The Propella electric bicycle could be just what the doctor ordered — an inexpensive, lightweight bike with up to 28 miles of range in a no-frills package. It came about because Ben Tarassoli, a civil engineer, couldn’t find an electric bike that “measured up to his expectations for range, weight, and design,” according to GeekWire. So he and his partners set out to build one. True automobile enthusiasts will recognize this story. Its why Lamborghini came into existence a couple of generations ago.
“Our focus is on affordability, reliability, and lightweight. We’re aiming for that sweet spot between electrically-assisted range and making the bicycle as light as possible. We’re not into bigger, stronger motors—that’s a motorcycle. If you’re calling it a bicycle, it should be minimal,” says Tarassoli.
The Propella has a 250 watt hub motor and a top speed of 20 mph. Its 6.6 aH waterproof battery is from Samsung and can be recharged in 2.5 hours. It is designed to be a single speed machine, but can be ordered with 6 speeds if desired. Best of all, it weighs just 36 pounds. That’s about 20 pounds less than most electric bicycles on the market today, thanks to its minimalist design and focus on providing everything a rider needs and nothing more.
The bike is available in three different frame sizes, all of them black. Four different color rims are offered to personalize each bike. It comes with a 2 year warranty on the frame and a 1 year warranty for the battery and other parts. Now for the best part. You can order one online at Indiegogo for delivery in the fall of this year. The price? A feather light $699 for early birds. The crowd source campaign will be live for another month.
If you think that’s a lot of money, you haven’t checked out the prices some people are charging these days. Take this electric bicycle from PininFarina, for example. It’s price will knock your socks off.
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