustainability, but a revolution in E-biking technology could be about to set a new trend.

With the booming cycling industry expected to be worth more than $50 billion in 5 years, cities around the world are scrambling to cut pollution and align themselves to the Paris Climate goals. There’s never been more urgency to reduce emissions, but now, a new technology is about to make E-biking more affordable and accessible to all.

With electric bikes proving to be popular, there still remains a huge barrier to entry due to the cost of getting a fully fitted E-bike. But what if the bikes we already use could be converted into E-bikes by simply attaching a new add-on? A British company, Connect 4 Engineering, has developed a solution that does just that.

The TK-1 is a new retrofit conversion kit with an international patent pending that allows 95% of the world’s bikes to be converted into E-bikes by adding pedal assist technology at a fraction of the cost. The TK-1, a mid-drive, hybrid plug and ride system which delivers true pedal assist mechanically and electronically has already been added and tested on bikes from Carrera to Atlas, Olympus, Trek, Probike, Gant and T-Ger to name but a few. The process is easy when adding the TK-1 and the bike’s frame doesn’t need to be altered, meaning that the retrofit kit can be manufactured on mass without having to be adapted for each brand.

In its first trials in Dubai, it has proven to be successful while providing a design aesthetic that makes it appealing to the mass market. With its in-built battery option, it will also give people a range of 20-100 miles depending on their usage (50 miles on average depending on the chosen size of the power supply). Typical speeds can exceed 15 mph when the battery is in use.

© Connect4Engineering

Speaking about the technology this week, Engr. Hafiz, Head of Research & Development for Connect 4 Engineering said, “We’ve developed the TK-1 entirely in-house using intelligent green technology and processes to ensure it has a low carbon footprint, a rapid rate of production and can be manufactured anywhere in the world. This means we are well placed to meet the ever-increasing demand: there are an estimated 2 billion bikes on the planet, and the TK1 has already been tested across many brands and bike types.”

With its inbuilt mode options using a simple 3-switch device, cyclers can quickly go from normal peddling to fully assisted cycling with little to no maintenance needed.

The possibilities are endless and for consumers, being able to quickly add their new TK-1 kit to their own bike means the technology suddenly becomes accessible – and will be able to significantly reduce Co2 emissions.

For big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, e-biking could replace short car journeys to work, and give people the option to cycle with a motor for extended trips.

Having already receiving the attention of investors in its early trials, the British inventors of the new TK-1 retrofit kit are aiming to make it available to consumers as early as this year upon completion of its next round of funding.

Have you considered the benefits of e-biking in your community?

In partnership with Connect 4 Engineering

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