A motor, a battery, and an app… that’s all there is to a product that is advertised as able to turn any bike into an electric ride.
Weighing about 4.5 pounds, the Add-E product is an electric motor with a drive wheel. It helps spin a bike tire through direct friction contact on the rubber.
Look close at the image above; the unit under the chainring offers a spinning cylinder than increases speed by aiding in moving the bike tire around. It is fueled by a battery mounted in the water bottle cage.
The company is fund raising for two versions of the product, one set to a max speed of about 15mph, another 30mph.
Add-E is an auxiliary drive, meaning it switches itself off automatically as soon as you stop pedaling. The gizmo has a maximum range of less than 30 miles, but the company doesn’t get very specific due to the variability in terrain and pedal power contributed by the rider.
You select the amount of power contributed by the motor — up to a full 600 watts.
It comes with a significant price tag of nearly $1,000.
Is Add-E an idea whose time has come? For those who need an e-bike for occasional use (but a normal bike most of the time) the removable motor and battery could be a good solution.
It allows the same bike to be used on the assisted work commute and a weekend ride where you don’t want the e-boost.
The idea has been well supported so far, raising nearly $100,000 in just three days.
–Learn more at the company’s Indiegogo page.
