INTERVIEW
With 70% of the Power Frame’s value generated in Italy and 96% within the EU, how does a localised supply chain impact quality control, environmental footprint, and supply resiliency? Approximately 70% of Power Frame’s value is generated in Italy and 96% from European suppliers. This proximity allows close collaboration with suppliers, direct visibility of processes and faster feedback during development and production. Being able to visit a partner and work through an issue together is particularly valuable when industrialising a new architecture. Shorter supply routes can also simplify logistics, although location alone does not eliminate supply risks. Our environmental approach also extends beyond
How do you anticipate this repairable architecture will affect warranty processing times, dealer margins on service, and overall product residual value? We expect benefits in all three areas, although it is too early to quantify them. Local repairs can reduce shipping and customer
downtime, provided diagnosis, warranty approval and parts availability work efficiently. They also give workshops a greater technical role and the opportunity to earn revenue from skilled service work. Over the longer term, component replacement and continued support should help keep the product economically viable to maintain. That can support residual value, although the outcome will also depend on parts availability, product condition and market demand. We believe repairability will become an increasingly important part of an e-bike’s economic value.
Your system tracks cumulative energy consumption in watt-hours rather than relying purely on distance travelled. How does this alter routine maintenance schedules? We call the approach PBM (Power-Based Maintenance). It uses cumulative energy consumption to help relate maintenance to how the drive system has been used. Two bicycles can cover the same distance under very
different conditions. Riding on flat roads with modest assistance places different demands on the system than steep climbs, repeated acceleration and high assistance levels. Energy consumption, measured in watt-hours, provides an additional indicator of that usage. It is not a direct measurement of mechanical wear, but it offers information that distance alone cannot provide. PBM uses this information to support maintenance
thresholds that better reflect operating demands, alongside inspections and other service requirements. Temperature and other operating data can add further context, with predictive maintenance a longer-term development direction.
38 | November 2026
production and transport. Designing for maintenance and component replacement can help extend useful life and reduce the need to discard complete assemblies. Any quantified environmental benefit would need to be assessed across the product’s lifecycle.
The e-MTB market has a lot of competition surrounding peak torque figures, battery capacity, and power outputs. How do you view these trends, and what makes the Power Frame platform different? Torque, power and battery capacity matter, and they are straightforward figures to communicate. However, they describe only part of the riding and ownership experience. We have focused on the architecture as a whole. Structural stiffness, weight distribution, efficiency, noise, power delivery and serviceability all influence how a bicycle performs and how it can be maintained over time. Power Frame brings these considerations into one
development process. Its distinction lies in the relationship between the structure and the drive system, together with the ability to access and service the internal components.
As you progress toward the 2027 launch, what key developmental milestones or trade engagement can the industry expect from Carbotronics? During 2026, we began moving from technology development into direct market engagement. At the International Bike Festival in Misano and Sea Otter in Girona, we presented Power Frame to retailers, technicians, riders and OEMs, leading to further discussions with European and international partners. Our priorities for 2027 are industrialisation, development of the service network, OEM partnerships and international expansion. As those activities progress, we will communicate
specific availability and engagement dates. Direct demonstrations will remain important: Power Frame is best understood when people can see the architecture, examine how it opens and experience it on a bicycle. ●
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