News / Bristol Cycling
The Bristol invention set to revolutionise cycling
An invention that transforms a regular bicycle into an e-bike will be a dream come true for many Bristol cyclists.
And it is set to become a reality, thanks to a pair of entrepreneurs seeking to revolutionise transport, ease congestion and improve mobility in the city and beyond.
Bristol-based design manufacturing startup Revolutionworks reached its target of raising £20,000 to launch Revos, a lightweight gadget that turns a normal pedal bike into an e-bike, in less than two weeks.
It is now moving into the production stage at the company’s workshop in Filwood Green Business Park.
It was Hugo Palmer came up with the idea when he was studying motorsport engineering at Oxford Brookes in 2011. He wanted to see if he could convert his regular bike into an electric version, saving the expense of buying a brand new e-bike.
The experiment was a success and – in partnership with dad Mark – Hugo decided to move things up a gear. Following the hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, which exceeded the target by 20 per cent, they are now ready to launch Revos on the market.
“It’s for people who like their bike but want an e-bike too, it’s easy to use and feels like you have a tailwind at all times,” explained Hugo.
“Lots of people would like to cycle to work, but are reluctant because it’s just a bit strenuous, especially if you live in a hilly city. So Revos provides a way of enjoying a cycling commute.
“Reaching lift-off so quickly on Kickstarter is really inspiring and we’re really looking forward to the rest of the campaign. This means that we can start thinking about gearing up for production, so that’s really exciting.”
Revos consists of three parts: a geared drive unit that attaches to the bike frame and drives the rear wheel around, a magnetic pedal assist sensor that controls the drive unit in response to the rider pedalling and a lithium ion battery.
Hugo says the whole set up takes less than 10 minutes to attach to a bike and there is no need to replace any parts.
Two battery sizes are available: 100Wh for everyday trips around town and a 209Wh option, one for longer trips. The gadget is available to pre-order on: www.revolutionworks.com/.
Read more: We need to empower young men to be open about their problems
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
