The Estonian company Ampler has announced the electric bikes Nova and Nova Pro. Their main feature is that they use a built-in USB Type-C interface in the frame to recharge the battery, which can also be used to charge various gadgets if needed.
The Nova electric bikes use relatively small built-in batteries of 48V 336Wh (removable only for maintenance), which can be charged from 0 to 100% in three hours using USB-C PD 3.1 with up to 140W.
In comparison, the charging process for bikes with similar batteries usually takes about five hours, and with charging units of 300W or more — about two hours. Since 240-watt USB-C chargers have already started hitting the market, one can assume that USB-C for bikes will remain a competitive interface in the foreseeable future.
According to available data, Ampler has tested the new bikes for compatibility with less powerful chargers such as those from Ikea and MacBook, which support the older USB-C PD 3.0 standard. If a user does not have such a charger, they can separately purchase the original 140-watt Ampler charger for €80. Although the USB-C interface on the bikes can be used to recharge various gadgets, it supports charging power of only up to 15W.
As for the bikes themselves, the Nova model costs €2990, while the Nova Pro is €3490. Available versions include Step-over (for men) and Step-through (for women) frames, and a standard 250W motor that allows speeds of up to 25 km/h.
The standard Nova model is equipped with wide 27.5-inch wheels, a chain, and a 9-speed transmission. The Nova Pro is available in versions with a single-speed Gates Carbon belt drive or a 10-speed Shimano Deore transmission.
Both Ampler Nova and Nova Pro bikes are already available for pre-order in the EU. It is unknown whether they will be sold outside the region.
Source:
Source: 3dnews.ru
