Enjoy a better user experience with the connected electric bike

Urbanization, digitization and sustainability are dramatically changing the way we get around. The electric bike is becoming more and more popular, and now connectivity is taking its place in cities. The bicycle is completely reinvented and is now part of the electrified and connected objects. The many advantages of the connected electric bike make it one of the pioneers of tomorrow's mobility. Here, we will talk about how the connected electric bike works and how it promotes the maintenance and availability of bikes.

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What is a connected electric bike?

Before getting into the heart of the matter, it seems essential to recall what an electric bike is and what differentiates it from a connected electric bike.

Reminder on the electric bike

An electric bike, also known as an electrically-assisted bike (EAB) or e-bike, is a bike with a motor that assists the rider when pedaling. This motor is powered by a rechargeable battery, mounted on the frame of the bike. An electric bike is considered as such when the motor is there to assist the user and not to propel him. The range of the battery can go from 40 (for 300 Wh) to 80 km (for 500 Wh). An electric bike can be used for many reasons. The electric bike is for example a good alternative to the car for daily trips in town. But it can also be used for more sporting purposes. The electric bicycle contributes to the preservation of the environment and the improvement of public health. In particular, it is a less polluting and anti-congestion means of transportation. It should be noted that an electric bike is not necessarily connected.

How does the connected electric bike work?

When considering the purchase of a connected electric bike, also known as a smart bike, it is useful to know how they work. You can think of it as an enhanced version of the electric bike. It consists of smart functions. The purpose of a connected electric bike is to improve the user experience. If it is similar to the electric bike, it allows however to give more information on the journey in order to improve the driving experience. The bike is therefore connected to the rider'ssmartphone application, through which the rider can control all functions.

Smart maintenance of the connected electric bike

Whether electric or not, all bikes are exposed to normal wear and tear, due to use. They can have critical failures, which can endanger the safety of the user. This can be a deflated tire or worn brakes. But there are also acceptable failures, such as pedal wear, which does not directly endanger the user, but which can have consequences for the cyclist's performance. Faced with these failures, the user faces several types of maintenance.

Curative maintenance

Curative maintenance consists of repairing the equipment when it breaks down. It does not optimize the life of the bicycle since a single broken component can damage the rest of the chain. The cost of such maintenance can be very high if the equipment is difficult to access or the parts are hard to get.

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance of the bike involves regular maintenance of the bike to reduce the risk of breakdowns and damage. The connectivity of electric bikes makes this preventive maintenance easy. In addition to alerting the user when the electric bike needs maintenance, it can provide information about thehealth of the bike. Beyond warning when there is a breakdown, the connectivity of the bike pushes the user to check all the elements on a daily basis to avoid these breakdowns. For example, they may receive a notification that they have ridden more than 1,000 km and that it is time to bring the bike in for a professional check. This is not only beneficial for the longevity of the bike, but also for the safety of the user, as it prevents him from getting into potentially dangerous situations.

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Predictive Maintenance

The objective of predictive maintenance is to maximize the use of the equipment while anticipating anomalies in order to control the risk of failure. This level of maintenance requires the implementation of an IoT (Internet of Things) product in the bike. This technology allows continuous analysis of values such as:

  • the number of kilometers traveled ;
  • vibrations
  • temperature
  • pressure ;
  • etc.

The user receives this data instantly on the application installed on his smartphone. This app also gives the rider information about when the bike needs to be serviced, or even the nature of the failure. This connected maintenance has already proven to be effective in reducing maintenance costs.

The benefits of connectivity on bike availability

Connectivity also promotes bike availability in several ways.

Rapid diagnostics

Many in the industry are enjoying the benefits of bike connectivity. The smart maintenance we've talked about obviously allows brands to be reliable, and offers the rider unparalleled comfort and safety. But it also benefits fleet managers, who can easily anticipate repairs to reduce bike downtime. In addition, thanks to the connectivity, stores and maintainers can diagnose bikes much faster than on a conventional bike and order parts and repairs in record time.

Enhanced security

The fear of theft is dominant in the city, which is why some people are reluctant to make the switch, or company managers to switch to a company electric bike. The connected electric bike is the solution: it is equipped with an intelligent anti-theft system. Thanks to the motion detector, the user receives a notification on his application as soon as his connected electric bike is in motion. He can also trigger an alarm remotely, from his smartphone. In addition, the connected electric bikes are equipped with a sensor to geolocate the bike at any time.

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