This project will only be funded if at least €80,000 is pledged by .
The lightest and most compact electric folding bike in the world!
About this project
The new VELLO BIKE, and now also electric!
We believe that an electric folding bike gives you unlimited freedom in cities. Take it everywhere, make it part of you!
The VELLO BIKE are high-performance folding bikes that have been developed for the perfect urban cycling experience. Built for people with a fast-paced lifestyle who don’t want to be slowed down by the restrictions of a conventional bicycle.
We have put a lot of thought into developing a folding bike without any compromise to its riding performance: top-quality components combined with new technologies, an exclusive design and various specially developed innovations guarantee a comfortable ride in the city. Thanks to its small fold, it can be transported easily onto public transport systems and placed under a desk or in the suitcase for travels.
A high-performance folding bike that provides a great riding experience
Wheel it around
Put it under your office desk
Put one or more VELLO BIKES in the trunk
Just fold it in a few seconds to fit into a standard Samsonite suitcase for air travel. There is no need to disassemble the bike, just fold it.
Less than 12 KG (26,4 lbs), Unlock Titanium: 10,9 KG (24 lbs), Unlock Carbon: 9,9 KG (21,8 lbs)
A variety of accessories - integrated lights, mudguards, front and rear carriers, kick stand and much more!
Gates Carbon belt and disk brakes options
Hands-free and safe-locking magnetic folding!
Thanks to a self-locking magnet-release system it folds quickly and easily, and can be wheeled around or made to fit seamlessly into small spaces.
The breakthrough technology allows the battery to recharge on the energy generated while cycling. So you don’t need to dismantle it at the end of your ride and you will not run out of battery power.
E-bike technology has been changing fast, and you’ll still find a lot of blogs dated from only a couple of years ago saying that you can only extend the range through regenerative braking for up to 10 percent and that generally self-charging e-bike technology are myths. We are changing this with the VELLO BIKE+ as it allows up to 100% recharging while riding the bike.
The energy with this new system is harvested as before by braking and pedaling, just that it now also converts mechanical energy into electrical energy thanks to the Integrated Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). In that way, additional energy is released to recharge the light integrated lithium-ion battery. Through this new technology, VELLO BIKE+ all-in-one changes the motor map automatically and continuously in order to keep the battery charged. The motor assistance and the cutoff speed both depends on the battery charge, the input from the pedals (speed-torque) and the road slope.
Choose from different assistance levels to get the extra push you need with the 250 W motor. It is electrically-assisted when you want it to be. Unlike most electric bikes, it is still easy to pedal even with the power assistance turned off.
You can ride up to 15 miles per hour (25 km/hour) for up to 20 miles (~35 km) on a full charge without any effort. As soon as you stop pedaling, the motor will stop pushing. The generated power depends on several factors including the bike speed, the pedaling speed and the road slope, depending on the selected power mode.
By connecting your VELLO bike+ to your smart phone through Bluetooth, you can easily set the appropriate mode for the pedal assistance as well as plan bicycle routes.
CONNECT IT to:
- Lock the rear wheel making it very difficult to pedal and harder to steal (available when the batter charge is greater than 20%)
- Custom dashboard and changing power modes
- GPS tracking
Information on the dashboard:
- Bike speed
- Total/Partial odometer
- Road slope
- Motor Power
- Charge status of the battery in percentage
- Active power mode (you can also switch between power modes while on the go)
- Warning icon
We want to have a positive impact on our environment
We believe that everyone of us can contribute through our actions and products that we build. Our VELLO bike consists of many components, some of which are our own inventions that we're crafting in our manufacturing facility in Vienna, Austria. Making the VELLO bike is not an easy task requiring close attention to detail: we've been working over the years with engineers and designers to make it ready for manufacturing with the care needed to make it the perfect folding bike. The process involved drawing, redrawing, modeling, remodeling, building and rebuilding, testing and retesting. We now have a high-quality folding bike for which we can offer a 10 year warranty on the frame and fork.
VELLO BIKE is a climate:active partner, a Climate Protection Initiative of Austria's Ministry of Environment with the aim of reducing the level of CO2 emission until 2020 (and beyond) and to actively take part in shaping Austria's climate change policies. We are proud to do our share, and to contribute to a healthier and cleaner world.
