Hello from LaVita Boost

[nick_boost_kit]

Hi I'm Nick, I designed the Boost kit in 2021 and we're starting to roll out to bike shops now. Our kit is rear wheel, has the crank sensor built into the wheel (so no external crank sensor) and is less expensive than Swytch even when fitted by a shop. Excited to learn from the forum! (lavitaboost.com)

 

[Zlatan]

Hi Nick
Doesn't having torque sensor built into wheel make torque it senses a product of both torque at crank and gear you are in?? Surely it will sense increased torque in lower gears and hence give more support when in them. Torque sensor at crank is for a reason, ie to sense torque you are providing not necessarily that at back wheel??
Either way... Good luck with venture.

 

[nick_boost_kit]

Hi @Zlatan The sensor is to detect that you're pedalling, much in the same way that most kits detect motion rather than torque; we don't have a torque sensor in the wheel. The software in the controller feeds in varying boost based on speed etc.; it does a little bit of learning & predicting how much current you need. Our wireless display (due in the next month or so) has a button to enable high temporary boost, much like the VanMoof boost button.

Thank you for your kind words!

 

[guerney]

Isn't the "Super-boost" button a throttle? Illegal in the UK. Can the kit function with it removed?

 

[nick_boost_kit]

Hi @guerney . Good question! Making this conversion safe & legal is our priority, which is why we're building up a network of shops to help as many cyclists as possible transform their bikes rather than just the DIY enthusiasts.

Our controller has two power map modes; regulating the power based on speed & load. One is 'Eco', one is 'Boost'. Both are legal within the 250w nominal rules & speed. However, both modes have a little spare capacity under the legal limit. Pressing the 'boost' button takes you up to the legal limit, much in the way it works on VanMoof.

Yes, the kit functions without the button. We also have apps in the App Store & Google Play (search LaVita Boost) that can use your phone as a display (via bluetooth) and Super-Boost button. The kit is autonomous though so doesn't need a wireless display connected.

 

[guerney]

Pressing the 'boost' button takes you up to the legal limit, much in the way it works on VanMoof.

Does the "Super-Boost" button on the phone app increase power beyond the 250W legal limit?

 

[nick_boost_kit]

Hi @guerney Our motor is max continuous rated & marked at 250w and follows all EAPC rules under EN15194. As with all e-bikes there are situations where the motor can temporarily & legally exceed 250w. The Super-Boost button is not a throttle and does not breach the rules - see a similar implementation by VanMoof. Thank you!

 

[Zlatan]

Hi @guerney . Good question! Making this conversion safe & legal is our priority, which is why we're building up a network of shops to help as many cyclists as possible transform their bikes rather than just the DIY enthusiasts.

Our controller has two power map modes; regulating the power based on speed & load. One is 'Eco', one is 'Boost'. Both are legal within the 250w nominal rules & speed. However, both modes have a little spare capacity under the legal limit. Pressing the 'boost' button takes you up to the legal limit, much in the way it works on VanMoof.

Yes, the kit functions without the button. We also have apps in the App Store & Google Play (search LaVita Boost) that can use your phone as a display (via bluetooth) and Super-Boost button. The kit is autonomous though so doesn't need a wireless display connected.

Can you post some pictures Nick. I, ll be building another ebike for grandkids soon. (put a 250w Tongshen crank drive on a kids mtb, grandson loves it. They all want one (yes it has a throttle, and it's probably illegal but he regularly does 22 miles off toad on it with me)
Your explanation makes perfect sense. You don't really need a torque sensor.

 

[nick_boost_kit]

Hi @Zlatan! Thanks for the interest. The first photo (Specialized) was sent in by one of our customers last week. The second (Quella) is a single-speed conversion from a company we're working with. The main challenge is making sure there's space for the bottle battery; we are looking into things like seat tube & rear-rack mounts for the battery on smaller bikes & folding. I've just bought a 1980s folding bike as an experiment!

There are some more pictures on our website, more coming soon. There's a video for how to build a wheel onto our motor so that might be useful to see the size.

 

[guerney]

Our controller has two power map modes; regulating the power based on speed & load. One is 'Eco', one is 'Boost'. Both are legal within the 250w nominal rules & speed. However, both modes have a little spare capacity under the legal limit. Pressing the 'boost' button takes you up to the legal limit, much in the way it works on VanMoof.

The Super-Boost button is not a throttle and does not breach the rules - see a similar implementation by VanMoof. Thank you!

