E-bikes have helped to make cycling accessible for more and more people, that extra boost of electric power making even the most challenging hills a doddle to climb. There can be drawbacks, however, from the price and weight of the motors, to the fact that standard, pedal-only bikes are often more portable, and (whisper it) fun.
Livall’s new PikaBoost is designed to give you the best of both worlds, providing an easy way to turn your standard bike into an e-bike – and back again. While many e-bike converter kits are fiddly, time-consuming affairs, Livall (who’ve also designed a range of smart bike helmets) say their PikaBoost can be installed in just 30 seconds. Best of all, you don’t even need to dismantle your bike in order to get the unit up and running
The PikaBoost’s simple, all-in-one design means that everything you need is housed in one simple unit, containing a battery compartment, control circuits and the all-important friction wheel. When the PikaBoost is attached to your bike’s seatpost, this friction wheel drives the rear wheel of your bike, delivering power assistance as you pedal.
The design is versatile enough to fit most types of bike, including many full-suspension models (though if your bike’s suspension has a large cushion angle, it’s worth checking with Livall to find out if it’s compatible).
You don’t need any tools to instal the PikaBoost, and it’s small and light enough to carry around in your backpack until you need it. This means you can switch quickly and on-the-go, giving you access to e-bike power when you need it, and pedal-bike freedom when you don’t. It’s like having two bikes in one.
On the road the PikaBoost is smart enough to adapt to both the effort you put in and the road conditions ahead. Thanks to its built-in sensors (including a hall sensor, an accelerometer and a gyroscope) the unit can monitor the attitude of your bike in real-time, instantly adjusting its power output to respond to ever-changing gradient and terrain.
These smart features also play an essential role in keeping you safe. If you were to fall from your bike, for example, the PikaBoost would detect the change in real-time and immediately bring your rear wheel to a stop, helping to prevent further injury.
The PikaBoost has three different riding modes to suit your needs:
- Cruise mode is all about keeping things consistent, and allows you to maintain a constant speed on both flat and hilly roads without the need to operate a throttle. When you choose to accelerate by pedaling harder, the PikaBoost will automatically increase its power output to match your new speed.
- Roll mode only offers power assistance when you’re riding uphill. As well as giving you more exercise when you’re on the flat, Roll mode will help conserve your batteries’ life.
- Exercise mode won’t provide you with assistance but that’s the whole point. Instead, it’ll up the resistance as you pedal to give you a more intensive workout. The benefits go way beyond pushing yourself harder and improving your fitness, however. The PikaBoost can convert your kinetic energy into electric power, self-charging the unit to increase the range of your rides. The PikaBoost also supports regenerative braking when you’re decelerating, so less of your precious kinetic energy goes to waste.
The PikaBoost’s power isn’t limited to keeping your wheels moving, either, because integrated USB ports can be used to charge other electronic devices – as we all know, the ability to keep your phone or navigational device fully charged on a long bike ride can only be a good thing. The 18 lithium batteries that keep the PikaBoost charged are also easy to replace when required.
With an IP66 waterproofing rating, the unit is durable enough to endure heavy rain – essential if you’re expecting to be caught up in a shower – and can be cleaned the same way as you’d clean your bike tires. Livall also say the rubber drive wheels are hard-wearing enough to last five years – you can buy replacements when needed.
With a retail price of $299, Livall believe the PikaBoost is the cheapest e-bike conversion system on the market. Bringing extra power to your rides just got a lot more accessible.
To find out more about the Livall PikaBoost, visit the Kickstarter crowdfunding page.
