Superpedestrian’s wheel gives bikers a boost€¦ · Superpedestrian’s wheel gives bikers a...
3
+ VIEW CATEGORIES LOG IN B Superpedestrian’s wheel gives bikers a boost By Callum Borchers | Globe Staff AP/FILE The Copenhagen Wheel adds power to the work a rider is already doing. icycle commuting is a great way to keep in shape, but pedaling up a steep hill on the way to the office may be a bit more exercise than you want before the workday begins.
Transcript of Superpedestrian’s wheel gives bikers a boost€¦ · Superpedestrian’s wheel gives bikers a...
+ VIEW CATEGORIES LOG IN
B
Superpedestrian’s wheel givesbikers a boost
By Callum Borchers | Globe Staff
AP/FILE
The Copenhagen Wheel adds power to the work a rider is already doing.
icycle commuting is a great way to keep in shape, but pedaling up a steep hillon the way to the office may be a bit more exercise than you want before theworkday begins.
AP/FILE
Assaf Biderman
Enter the battery-powered Copenhagen Wheelfrom Cambridge startup Superpedestrian,which turns almost any standard bike into ahybrid e-bike. The Copenhagen Wheel wasdeveloped at MIT’s SENSEable CityLaboratory, designed to replace a bicycle’sregular rear wheel. It kicks in when a riderneeds a boost — like on that incline before theoffice.
“How many of us have bikes in the garage thatwe walk past on the way to the car?” saidSuperpedestrian founder Assaf Biderman.“People don’t want to arrive to work sweaty.Overcoming this problem with a motor is kindof an obvious thing.”
The idea is not to turn a bicycle into a motorcycle. The Copenhagen Wheel adds powerto the work a rider is already doing. The wheel monitors a rider’s output and can beprogrammed to turn on the juice when the wattage dips below a threshold.
The rest of the time, it functions just like any other bike wheel. But it quietly capturesand stores energy during gliding and braking.
With a top speed of 20 miles per hour, the Copenhagen Wheel is good for 1,000charging cycles.
At $799, it is no cheap ride. But the price includes additional high-tech features, such asa wireless connection to a smartphone app that lets riders track their routes and locktheir bikes. The wheel is also less expensive than fully electric bicycles, which can costthousands of dollars.
After planning to deliver its first Copenhagen wheels this spring, Superpedestrian said itreceived several thousand preorders on its website — many more than expected. Nowit’s in the final stages of establishing a production line to meet the demand and putwheels on the road in the near future.
SHARE THIS STORY
Explore the Game Changers
+ TECHNOLOGY
+ MEDICINE & MEDICAL
+ DESIGN & TRANSPORTATION
+ FINANCE & NONPROFITS
+ BETA BOSTON
Callum Borchers can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him onTwitter @callumborchers.
