VELLO BIKE+, the First Self-Charging Folding Electric Bike

VELLO BIKE+ is the world’s first self-charging electric folding bike on the market which allows users to ride as long as they want without needing to plug it into a socket to recharge. The project was developed by the Vienna-based Vodev Studio.

The battery of the e-bike can be fully recharged while riding. The energy with this new system is harvested as before by braking and pedaling downhill, just that it now also converts mechanical energy into electrical energy thanks to the Integrated Kinetic Energy Recovery System (K.E.R.S.). In that way, additional energy is generated to recharge the light integrated lithium-ion battery and released to give the extra boost when riding uphill. The self-charging mode can also be deactivated and set to the highest assistance level providing constant pedal support for at least 35 km (20 mi) at a speed of max 25 km/h (15 mph).

When the battery is empty, it can be recharged easily by connecting it to the power socket. Through the free app, users can set the level of pedal assistance, track their route and even lock their bike remotely.

VELLO BIKE+ is available in three versions: Urbano, Rocky, and Speedster. With an ultra-portable design, it is also the lightest e-bike on the market (12 kg / 26 lbs), and capable of folding down to suitcase size for easy transport and carry.

‘I wanted to create the best-ever electric folding bike with a groundbreaking new technology. It’s the first self-charging electric folding bike on the market, plus lighter and more compact than any other folding bike on the market. Many of the innovations on the VELLO BIKE+ have been developed grounds up and can be considered revolutionary in the bike industry,’ says co-founder and award-winning designer Valentin Vodev.

‘A self-locking magnet allows hands-free folding, which makes it very different from a typical folding bike with complicated hinges to open. They don’t tend to be very user-friendly as the folding process is lengthy and can be frustrating. Riding performance was also essential to us in the development of the VELLO BIKE+, it feels and rides better than most of the existing folding bikes on the market,’ adds Vodev.

Vodev Studio has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter and already raised more than €180,000 for further development and production of the VELLO BIKE+.