News: The making of the VIT-S

[Pedelecs]

(Follow up article to the Kickstarter campaign announcement.)

We spoke to Ying-Tsao Tan to find out more about the development process behind the latest pedelec to be added the range.


Ying-Tsao Tan and the VIT-S

Pedelecs has just covered the Kickstarter launch of the VIT-S. Much has been made of the role of the Nidec motor on board your latest model. Who are Nidec Copal?

“The Nidec motor is the result of a joint venture between Itochu, the largest company in Japan with a market capitalisation US$22 billion, and Nidec Copal, the world’s number 1 precision motor manufacturer, wanting to enter the European and US mid-drive motor market. Nidec Copal has a long history developing automotive motor control technology and silent geared motors.”

How did you first become involved with Nidec Copal and what credentials convinced you to move away from motor manufacturers already established in the e-bike world?

“Back in 2013, we could sense that the market was changing and we needed to develop a powerful mid-motor model to complete our product range. We have always believed in lightweight electric bikes because our design research showed us that weight is always a main complaint about electric bikes. We came across the Nidec motor while it was still early in its development at Eurobike 2013. Their philosophy of a lightweight, powerful and efficient motor matched what we wanted in a mid-motor and so we made contact.

From the start, Itochu and Nidec Copal took us seriously and sincerely. Their egalitarian attitude towards us despite our small size inspired us to put our best effort and invest a lot of resources into the development of this project. So we set about making this ‘the ultimate urban machine,’ where we could push the boundaries a little.


Momentum Electric with the Nidec Copal and Itochu team

Full story: http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/making-vit-s-interview-momentum-electric/

 

[LeighPing]

"Kickstarter backers will get the opportunity to own a VIT-S at a discounted price of between £2200 to £2500 compared to £4000 when it will be available in stores in summer 2017.”

 

[Woosh]

congratulations to Ying-Tsao Tan for bringing up a superb product.
Hope the Kickstarter campaign go well for Momentum.

 

[flecc]

Great stuff, I wish all concerned well.. As a bike suspension hater I like the idea behind the shock absorbing handlebar. This is the sort of practical innovation we need, not the silly style based gimmicks that are so often promoted as innovation.

Couple that handlebar with free rolling Schwalbe Big Apple tyres and it will easily match suspension bikes for on-road comfort, while weighing far less.
.

 

[Steed]

In my opinion bendy handle bars sound very gimmicky and likely to break eventually but if it works then fair enough, but £4,000? No wonder Woosh wish them well, the current £999 Momentums are direct Woosh competitors but are hardly likely to trouble their end of the market at £4,000 are they?

 

[Woosh]

We are always thankful when someone decides to introduce a high end product for the reason that we benefit from knowing what works and what doesn't and how customers react.

 

[Rohloffboy]

That is just the kind of ebike that I would go for.

Crank Drive with 95nm outstanding.

Japanese motor design, which I assume will be manufactured in China etc.

Good to see also that the bike has a IGH from the get go, albiet the Nuvinci 330, although I would prefer to see it with the Rohloff, I really do think that the days of derailleur gears on Ebikes is fast comming to an end.

Will be interesting to see, when it hits the streets here in the U.K.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I have carbon fibre handlebars on my roadbike, which are also a bit flexible. Though quite safe, it's very disconcerting when you can feel the movement.

 

[flecc]

I have carbon fibre handlebars on my roadbike, which are also a bit flexible. Though quite safe, it's very disconcerting when you can feel the movement.

I'm hopeful that these have been designed to give only above a certain level of impact, rather than just being bendy all the time. If they are just the latter I'd also have reservations.
.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I am open minded I would give them a try but you are not taking my NCX seat post away! Ever!

As age creeps in tendinitis in my arms seems to be the price I have to pay for lifting all those tons of lamb and bales of hay when I was too young. And riding a bike without some kind of shock absorption on the front is no longer on the cards.

 

[shemozzle999]

Good to see the inclinometer finding its way into electric bicycle technology - a concept discussed by the founding members of this forum back as far as early 2007.

It has also been introduced into radio controlled model flying in the form of gyros to automatically control the model stability but unfortunately it looks like the existence of this sport is now under severe attack from new proposals from the EASA and the EU Commission is looking at creating new EU regulations which would restrict all forms of flying to a very restrictive flying area effectively killing off the sport due to the emergence of inconsiderate Drone users.

 

[VictoryV]

I'm hopeful that these have been designed to give only above a certain level of impact, rather than just being bendy all the time. If they are just the latter I'd also have reservations.
.

Some members may remember the advert for the Raleigh "all steel bicycle" in the 1950's with the rider going down a staircase - the spring and flexibility of the forks was a major point in the advert

 

[anotherkiwi]

Some members may remember the advert for the Raleigh "all steel bicycle" in the 1950's with the rider going down a staircase - the spring and flexibility of the forks was a major point in the advert

I was a toddler then so my now aching joints could take it!

My first bike was a Raleigh all steel single speed, probably a 24" wheel, which my uncles gave me for Christmas in the mid 60's. Lucky me, my cousins hadn't been conceived so they spoiled me at Christmas.