March 23, 2018

HOPR Introduces E-Bike for Bike Share with Portable Power Pack

HOPR e-bike places power in the hands of riders, eliminates the need for expensive charging infrastructure

The bike share industry has seen its fair share of changes over the last few years. Much of this brought on by bike share companies trying to become more accessible to cities and riders.

HOPR 1 Dockless Electric Bike Bike Share

The cost of implementing a bike share program was previously very expensive but this barrier has since been removed thanks to new technologies. Advancements in GPS allowed for the introduction of dockless bike share and removed the need for expensive infrastructure required to implement a dock-based system. Soon after dockless electric bikes for bike share programs were introduced to help make riding a bike more accessible by removing barriers like hills, heat and distance. What could come next?

Portable rechargeable battery plugged into basket

Well, today CycleHop, one of the largest smart-bike sharing operators in North America, yesterday unveiled the HOPR electric bicycle, the first e-bike designed for bike share programs that includes electric drive capabilities powered by a portable rechargeable battery pack.

The pedal-assist e-bike is the company’s second offering under its HOPR advanced mobility brand, following the beta launch of the HOPR all transit pass ride matching and payment iOS app in Chicago last week. The HOPR e-bike marks another industry first from CycleHop, whose founder and CEO Josh Squire received the first U.S. patent for bike share in 1999.

Designed exclusively for bike sharing programs, the HOPR e-bike combines a durable design with energy from a portable power pack. HOPR e-bike users will receive the power packs, which are about the size of a large smart phone and weighs only a couple pounds, from their local bike share program when they sign up. Users will charge the power packs via A/C outlet at their home or office. The power pack clicks into a port located in the front basket and will provide a boost to riders for a range of 10 miles when fully charged. The pedal-assist motor will aid riders in reaching speeds of 15 miles per hour. When not in use with a HOPR e-bike, the power packs can be utilized as a portable charging device for your tablets and phones.

“We’re dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what shared mobility can do for riders with HOPR’s hardware and software,” said CycleHop CEO Josh Squire. “The HOPR e-bike and its portable personal power source represent our vision for sustainable mobility: adding value for riders on and off the bike while eliminating expensive charging infrastructure.”

Where available, HOPR e-bikes will work with the HOPR app to provide easy-to-access bike transportation alongside public and private transit including ridesharing options.

The HOPR e-bike debuted at the Shared Mobility Summit in Chicago last week, with demo models on display and available for test-rides. The e-bikes will be rolled out this summer in several cities and campuses in the U.S. and Canada.

“E-bikes fill a crucial gap in our urban transportation infrastructure. They enable cheaper, quicker trips at distances too close for a car but too far for a standard bike. And they’re perfect for commuters with tight schedules who need to arrive at work or meetings on time without sweating through their clothes. E-bikes offer a no-carbon transit option for people who may otherwise avoid cycling because of the physical effort or distance of travel.,” said Josh Squire.