Revelo LIFEbike by Henry Chong

I mentioned Henry Chong in a 2010 post about electric bikes that were pushing the boundaries of the category, so it is no surprise that his latest e-bike doesn’t look like the ones you see on the market today. Unlike his speed oriented Panasonic e-bike concept, the Revelo LIFEbike (Lightweight, Intelligent, Flexible, Electric bike) is a “minimalist, chainless, e-bike with a front wheel pedaling configuration.”

The front wheel mounted cranks are a distinctive feature of the design, but Henry points out that it is not just an updated penny farthing concept. The design “incorporates a patent pending dual mode crank that allows you to alternate from cruising to pedaling, and the floating crankarms also enable the LIFEbike to feel a normal bike by neutralizing the steering feedback caused by having the wheel between your feet.” Basically, you can pedal when you want to, but when you are only using the throttle, the pedals can both be in the down position to serve as footrests (as shown in the picture below).

This is definitely a compact electric vehicle that is geared toward short urban commutes. It weighs just 15.4 kgs (about 34 pounds) and folds quickly to a compact size thanks to the 20 inch front, and 16 inch rear wheels. With its 250-watt geared brushless motor and 36V 10Ah lithium battery, Henry points out that the LIFEbike can travel 30 km on a single charge (using about 5 cents of electricity).

There is a short video that shows the bike in action on the LIFEbike Indiegogo page, or you can watch this longer video where Henry talks a bit more about his design and the new company that he founded to bring it to market. The Indiegogo page is the best place to learn more about the design, so check it out…and support the project in its last few days if you are so inclined.

Posted

July 3, 2013

Commuter, Electric bike, Student Design

James

Tags:

Electric bike, electric vehicle, reader submitted design

Comments

4 responses to “Revelo LIFEbike by Henry Chong”

Impossibly Stupid

July 3, 2013

I have a soft spot in my heart for mini-farthings, but a hard spot for electrics. At $1600, I don’t know. It seems to function rather poorly as a bike, and a regular scooter doesn’t cost that much more. The short battery warranty is not a good sign, since that will likely be a considerable replacement expense. If I knew 4 other people who were interested, I might go for the 4 for $5000 deal (anyone out there in the Minneapolis area interested? :-), but he really should be shooting for a $1000 price point to be a favorable comparison to alternatives. That said, I could see this kicking the Segway tour market in the pants.

Reply
Peter

July 3, 2013

This looks to be a 20 inch front wheel and unless the design is able to gear up the front wheel, speed will be severely limited a small front wheel. That is the reason farthings had such large front wheels. An optimistic theoretical cadence of 90rpm with a gear ratio of 1:1 would yield a speed of about 6 mph. That makes it pretty useless as a bicycle.

Reply
Dave Wormald

July 3, 2013

I rode the LIFEbike today for the first time. I’m 6’1″ tall and about 185 lbs. I was very pleasantly surprised that the bike didn’t seem at all small for me. The seat was at exactly the right height and the reach to the handlebars was quite comfortable. The pickup of the electric motor was quite impressive and I quickly found myself travelling at a nice clip. She steering was confidence inspiring and I was comfortable doing a little “slalom” driving within the first couple of minutes. I don’t live in an urban area, but if I did, I would certainly see the LIFEbike as a real option. Nice work Henry et al.

Reply
LOWANDOUTSIDE

August 3, 2013

I can see these being used in great numbers all over Europe! Gas is eight dollars US for a gallon. Most cities, towns and villages have very small streets and alleys. Parking is a problem too. A neat alternative to a scooter?

Reply