A small and stylish-looking electric motor that clips to any bicycle in less than a minute and power up to 15 miles of cycling looks set to revolutionise the electric bike market.
Most conversion kits available currently weigh in at 10-15kg and require a toolbox and some skills in electronics and mechanics to install them. According to the designers of the Rubbee, most electric bike conversion kits make your bike look like a DIY experiment.
There’s no doubt the Rubbee looks stylish. And much thought has gone into the way it works, too.
The friction wheel that drives the bicycle’s rear wheel is cast from a special polyurethane formula developed to provide maximum grip by rubbing as opposed grinding; hence the name, Rubbee.
The only sticking point for British users is the Rubbee’s power output – electric motor integrated inside the roller is electronically limited to 800W, which is higher than the 250w you have to keep to if you want your bike to remain a bicycle in the eyes of the law. In practice, the fact that the Rubbree conforms to the maximum assisted speed of 15.5mph means you would be unlikely to attract the wrong kind of attention on the roads, but insurance would be a problem. Cycle insurance from the ETA extends to electric bicycles and would cover a bike fitted with the Rubbree against theft, accidental damage and third party liability up to £5m if it conformed to the legal limit of 250w.
Many people consider the limit of 250W and 15.5mph unnecessarily strict not least because a fit cyclist on a good road bike routinely reaches 25mph+ on the flat.
Electric bicycles…what’s the rub?
The price, range and practicality of electric bicycles makes them the most viable option for those wanting the benefits of a battery-powered vehicle today, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that the market is already worth £5.5 billion a year and forecast to grow. There are a few possible explanations for why sales of electric bicycles in Britain remain relatively sluggish. We routinely overlook bicycles best suited to ‘utility cycling’ in favour of beautifully-styled racing and off-road designs – even cyclists who might really benefit from the occasional push from an electric motor are likely to be reluctant to swap their sleek hybrid, road bike or MTB for an electric model that is heavier and more cumbersome. In other words, a well-designed occasional electric motor like the Rubbee may find a ready market.
The Rubbee has yet to hit the shops but you can buy one for £699 at Kickstarter
Spiritual successor to the Velo Solex
The simplicity, practicality and style of the Rubbee make it the spiritual successor to the Velo Solex. As iconic an image of traditional France as the beret or baguette, the ‘Velo Solex’ is the distinctive moped with a petrol engine over the front wheel of a bicycle that it’s still possible to spot in rural backwaters. The moped, which was available in any colour as long as it was black, recently underwent a dramatic makeover at the hands of Pininfarina, the designers best known for designing Italian supercars including Ferraris.
1950s poster for Solex
The need for cheap and reliable transport in the post-war years gave birth to the Velo Solex, Piaggio Vespa scooter and the Honda Super Cub; with over 60 million sales to date, the world’s best-selling motorised vehicle. The ungainly-looking original Solex was launched in 1946 worked surprisingly well and became hugely popular in France.
In its latest incarnation, the Velo Solex has swapped its small petrol engine for a rechargeable electric motor that can be charged via a standard 240v socket. The new Solex range comprises the Velosolex folding ebike, the Solexity low-step ebike and the e-Solex e-scooter. Prices range from £1,300 to £2,000.
Peter Simmons
Carbon cost of peballing a bike, zero. Carbon cost of a Rubbee assisted? Charging takes electricity presumably so unless that is generated by renewables [as all power from Good Energy is] it has a carbon footprint. Then there’s the price, several times what most people spend on their bike! So only of interest to the lazy rich, few of whom cycle I imagine.
Rustum
Don’t be so dismissive Mr Simmons. There are many cyclists who with advancing age would welcome some assistance where gradients are steep or distances large. This may allow them to stay cycling longer with all the benefits that brings including the company of younger fitter cyclists. And a zero carbon footprint for pedalling? – you are forgetting the food you eat which in the west is often anything but carbon friendly.
John Couper
I spent less than that on my folding electric bike.
By the way, I’m not rich, nor do I think myself lazy, but aged 75 I feel the need for some “assistance” from time to time. An electric bike saves me from using the car as much, so my carbon footprint is reduced.
Ian Smith
Whilst it is true that Good Energy generates its electricity from renewable sources, to keep price premia for this ‘green’ energy at modest levels, they have to sell Renewable Energy Certificates (ROCs), which are issued for each megawatthour of renewable electricity generated, to fossil generators that do not have enough renewables in their portfolio so that they can claim that they are meeting their renewables obligations. One can’t have both parties claiming ‘greenness’ for the same MWh. It is a complicated area and difficult to put across to the public. Good Energy can really only claim to have 100% zero (or, rather, low) carbon generation if it did not sell its ROCs on – but then its tariffs would be very much higher and its business model would likely fail.
I have just done a quick search of Good Energy’s website and could not find any representation that their electricity is zero carbon – because of this ROC issue I suspect.
rose
there is some argument on this point as a cyclist using more energy eats more food and dependant on tastes and food miles maybe cheaper and less damaging.
