UK folding bike-maker, Brompton, have teamed up with Williams Advanced Engineering “to help to develop a new, exciting bicycle”.
The company have said: “Brompton Bicycle is always looking at ways of enhancing city travel. Brompton sees huge potential in the electric pedal assist bicycle as a means to do this.” Williams Advanced Engineering, part of the Formula One Williams Group, are tasked with working alongside Brompton to electrify the 16 inch wheeler.
Chief Design and Engineering Officer, Will Carleysmith said: “It is no secret that we have ambitions to develop an electric pedal assist Brompton. The bike needs to be built to the highest standard like all our bicycles and stand up to the challenges of city life. Williams Advanced Engineering is using their extensive engineering expertise to assist Brompton in this project.”
Brompton make over 45,000 bikes each year and is the UK’s largest bike manufacturer. Of manufacturing on UK soil, Will Butler-Adams, chief executive of Brompton Bicycle, has said: ’It’s about protecting our intellectual property. If we have really clever stuff, we do it here.’
While popular with UK commuters wanting a lightweight, easy folder that will store easily on trains and in offices, 80% of the bikes manufactured by the company here in the UK end up being sold abroad, with the bike exported to 44 countries.
The idea of a Brompton pedelec is not a new one. The combination of an iconic and successful, high-end folder, a quirky look as well as a somewhat cultish following has seen both enthusiasts and businesses adding conversion kits to the lightweight bike.
Added to that, news of a factory electric bike rolling off the Brompton production line has been long-awaited in the industry.
The official line from the company earlier this year was: “The release date has yet to be finalised, but good progress has been made, the bicycle will be ready when it’s ready.” However, the media elsewhere have quoted Butler-Adams as saying he hopes that release date will be next year.
R&D funding has come from the Department of Business Innovation, which supports businesses in engineering, science and technology development.
