There are some ebikes that look like electric bicycles, and others that appear to be completely normal. The Angell is a little different, in that it doesn't look clunky or battery-powered, but it'll still turn some heads.
Developed via a partnership between entrepreneur Marc Simoncini and Paris-based designer Ora Ito, the single-speed Angell features an aluminum frame and a carbon fork, finished in the buyer's choice of silver or matte black. The whole bike tips the scales at a claimed 13.9 kg (30.6 lb), which is pretty light for an ebike.
A 250-watt rear hub motor augments the rider's pedalling power, taking them to a top electric-assisted speed of 25 km/h (16 mph). One 2-hour charge of the frame-integrated battery should be good for a range of up to 70 km (43 miles).
Riders choose between four motor-assistance modes – including full manual power – via a 2.4-inch touchscreen display that's built into the handlebar stem. Among other things, that display also allows them to view data such as current speed, distance travelled, battery level, present location, and GPS navigational info.
Some of the Angell's other techie features include integrated front and rear "be seen" lights (including turn indicators/brake lights in the rear); a fall alert system that texts family or friends in the event of an accident; the ability to lock the bike's drivetrain while it's left untended; and an anti-theft system that both sounds an audible alarm if the parked bike is tampered with, and proceeds to track its location via GPS.
Stopping power is provided by front and rear Tektro HD-R310 hydraulic disc brakes.
Should all of those goodies get you wanting to buy one, the Angell ebike is available for pre-order now via the link below. It's priced at €2,690 (about US$2,933).
Source: Angell
Battery is obviously in the rear rack and this will make it top heavy. From experience, the best balanced ebikes use a central motor around the crank with a low placed central battery to keep the weight low and central so I would worry about this. You need a good 500 watts minimum so the motor seems under powered. But this is a town bike so I'm not sure a 750w motor would be necessary. Bend in the tube a weak point ? I doubt it.
It's a nice design but I'm wary of "designer" bikes. Nothing against Oro-Ito but like Starck, a lot of "designer" products look great but fail on the practical side and this seems going in this direction.
The Revonte bike recently featured on New Atlas is the engineering direction I would follow.
I do like the touch display but do you need one when you have a smart phone. And will it still work 10 years on.
Bicycles with all kind of stuff built in, takes away the possibilty to choose the things you prefer. I don't want a built in light. I want to attach the light of my choosing. Moreover if the inner workings fail and it needs to be repaired, then what? Hyperbolic lights? Just hype.
"#2 FLY DRY" OK, sunny country bike only. Here in NL you can expect rain. Not a big deal, but fenders would be nice, but where to attach them. Also "nice" in that respect that the battery case is designer-unwise split into two parts. Some mud will spray richly on your back. French designer, as if it is never raining in France
I have a smartphone, but riding I hardly use it, but that's me. YMMV. Anyway when I look at the website you still need your smartphone.
Oraïto website: "Ora ïto revolutionizes the electric bike with Angell" Revolutionizes, wow, that's the way to sell yourself, kudos for that. Normal cyclers can only smile knowingly, knowing better.
I stop here. No deal. Nuff said.