Pump It Up

The number of electric bicycles continues to proliferate, and one, for which a Kickstarter campaign is running until November 7, has a distinct difference from many others.

She better get pedaling: That battery won’t charge itself. . .

No, it’s not the titanium frame.

No, it’s not the Gates carbon drive belt.

No, it’s not that it can be folded to fit into a full-size suitcase. And it weighs just 26 pounds, so said suitcase can actually be carried.

The difference is that the VELLO BIKE+, from an Austrian company that was established in 2014,  has an integrated Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that is used to transform the mechanical energy associated with pedaling and braking into electrical energy that’s stored in an integrated 29.6-volt lithium-ion battery.

The electricity is then used to power the 250-Watt motor.

Pedal the bike and charge the battery. Use the motor to assist when you need it. The self-charging mode can be turned off and the motor will provide pedal support for as far as 20 miles at up to 15 mph.

For those who are not keen on having to pedal to recharge the battery, there is a power socket that can be deployed.

And, yes, there is a smartphone app that can be used for control, too.