Tomthumb
This argument that cyclists must consume more calories needs context in order to make sense. More calories than whom? A car driver? Surely the energy they are using is in the petrol. Than someone walking? Cycling is more efficient than walking. Than someone not travelling at all?
Pete M
Not just for the rich and/or lazy at all! Some people aren’t physically capable of peddling far. Older people with arthritic hips or knees for instance. Ane ebike allows people who otherwise couldn’t to get get out on a bike and exercise up to their limit. My partner is one. Since getting an ebike (for £500) she has managed 30 miles with me by using the battery whenever her hips get too painful. Over here in Holland & Germany many older people use them to extend their cycling life.
Simon Rayson
This isn`t a new idea – the Zap electric motor used the same roller mechanism back in the day. All the same another new motor in the market increases choice – and ultimately the availability of used kit that enthusiasts (and people good with a spanner, etc) can purchase at reasonable prices. I use my electric bike as a replacement for a car – to get my shopping and do other such practical tasks – but it is also a major amount of fun. And certainly costs less to run than a car – and also less than those lovely racing bikes (and good spec mountain bikes) that have appeared in numbers in recent years. But more the merrier – including hopefully people such as myself on a limited income.
James Petersen
Nice to see that the rural elderly who may want to take a leisurely bike to local shop 10 miles away and may just want a bit of help going up hill are now qualified as part of “the lazy rich”. I guess that since most don’t wear lycra or cycling shoes they don’t qualify either as “real cyclists”.
Ian Battersby
I disagree with Peter:
1 The carbon cost of pedalling a bike is not zero. The bike has to be made, and parts replaced. More food will be eaten to power it.
2. The carbon cost of re-charging is very low. When I was looking into other electric bikes battery charging seemed to cost about 7p in monetary terms.
3. I accept they are expensive, but if it gets used instead of a car the costs will be recovered quickly.
4. It isn’t lazy to get out of your car and pedal an electric bike instead. Also consider that not everyone is able to cycle – some have disabilities, painful joints, etc.
Surely these bikes will help things to move dramatically in the right direction.
jeremy
I now use an electric bike for almost all my journeys, I’ve still got a car but have not used it for 3 months, (I’ve lent it to someone for that time, to prove it), I live in hilly wales, and certainly would not do those journeys day in day out on a normal bike. Am I lazy? (I’m certainly not rich)
Tim
The Rubbee price tag is up there but the idea is great if you have several bikes…and here in little ol’ Noo Zeelun, our electricity is @75% renewable thanks to a lot of hydro. Now if only I can persuade the missus…
Charles Tucker
Carbon cost of pedaling a bike is NOT zero. For a starter, the bike is manufactured, so there is an energy carbon cost there. Secondly, do you not maintain your bike? Oils, tools, workshop energy, all have a carbon cost. Thirdly, do you not eat food? You are the bike’s engine and have to eat, hence you generate a carbon cost. I won’t go into it here, but a small petrol car with four people on a short journey has a lower net carbon cost than one person pedalling a bike the same distance. Bikes are good and are environmentally friendly, but let’s not get blinded to facts.
Bros
I also live in hilly Wales but because I’m riding a Dutch sportive hybrid I don’t feel the need for anything electric. The comfortable upright position and the good range of gears allow me to tackle the hills easily while enjoying the view. I have tried the ‘normal’ British bikes and cannot understand why they all have this awkward forward leaning position. OK for racing and mountainbiking, but for everyday cycling I would suggest to look at a Gazelle, Batavus, Union or Koga. They come at about the same price as a Rubbee, but would give you far more cycling pleasure than any electric add-on. By the way: is the sun always shining when you put the Rubbee on? We have quite a few puddles as well as hills here!
Norman Taylor
The AlienOcean Road Legal 36v Conversion is better value and only modest skill is required to fit the motor and associated paraphenalia.
Alicia Browd
I totally love the idea of driving a bicycle. It is environmental friendly and a good form of exercise as well. Having the Rubbee installed in our bikes can be so wonderful. However, the price range for it is quite high and I could not afford of it as of the moment; but it’s really nice.
charles FitzGerald
80 years disabled rotten back and other ( trifling) disabilities My Freego Eagle is a godsent,I’d be almost immobilised without it as a town bike. Same goes for my E Whisper folder (mark 1 really great bike) which i vital for travelling although here in NI full size bikes are ok…and free (limit 4) on our Rail and inter town coach services (23). I’ve added folding pedals for under coach baggage compartments.
I have a beautiful step-through German “Koga” pedal bike which I have been reluctant to sell which is superb on the flat ( I amd having a heart valve replacement in two weeks but after that Koga again…who can tell? My Koga is soooo good for some flat routes I acquired it in Antwerp many ears back. So this just may be the answer to keeping a bike I have loved more thjan any otrher of the very many I have had. I also have an original Dahon folder with the Schramm double motor but I didn’t like the electric model gearing and retro fitted a standary 8 gear wheel set ( I still have the Schramm and it’s wheel taking precious space in my cupboard any ides anyone/ but again, I just might consider this as an option to re-E bike it and still keep the my preferred gear ratio it is exceedingly light for travelling
I dont mind being contacted at re that schramm hotmail.co.uk