Superpedestrian has built a Copenhagen Wheel, which converts any bicycle in to a unique e-bike, for $699. First 1,000 buyers can pre-order the rear-wheel at this discounted price that starts shipping in the first quarter of 2014.
Bicycling keeps you both physically and mentally agile. Besides this, it helps kill traffic on a busy day. In big cities like New York and Los Angeles, bicycles are the most popular alternative to cars. They are used for daily commute to offices, schools and colleges. Massachusetts startup Superpedestrian has dared to bring a change in the way bicycling has been done over the years.
The Copenhagen Wheel by Superpedestrian is a new replacement rear-wheel for your bicycle, which converts any bicycle into an e-bike. The wheel is designed to convert the energy of braking and descending to help riders boost speed especially uphill .
"The Wheel is ridden like a normal bicycle -- users pedal and the motor phases in and out automatically," the company wrote in a press release (PDF). "The Wheel learns about the rider and intuitively recognizes how hard he or she pedals and the topography ahead to determine how much support the rider may need. There aren't any additional throttles, wires, or buttons, [thus] maintaining the pure simplicity of cycling."
The 12-pound wheel features a 350W motor and a 48 volt lithium-ion battery, which captures energy while braking or descending and it uses it based on requirement. According to the company, the wheel can help a biker get speeds up to 20 mph.
In addition to boosting speeds, a companion smartphone app lets bikers lock and unlock their bicycles, monitor distances, speed, burnt calories and more. The app also helps riders change the level of powered assist while the motor doles out the stored energy.
Superpedestrian will start shipping the first batch of the Copenhagen Wheel in the first quarter of 2014. The first 1,000 wheels can be pre-ordered via the company's official site for a discounted $699, which will go up to $799 when launched commercially. Currently, the company is offering a limited edition and the developer's edition for the same price, but the developer edition will offer its owner access to Copenhagen API to help build creative apps for the wheel.
