MICROMOBILITY THE AFTERMARKET E-BIKE
While e-bikes present a revolution in urban transport, the cost may still be prohibitive for many potential riders. Myles Warwood investigates a lower-cost alternative - the conversion e-bike
T
he bike market is showing sudden signs of a slow- down following the coronavirus pandemic, but e-bike sales continue to take up more market share. But as the prices of bikes have jumped dramatically in recent years, commuters and leisure riders may be put off
splashing out on a new e-assisted bike, and instead look to cheaper alternatives away from the shop floor. What if the consumer already has a bike in their shed
and they don’t want to fork out the money for a brand new e-bike? Well, Swytch has thrown its product into the market, essentially an e-bike conversion kit that adapts almost any machine into an electrically-assisted cycle.
New developments E-bike conversion kits are no new thing, there have been on-the-wheel and in-the-hub conversions around for a while now and riders have also been able to purchase a motor to place in their crank if they wanted to. Many variations, of varying reliability and safety credentials, can be purchased through online marketplaces like Amazon. But Swytch aims to offer a safe, reliable, and affordable option to convert an old mechanical bike into something more - understandably attractive to the frugal consumer. Swytch started life as a crowdfunded business and
delivered over 5,000 units worldwide, essentially market research while developing its product. Now, it has returned for round two: a front wheel with the electrical motor hub attached and a lightweight battery pack that clips on to the handlebars. All the consumer needs to do is install the front wheel and the battery, and cable tie everything into place. The battery pack is mounted onto the handlebars and contains a 36v lithium-ion battery which is good for 250Wh and can last up to a claimed 50km and recharge in three hours. When the rider starts pedalling, the pedal sensor sends a signal to the power pack which then sends power to the motor, all designed around a 12-magnet cadence system that makes the Swytch smooth and steady in power delivery.
Game changers? Swytch says this new kit is a “game-changer” and that “it’s going to totally disrupt the e-bike industry because it’s so much lighter, smaller and more affordable than anything else out there.” But what does that mean for the local bike shop? The Swytch is definitely a bridge between the two bikes, the ‘conventional’ push bike and an e-bike, but it’s one that
E-bike conversion kits, like those from Swytch, are growing in popularity
40 | September 2022
www.bikebiz.com
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