VELLO bike was awarded the prestigious design award Red Dot: Best of the Best 2015, including for the category bicycle design.
This is how we started in 2013. From left to right: here's Valentin, the lead designer who likes fast-moving things (including his bundle of energy to the left). Then there's Valerie, she's the grand master of stuff. Paris and Jakob to her left have been on our side throughout the development. In the meantime, we have extended our team with Rebecca who's behind all the fantastic visuals, and Christian, who's been doing a lot of the technical drawings for VELLO BIKE+.
The first prototype was developed in preparation to a trip to Cuba in 2010, and that was followed by many more developments and prototypes. For Valerie it was clear, it needed to be a folding bike for which she doesn't need to bend nor open any complicated hinges (hands-free folding) - AND - it needs to ride well like any other non-folding bike. What a challenge.
We were able to produce our first series of VELLO BIKE in November 2014 after a successful Kickstarter campaign.
VELLO bikes are ridden in many places in the world...
...in California
...in London
...in Thailand
The feedback after delivering the first batch was so positive, that we decided to continue and further develop the VELLO bike. We have been selling our three existing models (Urbano, Rocky and Speedster - all non electric) successfully for the past year through our retailers and online shop. Next to this, we have continued developing the electric version, which we're launching online through Kickstarter as well as physically at the Eurobike fair in Germany between 31. August - 4 September.
http://facebook.com/vellobike
http://instagram.com/vellobike
http://twitter.com/vellobike
DOWNLOAD OUR PRESS KIT: http://download.press.vello.bike
Risks and challenges
We are combining our existing business and specialty in making and selling high-quality folding bikes with that of the other company’s specialty, Zehus, which is producing this new all-in-one hub. Both our companies have been operating and selling for the past years, so the risk is minimal. We have also made it our top priority to offer you the best quality and a 10 year warranty on the frame and fork. Something you would rarely find on any other folding bike on the market.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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The battery is integrated in the hub situated on the back wheel together with the motor and the electronics (all-in-one integrated system).
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It is a patented technology that has been developed by the Italian company Zehus with whom we’re collaborating for the VELLO BIKE+. The technology includes the motor, battery pack, electronics with the 4-sensor system in one component which is placed on the back wheel.
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In total, there are 6 power modes ranging from the fully powered-up turbo mode to the hybrid mode BIKE+ that keeps the battery charged at all times. The turbo mode is the power mode that you will find on a regular pedelec (Electric Pedal Assisted Bicycle). The motor assists then up to 25km/h with a maximum power of 250 W (which can cover up to 35km)
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The bitride app allows to connect through a wide range of devices via bluetooth. Your VELLO BIKE+ is within this range of high tech devices! The app is free-of-charge and can be downloaded through the Apple Store or Google Play.
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Devices with Android 4.2 or newer are supported; iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone
5c, iPhone 6, iPhone 6+ are also supported. -
- GPS tracking
- Locking the rear wheel making it very difficult to pedal (available when the batter charge is greater than 20%)
- Custom dashboard and changing power modes (see next point) -
- Total/Partial odometer
- Road slope
- Motor Power
- State of charge of the battery in percentage
- Active power mode (you can also switch between power modes while on the go)
- Warning icon -
Yes, you can! Your VELLO BIKE+ will remember your favourite settings so you can get the best experience out of it.
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Yes, you can. Even when the regenerative braking is turned off, you can continue to ride the VELLO BIKE+ in the same way as a non-electric folding bike that is lightweight and easily foldable.
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Yes, that would be possible if we reach the volume: titanium is 100k and carbon is 250k. Then you can just add the specified amount to your existing pledge.
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We offer a 10 year warranty on the frame and fork.
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Yes, we have mudguards and a number of accessories already in our webshop at http://vello.bike and we’re continuously increasing the choices.
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We recommend that the rider’s weight should be under 110kg (242 lbs) including luggage.
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if you are above 1,95m, please let us now so we can adapt the bike with a special seatpost and handlebar post.
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Yes, we do. The VELLO BIKE with this fold will be available in our webshop http://vello.bike as of April 2017.
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The rear wheel that includes the 3-in-1 hub is detachable and can be replaced with one that does not have the pedal assistance.