Freeflow Technologies has appealed for stretch funding to help develop its green bike prototype.
The Saltire e-bicycle features the company’s patented technology is apparently 30 per cent lighter than any other model on the market. Although it handles like a regular push bike, it’s 9kg lighter than Boris’ London bikes and it’s 90% recyclable too.
The product was thought up by founder Neil MacMartin who discovered that most of the electric-powered bikes on the market did not act like normal push bikes – they were too heavy and the mechanics were difficult to work with.
The electronic driver is fitted in the downpipe of the chassis using a high-speed small motor. When testing the technology, MacMartin found it caused problems when suddenly braking because the small motor couldn’t absorb the power.
To get around this, Freeflow designed the patented gear system, meaning the power can’t travel backwards when the brakes are applied, instantly decoupling the motor and allowing it time to slow down on its own accord. It created the lightest power to weight electric bike that looks and handles like a push bike and uses a third less material than any other electric bike.
The Saltire bike can cycle at up to 15.5mph over nine blocks without exerting any more effort than walking three blocks and can hold its charge for up to 100 miles.
One of the coolest features of the bike is that it measures data as you pedal to analyse usage trends – so whether you’re cycling cross-country or around the city, you can be as efficient as possible.
The company has stretched beyond its £195,000 target on Angels Den, so far achieving £239, 292 from 25 funders with 37 days left to go in its campaign.
The funds will be used not only to develop the product, but also to help set up licensing agreements around the world in order to boost revenues and grow the company into a global organisation.
