French engineer Adrien Leliévre works at STEE, near Orleans, and seems to have revolutionized the sustainable urban mobility sector. How did he do it? By incorporating a supercapacitor into a bicycle. But wouldn’t it be an electric bike? More or less. The main difference is that this model, called Pi-Pop, does not require charging, but has a regenerative energy model, which accumulates as you pedal. In 2024, it won a gold medal at the Lépine Competition in France. The company, Veloci Industries, has managed to increase sales volume from 100 bicycles per month to an expected 10,000 per year within 5 years.
Electric bicycles
The use of electric bicycles has become increasingly popular over the years. Many people use bicycles as a means of transportation in city centers. It is not only more comfortable, but also free, less polluting and faster. Of course, it is a key element to stay active and practice some sport on the go. However, it also has disadvantages, such as the fact that not everyone can afford one, or that there are not enough bicycle parking facilities.
That is why many companies have emerged that offer bike rentals in city centers. You can start your journey at one end and finish at the other, and you will have a place to leave it safely for the company, in one of their parking lots. This service has gone viral because of its convenience and practicality. However, the reality is that electric bikes need to be charged, and this is where the companies are getting the bug.If you offer an electric bike service, but it turns out that they are not charged, what good is it?
Battery-free electric bicycle
Adrien Leliévre has come up with a revolutionary idea. This young worker at Southern Transformation and Economic Empowerment (STEE), part of a program led by the City of New Orleans, felt the need to address this issue. Supercapacitors have been around since the late 1970s. What are these devices? They are devices that store energy for fast charging and long life. How come no one has thought of another use for them?
It was the French engineer who turned on the light bulb, incorporating a bicycle to be recharged on the go. To date, electric bicycles are equipped with a lithium battery, which requires a costly manufacturing process, in addition to the consequences of its storage.The new bike, called Pi-Pop, stores energy electro-statically as you pedal on flat terrain, roll downhill and brake. When is this energy used? When you have to climb a hill or start the bike.
Features
According to its creator, who has been perfecting it for years, 50 m of elevation can be reached with a well-charged supercapacitor. These data are positive, since they cover 80% of the orography of European cities. Unlike lithium bacteria, these devices do not need to undermine or extract materials from the earth, nor do they consume energy because they need to be charged. Compared to the average life of a lithium battery of 5-6 years, this new technology offers between 10 and 15 years.
Pi-Pop; it is all advantages?
Despite receiving a gold medal at France’s Lépine Competition in 2024, not all of the sustainable bike’s features are that great. Its use is limited to cities, with a 250W motor and a speed of 15 mph /25 kmh. Weighing in at 48 pounds, it’s not particularly suited for hills or long rides. Several independent reviews have stated that it has failed to deliver power range on stretches where there is no flat recovery after steep climbs or long distances. According to one blog “it can barely make it to the street” if the terrain does not aid regeneration”. And if there is no flat surface to recharge energy, the bike would be useless.
With an eye to the future
Despite criticism and possible improvements to be made, Veloci Industries has managed to increase sales from 100 units per month in Orleans to 10,000 per year within 5 years.