ShareRoller, a detachable electric motor system that works on almost any bike or kick scooter, has smashed its Indigogo funding target, raising nearly $90,000.
ShareRoller provides drive via a treaded urethane belt that acts on your front tyre. It is capable of offering you 750 watts, can assist you to 28mph (45 km/h), and has a range of 50 miles (80km). Bear in mind, though, that EU and Canadian shipments have the software limited to local e-bike laws.
“ShareRoller is the smallest self-contained e-bike system in existence,” according to the company behind it.
“[The] unique retractable motor assembly enables ShareRoller to transform into a compact and portable package easily carried on its own, or in a laptop bag, briefcase or handbag.”
The ShareRoller is as small as 20cm x 17cm x 8cm and it weighs as little as 2kg. Different configurations are available depending on what sort of range you need. The Mini has a small 110Wh battery with a claimed 8–15 mile range. The standard system is 2.5kg and the 220Wh doubles the range, and the 400Wh, 3.3kg Ultra system has a claimed range of 27–55 miles.
Once a universal mount is fitted to a bike or kick scooter, the ShareRoller itself can be attached or removed in a matter of seconds.
The idea is that you can lock up your bike and take the ShareRoller away with you, or carry the ShareRoller in a backpack on your ride just in case you get tired and need some assistance getting home.
The designers say that ShareRoller is ready to work on thousands of share bikes in cities around the world – including London’s Boris Bikes – without the need for an adaptor. Transport for London has a rule, though, that you’re not permitted to “add or attach accessories or trailers to the cycle”.
The team behind ShareRoller went to Indiegogo for funding that will allow it to make the design lighter, faster and cheaper, and to move to high-volume manufacturing. The new campaign will also fund the rolling out of version three of the ShareRoller with a detachable battery, and allow the development of a ShareRoller phone app.
This optional smartphone app will allow the user to manage settings, control the power and speed limits, and monitor speed, among other things. If the app drains your phone battery, the ShareRoller has a handy USB recharge port.
The normal retail price of ShareRoller with an ultra battery will be $1,450 (£945). Delivery is expected next May.
For more info go to www.shareroller.com
