It is peak hour traffic. You are stuck in an endless traffic jam. You are wishing for something magical, that does not take much time and energy and lets you get from point A to B in quick time. The Spero electric bike, created by Milltex Engineers, a Coimbatore-based firm claims to offer a comfortable alternative to the urban commute crawl.
Manikandan, one of the company founders says, “We were looking at finding solutions for urban commute. We were looking for green solutions, especially with the growing demand for green technology and wanted to build something that offers good performance too. That was the idea that resulted in the range of Spero electronic bikes. We travelled to Europe and tried to incorporate many features. We have focussed on performance and not focused only on the bike being a cleaner energy option. I have worked in manufacturing for many years. I was very comfortable with handling machines, sourcing materials etc. and that helped in setting up the electric bike as well.”
He adds, “We launched it with the help of a crowd sourcing campaign. The bike can go up to 30 kilometres per hour, is equipped with five gears and powered with a 48KV lithium-ion battery. We also use technology that lets you charge the battery when you pedal. The motor can be used to assist users especially in course of long rides. It goes into cruise control once you maintain a particular speed for 10 seconds. The battery can be charged from a regular 5amp socket, similar to your phones or tablets and can be used to drive for up to 100 kilometres on a single charge. On low charge, the pedals will switch to manual mode.”
Mani contends, “These functions ensure that you can use it a cycle for exercise and a workout and can use as a bike for an easier commute. We have tested the bike in many conditions. The battery is detachable and can be recharged within three to four hours.” He points out, “We have used standard bicycle tyres, cables, and guards. You can continue with normal repairs at your neighbourhood mechanic.”
The electric bikes are price from Rs. 29,900 onwards and will be available in three variants.
