Ok, first off, a disclaimer: this is what we’re working on. This is not a finished product. You are about to see a prototype. We do not know when they’ll be ready (hopefully taking pre-orders for delivery near the turn of the year, but not certain), we do not know how much they will cost (but hope for something around the $2000 mark), and we do not know exactly how much they will weigh (though our prototype medium was about 37 pounds). Please do not call to make your order tomorrow. When they’re ready, please do not admonish us for not meeting any of the aforementioned metrics nor for having the final product differ from what you’re about to see. Please do not complain that it’s not perfect, because it’s not.. yet.
That being said, I am EXTREMELY excited to say that Bike Friday is on the road to developing an integrated electric tikit. That’s right, unlike some of the other solutions out on the market, like Electric Cyclery aka Bikefold‘s self-made electric remixes of our standard Bike Friday models with BionX motors, this will not be an afterthought, but a completely integrated solution. This is not to say that an aftermarket solution won’t be available (we hope), but that that’s not where our focus is. We’re focused on making a whole package that you can simply buy.
We won’t be the first, but if you take a look at the eZee or EcoBike Vatavio folding electric bikes, you can see that we’re dramatically different in a lot of ways. And not just the usual Bike Friday ways, either. Check out the weight. Because we are so grossly different and because the weight is not tremendous and the ride is so great, I’m surprised to say I’m very excited about this. I always figured that electric bikes were sort of a waste: not portable or too heavy or bad riding without the motor or some combination of the above, but this really nips that in the bud.
Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself. Click on the pic above for some more pics and check out the videos below. One of them is from Power In Motion, who have been really instrumental in helping us with this project. So to Ken and Molly and Andrew, thanks.
Like what you see? Get in touch with me so I can keep you on the list and let you know as soon as they are available.
foldable walter 
October 4, 2009 at 10:14 pm
[…] Bike Friday Walter on the eTikit. […]
October 6, 2009 at 2:47 pm
It’s nice…but why the front hub version of the Bionx? I thought the uniqueness of the Bionx lay in it’s power-assistance as you need it….
The motor looks certainly to be one of the most efficient around, but I think the throttle control takes away too much of the spirit of cycling.
October 6, 2009 at 5:08 pm
This is no Bionx. It does, however, provide power assistance only when needed. What’s the concern with using the front hub? Don’t motors take from the spirit of cycling? What would you prefer as a control?
October 6, 2009 at 8:26 pm
[…] Over at Bike Friday they have been working on an electrically assisted Tikit according to employee Walter. More details on his blog […]
October 6, 2009 at 8:32 pm
An interesting development. Not for me, but I can see that the ability to pull in some electrical assistance for up hill sections could encourage some to take up cycling.
I think the acid test will be whether the advantage of the assistance in these circumstances outweighs the disadvantage of the extra carrying weight when lifting it folded onto public transport
October 6, 2009 at 9:43 pm
For load carrying purposes, it will be fab. You know, for the people that half to carry everything and the kitchen sink, literally.
Mainly it will be excellent for those people who are not cyclists. This may be the very thing that convinces them that the bicycle is not just toy but a viable means of transportation.
October 6, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Does the motor double as a generator? That is, can you soak up power going down hills, or do regenerative braking?
For the tikit it seems to me that the motor really has to be in the front wheel: otherwise it’d be challenging to balance the bike when lifted while folded.
October 6, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Yeah that would be cool, but not yet.
October 7, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Ah. Sorry about that. I mis-read the post, and thought that the front hub motor was from Bionx too.
I have not tried the Bionx, but it is the only company so far that offers a motor that only kicks in when you are struggling to pedal. It uses a torque sensor to detect that.
I guess, there aren’t any options other than the throttle for a front mounted motor, but I think any throttle to be used on an e bike should have a spring return incorporated, to save the motor and rider from braking and going at full throttle at the same time.
Oh yeah, with a bicycle battery pack, one could always offer 12V lighting systems on bikes…. =) or 12V horns…..or anything 12V…. XD
October 7, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Well, this is a start. We’ll see where it goes from here!
October 9, 2009 at 6:20 pm
We, (Power in Motion) actually sell 12v lighting systems that hook up to your ebike battery, so those are already available.
October 9, 2009 at 6:26 pm
OOOOoooooooo! Now I REALLY want one!
October 13, 2009 at 5:21 am
Walter:
The 12v lighting system is on your way. It come with a 12v Halogen light and 12v light rope, and a 12v dc-dc converter. The system will allow you take almost any 12v device.
October 13, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Excellent Ken! Thanks!!!!!!!!!! I am so getting an eTikit.
October 15, 2009 at 12:18 pm
[…] Walter has posted some information about an electrified Tikit that Bike Friday is working on. I can see how an e-bike that folds super easy might be very appealing for a commuter who wants to get to work sweat free with a bit of multi-modal commuting. It also seems to me that with a conventional front wheel you should be able to swap back and forth when you wanted a normal Tikit to ride. […]
October 18, 2009 at 5:36 pm
As a owner of both a Crusoe and an eZee Forza, I would be thrilled to have one bicycle that met my need for a lightweight electric bike. I live at the top of one hill and have an 11-mile RT with lots of hills, including at least one 20% grade hill on which the eZee (62# plus panniers, as I carry a kitchen sink and other gear) almost comes to a standstill – I have to work extremely hard to reach the top without having the battery die in the middle of the hill. Needless to say, my ride is a challenge.
The fold is not critical to me, but I can certainly see how it would be in a more urban environment. The BionxBF remix appears to meet my requirements, especially with the available regenerative battery – that is a key design point to reach. But an eTikit supported by BF – well, keep me in mind for beta-testing!
March 19, 2010 at 12:50 pm
[…] from Power in Motion [a Calgary electric bike specialist store] is letting me test the eTikit shown above as well as providing me with a slightly different electric assist kit I’ll mount […]
April 30, 2012 at 12:01 am
Jumping in years later here, but wanting to know if there’s till a contact list for info on a eBike Friday. Thanks.
March 1, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Still wanting to get one. Any news?
March 2, 2013 at 10:23 am
Sadly, no. Trying to give it a practical range while keeping it lightweight as well as dealing with the need for the bike to be easily folded, carried, rolled, and packed for airline travel has proved a significant challenge. Beyond this, we have several other high priority projects that have taken precedence, like the Silk. That being said, the project is indefinitely on hold.
September 16, 2016 at 9:09 pm
Hello,
Is the project etikit still on hold? If I had to sacrifce range, lightweight, and easy folding, I’d sacrifice range–I just need enought to tackle the long 3 mile climb going home 😛