Electric bikes are generally a bit of an investment, with even a budget model costing the best part of £1,000. But what if you could turn your normal bike into an electric bike for less than £100? That's what Swedish technology company Semcon are promising. But it might be a while before you can buy one...

The concept of an add-on motor for your bike is hardly new; in fact it's more or less as old as the bike itself. The Michaux-Perreaux Steam Velocipede dates back to about 1870, and petrol friction motors have had a long and venerable history, especially in France and Italy. The electric add-on motor is a much more modern trend as battery and motor technology has leapt forward, but Semcon are certainly not the first, with units such as the Rubbee already in production and on sale.

So what's the specific selling point of Semcon's motor? Mostly the fact that they reckon they can knock them out for less than €100: that's about £80. It's lightweight at around 1kg and can easily be transferred between bikes. The motor is rated at 150W, so it's not as powerful as a standard 250W electric bike motor.

Given the cost, and the weight, we'll assume that the battery is pretty small as well. It's aimed at making short rides a bit easier, really, and reducing short car journeys. The motor has a small processor running the assistance functions and Semcon suggest its scope could be expanded to include different assistance modes, tracking, anti-theft and the like. That would probably be via a Bluetooth connection and smartphone app.

“The needs and wishes of the typical cyclist are what got us started. The benefits of the electrified bike are obvious, but existing solutions are expensive and complex. That’s why we developed an engine which is compatible with any bike and easily shared among friends and family,” said Anders Sundin, Technical Director at Semcon, of the motor.

Can it be done for less than €100? It seems like a pretty big ask when something like the Rubbee costs seven times that. Semcon are currently looking for investors to move the project forward.

Read more at Semcon's website