London-based Brompton Bicycle (
www.brompton.com) — famous for its foldable bikes — has launched a battery-powered version that can be connected to an app to track mileage and riding settings and to help commuters “go further without breaking a sweat”.
Brompton is the UK’s largest bicycle manufacturer, and it is best known for its bike that folds up to a third of its size, originally conceived in 1975 by Cambridge University engineering graduate Andrew Ritchie. The company now produces over 45,000 hand-made foldable bikes each year.
The Brompton Electric, which retails at £2,595, has a battery in a bag that is clipped onto the front of the bike (and can be carried separately when the bike is folded).
The idea, which has taken three years to come to fruition, was conceived by Brompton’s in-house design team — headed up by Will Carleysmith — in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering.
The 300W battery (powering a 250W motor) allows the user to travel a distance of 25-50 miles, and the combined weight of the bike and battery is 16.6kg.