Electric Bike wins Climate Change Innovation Competition

[MonVal Electra]

The following extract from this link News -

A Leicester based business with a big idea for tackling climate change has won a Shell Springboard award of £40,000, giving their business a valuable boost in a programme designed to promote the growth of the low carbon economy in the UK.

Walters Innovations Ltd received the award for its work in developing the MonVal Bicycle, a comfortable, electrically-assisted bike with a generous luggage capacity that might just be the answer for a low-carbon, low perspiration commute!

As well as being comfortable to ride, MonVal is also economical. Think of a 100 watt electric light bulb burning for an evening: that's enough energy to propel the MonVal for twenty to forty miles, and it costs just five to eight pence per mile to run, compared to fifty to eighty pence per mile for a car. Andrew Walters, Managing Director of Walters Innovations Ltd, hopes that the MonVal will not only encourage more people to swap their cars for bikes, as they’ll be able to cycle for longer, but will also be used as a green transport alternative for businesses.

Shell Springboard gives a financial boost to innovative, commercially viable business ideas that tackle climate change. The programme encourages a positive business response to the challenge of climate change by providing a no-strings financial boost to small ideas with innovative products and services that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and really make a difference.

Andrew Walters, Director of Walters Innovations Ltd, said: “This award means I can ramp up production and finally get our bike out there into the business community. I can actually make a difference now, it's actually going to happen."

Paul Snaith, Vice President Downstream Marketing, Shell Global Solutions said: “Congratulations to Andrew and Walters Innovations. The MonVal Bicycle not only has huge commercial potential but could have a significant impact on the UK’s carbon emissions. It’s this kind of cutting-edge innovation that has made the UK a world leader in low carbon technology investment. In a difficult economic climate, it has become more important than ever that we continue to foster such independent entrepreneurialism which is so crucial to the UK economy in the long term.”

According to Shell Springboard’s Race Against the Carbon Pound report* the UK’s ‘green’ companies attracted over £1billion of venture capital and private equity investment in 2007: 41% of the EU total. This makes the UK the European leader when it comes to attracting venture capital and private equity investment in low carbon technologies, second only to the United States worldwide.

 

[secour]

Here is the bike

Andrew Walters Next Generation Bicycles

 

[Mussels]

Well done, shame there was no link to the product in the article but it will get people searching.

 

[Vikki]

I'd never be able to get that through the house - it looks very long and I have to get through the front door and do a sharp left (not at speed though ) in only the width of a passage. Then through the flat and out the back.

Vikki.

 

[PED-AL]

I certainly would not buy one and I do not think many others will, it looks like a very inificient contraption to me and I would not want to try and ride it up a hill !!! ---well I would not want to be seen riding it at all to be honest.

 

[Beanie101]

To my eyes, it's ugly

 

[MonVal Electra]

I'd never be able to get that through the house - it looks very long and I have to get through the front door and do a sharp left (not at speed though ) in only the width of a passage. Then through the flat and out the back.
Vikki.

Hello all - The following quote taken from this link is to remind everyone that this bike is designed for heavy utility and touring. VeloVision Online

The bike, the Monval Electra, is mainly aimed at corporate/fleet use, and offers benefits including one-size-fits-all frame, huge load-carrying capacity and high-quality components for low maintenance. Heinzmann electric assist systems offer an additional boost in a well-proven package. As well as being available for purchase, the bikes can be rented. Interest has been expressed by police and paramedics among others - and by private users looking for a comfortable, capable ride.

At 8ft long, you can see it was never designed to be used in confined spaces, there are other bikes for that. Its size however, is ideal for the attributes mentioned above.

I certainly would not buy one and I do not think many others will, it looks like a very inificient contraption to me and I would not want to try and ride it up a hill !!! ---well I would not want to be seen riding it at all to be honest.
PED-AL

PED-Al, your stupidity amazes me!! You say the bike looks inefficient with no factual proof to back up your statement and despite ALL THE EVIDENCE to the contrary!!!.
I'll give you some BIG clues as to the evidence : -
1) CYCLEMAGIC.ORG - 'the not for profit organisation', are based in HILLY Leicester and they assemble and store the bike. They also helped to test it during its development and guess what they specialise in - making cycling accessable for the disabled!!! - which is quite ironic, given your bad back situation -
2) COVENTRY UNIVERSITY is a leading centre in the field of 'Transport Design' - so have a BIG guess who helped to iron out any bugs - if you still can't work it out, check out the contacts page of my website Andrew Walters Next Generation Bicycles
3) The following quote is from the PDF of the 'Velovision Online' link above and was written about the MANUAL PEDAL bicycle version of the MonVal - The editor of that magazine, lives in York which is for the most part, pretty flat. He rode the bike (manual pedal version) so HIS comments about efficiency are valid.

AND REMEMBER, THIS WAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE MANUAL PEDAL VERSION - SO WITH THE EXTRA ASSIST OF A HIGH TORQUE HEINZMANN ELECTRIC MOTOR, JUST IMAGINE HOW GOOD IT IS NOW!!!

THE RIDE
As you’ll see from the pictures, the riding position
is truly upright, with a straight spine and neck,
and no weight on the wrists. The comfort, and the
view, are undeniable. It’s very easy to get a foot flat
on the ground when you stop. I did find the bars
just too wide, though. It’s not an aerodynamic
position to start with, and the splayed-arms pose
seemed to catch the air even more. Andrew says
that narrower bars are on the way.
On the road the bike largely lives up to its
design goals. Comfort and stability is superb, and
adding a couple of well loaded panniers made no
discernable difference. The bike also felt fast – not
so much in acceleration, but it rolls easily and
smoothly. With no decent hills to hand, I couldn’t
really test its climbing ability, but you could
certainly push off hard against the backrest when
setting off or accelerating.
The bike’s length was never a problem while
riding, but in very tight manoeuvring or if you
have a small shed for storage it could be an
issue. There’s also a question mark about transport:
it’s too big for most car racks. Andrew says a
separable model may be possible if there’s demand.
Certainly it’s a machine I could tour on with
great pleasure – though I’d want to try it in a headwind
and on some proper hills before giving any
sort of definitive verdict.