As with all e-bikes there are situations where the motor can temporarily & legally exceed 250w.

The "Super-Boost" isn't a physical switch, but is a mode which provides power beyond the 250W limit. It's actually a third continuous power mode then, as opposed to being a short term temporary super-boost? How many watts does the "Super-Boost" mode make the motor? What's stopping people from using the "Super-Boost" greater-than-250W mode all the time?

 

[Zlatan]

The "Super-Boost" isn't a physical switch, but is a mode which provides power beyond the 250W limit. It's actually a third continuous power mode then, as opposed to being a short term temporary super-boost?

The 250w limit is at best misleading. Both my Haibike and Giant go way over 250 and for extended periods. (Giant ride app provides nice graphs essentially proving motor goes well over 250 w. I, ve seen upwards of 500w quite often and most rides produce around 450 w maximums)

This was my last ride. Strange it says my average consumption was 84w yet I used 80% of a 500wh battery in 90 mins?? (averaged 23km/h off road)
Bike is totally standard and legal. No dongles or anything.

Nick. The kit looks smart.. Nice one..
You, ve probably already done so but can you provide a link to your site. Thanks.

 

[flecc]

The "Super-Boost" isn't a physical switch, but is a mode which provides power beyond the 250W limit. It's actually a third continuous power mode then, as opposed to being a short term temporary super-boost? How many watts does the "Super-Boost" make the motor?

Almost every pedelec on the market exceeds 250 watts of actual power output much of the time when under load, 500 to 700 watts is not unknown and it's perfectly legal

What's stopping people from using the "Super-Boost" greater-than-250W mode all the time?

Eventually reaching a point there the motor/controller overheat and fail, but theres no specifcation of when that should happen by. In practice it's difficult to find a normal riding situation where that happens. It would be most likely when the motor is allowed to slog under load down to stall speeds and the controller cuts out.
.

 

[nick_boost_kit]

Hi @guerney, thanks for the continued interest. As you indicate, the Super-Boost button activates a higher power profile for 15 seconds, then it drops back to the previous mode. As the Super-Boost mode is legal, cyclists can keep activating it all day long if they wish. Your question is tricky as continuous/nominal power is not the same as might legally be delivered for a short time due to the beginning of a hill. Please drop me a line if you'd like a more detailed explanation of the software we've created for the controller and I'm happy to have a one to one discussion.

Thanks @Zlatan, agreed. I'm unable to quote a power over 250w as this could be misleading; our focus is to provide a fully legal EAPC conversion.

 

[guerney]

Hi @guerney, thanks for the continued interest. As you indicate, the Super-Boost button activates a higher power profile for 15 seconds, then it drops back to the previous mode. As the Super-Boost mode is legal, cyclists can keep activating it all day long if they wish. Your question is tricky as continuous/nominal power is not the same as might legally be delivered for a short time due to the beginning of a hill. Please drop me a line if you'd like a more detailed explanation of the software we've created for the controller and I'm happy to have a one to one discussion.

Thanks @Zlatan, agreed. I'm unable to quote a power over 250w as this could be misleading; our focus is to provide a fully legal EAPC conversion.

Have you tested your system with a second phone running a bluetooth jammer app, or dedicated bluetooth jamming device? For your system, hopefully mischievous jamming won't be a catastrophe - you've said it works without a phone.

And welcome to the forum!

 

[peterjd]

Hi Nick, I am interested in your minimalist conversion concept. How is the venture proceeding? Thanks Peter

 

[guerney]

It's actually a third continuous power mode then, as opposed to being a short term temporary super-boost?

Hey I said that! What's with the repeat?

It's actually a third continuous power mode then, as opposed to being a short term temporary super-boost?

 

[senquan]

Hello,
I was surprised to see this eBike kit.
The motor with a cassette sensor integrated and the bottle battery, can Lavita and Boost please provide proof of his patent license from his motor and battery supplier? I am the CEO of 100G Smart Tech, the motor with the cassette sensor is our patent since 2016, we have many dealers but not Boost, then I checked his motor supplier - sharpbike, we used to sell him some motors in 2021 but after that we stopped licensing and selling motors to him. From 2022 onwards, the motors with cassette sensor supplied by sharpbike are stolen and illegal and we are taking legal action to defend our rights. We also ask you to stop distributing this product to avoid further infringement implications.

This is evidence of infringement by Lavita, Boost and Sharpbike: