Innovation
This is an attractive, affordable ‘human-amplifier’ in the form of a compact electric bicycle. It is disruptively innovative in ALL the key areas: size, weight, cost, ease of use and appeal. It has a new folding system that puts the clear, spoke-less wheels together to form a single ‘wheel’ with a telescopic handle to roll like most modern luggage.

Portable, the size and weight of carry-on luggage, it can easily become a ‘human-amplifier’
Riding it 'amplifies' walking effort by three to six times.
It can shrink the 30 minutes’ walk from the station to home, into an easy 7 minute 'glide' home and speeds up hills effortlessly. You can roll the device into your home where it fits in a cupboard.

Innovations (which form the basis of patents) include:
1. A folding mechanism which aligns the wheel axles – compact and rolls when folded.
2. Lightweight, low cost aluminium construction: 1-piece die-cast rear stays, pressed main frame, super-plastic formed front forks.
3. Integral, removable battery.
4. Lightweight powerful motor
5. 4 speed hub gear
6. Integrated Lights, GPS, Bluetooth connections,
7. Spoke-less, clear wheels.

Manufacturability and its cost, has been at the core of this project. Innovation without affordability has a limited market. Prototypes and test tooling have proven the design and engineering. The manufacturing processes chosen are proven (rather than cutting-edge). The innovations are in the design, the low part count and optimising each part for weight, cost and ease of manufacture. We have a detailed BOM with quoted prices. The current manufacturing price is under $400 USD which could enable a retail price of under $1000 USD. This compares to $3000 to $4000 USD for less advanced folding e-bikes eg Brompton and GoCycle.

Marketability
Solutions to personal transport in increasingly crowded global cities include mass transport, trains and (electric) buses, but these rarely stop at homes and offices, leading to the 'last-mile' transport gap - that 20-60 minute walk.

A compact lightweight foldable electric bicycle can address this.
It can be taken on buses, trains, in taxis and cars and into homes and offices.
Combining with faster, long distance travel makes a great combination.
Additional benefits are:
Faster more reliable journey times,
Reduced traffic congestion,
Better bike security,
Less space needed for storage at home or work.

An attractive stylish product will overcome the image problem many bikes and cyclists have and so appeal to a everyone not only ‘cyclists’. An affordable product will ensure this can benefit many not just a premium market

Market Size
The bicycle market globally, is bigger than the car market by quantity (100m vs 60m) and worth $45 billion (2016). Market research indicates this will rise to $75 billion by 2024. Bearing in mind that in most western countries journeys by bicycle are only 2 or 3% (except Netherlands at ~40%) , the market potential for a better bicycle – one that is powered and folds small, a ‘human-amplifier’ is HUGE.