 

[eddieo]

Errr...... any one spot the irony?

Pardon my cynicism.

This award is from Shell? aren't they a petroleum company?

And historically are not petroleum companies responsible for systematically killing of any green initiative unless they can control it........

Obviously E bikes must be seen as such small fry as to be no threat to them.

 

[MonVal Electra]

Pardon my cynicism.

This award is from Shell? aren't they a petroleum company?

And historically are not petroleum companies responsible for systematically killing of any green initiative unless they can control it........

Obviously E bikes must be seen as such small fry as to be no threat to them.

Hello Eddieo - I believe that they are doing what any big business in todays climate (pardon the pun) should be doing - looking at diversifying to protect their interests. They realise that the commodity that they've built their business on will not last for ever and are looking at getting in early on any new technology / innovation.

 

[torrent99]

Hello Eddieo - I believe that they are doing what any big business in todays climate (pardon the pun) should be doing - looking at diversifying to protect their interests. They realise that the commodity that they've built their business on will not last for ever and are looking at getting in early on any new technology / innovation.

And I believe they are doing what any big corporate in todays climate would do, creating a ridiculously thin veneer of corporate responsibility to cover the massive ball of nastiness behind...

However, that shouldn't detract from YOUR achievement Andrew. Well done!

 

[Patrick]

Congratulations.

Have you go any plans for a folding version?
(Sorry, I couldn't resist asking that.)

Patrick

 

[MonVal Electra]

Congratulations.

Have you go any plans for a folding version?
(Sorry, I couldn't resist asking that.)

Patrick

First of all, thank you to all the people who have congratulated me/us - it is really appreciated .

I naively posted the win up here to show the doubters that people outside 'our little world of this forum' were starting to take electric bikes more seriously. And, apart from the increasing sales that are slowly but surely getting better documented, what better way to prove this than for an electric bike company (regardless of who they are) to win accolades .

I personally love it when the bike manufacturers let us know about their successes outside the bubble, such as Powerbike celebrating 10 years, or the fact that Cytronex are attracting fitter riders to the world of E-bikes or that outdoor leisure centres are starting to use Kalkoffs, etc etc etc.
...Because for me, each success opens the door a little wider for the general public to be aware of the wonderful world of Ebikes (so long as they are good quality and value for money)....Strewth, I sound almost Evangelical


... Back to your original question about folding the bike, it is possible to seperate it ala 'moulton bike' style using S&S couplings but todate, no one has ever seriously enquired about this.

 

[Mussels]

And I believe they are doing what any big corporate in todays climate would do, creating a ridiculously thin veneer of corporate responsibility to cover the massive ball of nastiness behind...

However, that shouldn't detract from YOUR achievement Andrew. Well done!

They were my thoughts too, forty grand is money well spent when it can be used as leverage against a million pound climate tax.
They also get to see if there is any viable competition out there.

 

[bode]

PED-Al, your stupidity amazes me!!

If you are aiming for a reasoned approach, you would do better to avoid such invective. If you present facts, let them speak for themselves.

 

[MonVal Electra]

If you are aiming for a reasoned approach, you would do better to avoid such invective. If you present facts, let them speak for themselves.

Hello Bode - Sadly, I do not think that PED-AL has any intention of engaging in reasoned debate as was evidenced by his opening statement despite all the evidence that was easily accessible around / to him .

 

[PED-AL]

Anyone that replies calling me stupid does not deserve a reasonable debate.
My post was my opinion of this contraption which stands.
With reference to the upright position being correct for riding especially for someone with back problems I find that this is not the case.
Many people with back problems will tell you it is better to be leaning foreward with some of your weight on your wrists and therefore reducing the load on your back.
The foreward position also reduces any shock to your back from rough road surfaces as your body is pivoting around the front wheel spindle in effect rather than taking the direct hit from the rear wheel.
Generally poeple with back problems find some releif by crouching with a slight foreward lean after being upright for a time and becoming uncomfortable.
In my opinion the pedaling action of a conventional bicycle is much more efficient than the forward pedal machine and certainly puts less load on your back.
I talk from experience as I have tried both types.
I have a lifetime of mechanical engineering experience being a fully Qualified mould tool maker with 25+ years experience and 20 years experience as a technical manager for a highly respected Injection Moulding company -------------- stupid ?????????

PED-AL

 

[bode]

Hello Bode - Sadly, I do not think that PED-AL has any intention of engaging in reasoned debate as was evidenced by his opening statement despite all the evidence that was easily accessible around / to him .

Wrong, evidently. Now, perhaps consider pausing before slagging someone off, possibly taking time to review their earlier posts to see whether or not they are time-wasters.

 

[PED-AL]

Thank you Bode !

PED-AL

 

[MonVal Electra]

Wrong, evidently. Now, perhaps consider pausing before slagging someone off, possibly taking time to review their earlier posts to see whether or not they are time-wasters.

Hmmmm... I get it, this only applies to me and not PED-Al who threw the first stone and did not apply any of the above

 

[Mussels]

Hmmmm... I get it, this only applies to me and not PED-Al who threw the first stone and did not apply any of the above

PED-Al isn't trying to promote a product so has no reason to endear himself to the forum, to me his post looked like a personal dig but calling anyone stupid won't make you look better.