Lightweight and Easy-to-Attach “Smart Wheel” Transforms any Bike into a Hybrid

Superpedestrian, Inc. announced the first commercial release of the Copenhagen Wheel, a self-contained unit that snaps easily onto the back of any ordinary bicycle and turns it into an electric hybrid. With extra power at the riders' feet, regenerative braking, and advanced control systems, the wheel promotes cycling so that long distances or steep up-hills are no longer a barrier to a comfortable ride. The Copenhagen Wheel is available for sale now. With more than 60 percent of the world expected to live in cities by 2020, transportation has an increasing effect on quality of urbanized living. Superpedestrian seeks to transform urban mobility by making bicycles even more attractive for commuters and city resident. The Copenhagen Wheel is the original "smart wheel" first conceived the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's SENSEable City Lab.

The inventors then joined forces as Superpedestrian, exclusively licensing the technology from MIT and working to perfect a user experience that enables cyclists to ride practically anywhere with simplicity and ease. The Wheel is ridden like a normal bicycle – users pedal and motor phases in and out automatically. The Wheel learns about the rider and intuitively recognizes how hard he or she pedals and the topography ahead to determine how much support the rider may need. There aren’t any additional throttles, wires, or buttons, maintaining the pure simplicity of cycling. The Wheel also features an intelligent locking system that locks the bike when the rider walks away and unlocks it upon return. Its rechargeable battery allows riders to easily remove the battery pack and carry it with them wherever they go.

“Can we make bikes a competitive alternative to cars, buses and subways for people who live in or commute to work in cities? That is our mission ,” said Assaf Biderman, Superpedestrian founder and associate director of the MIT SENSEable City Laboratory. “For the millions of city residents who are tired of sitting in traffic jams or long waits for the bus or train, the Copenhagen Wheel provides an easier, more environmentally friendly way to get around using the bike that’s already sitting in their garage or front hall.”

By connecting to the rider’s smartphone, the Copenhagen Wheel allows customizing the wheel to fit his or her needs. The Superpedestrian mobile app lets riders maintain a personal profile by tracking personal usage statistics such as distance travelled, calories burned and elevation gain and even compare and share those stats with friends. It also brings together like-­‐minded people, connecting them and paving the way for a social way to cycle.

“Effectively, the Copenhagen Wheel puts your bike online – at the center of your personal Internet of Things,” said Carlo Ratti, co-inventor of the Copenhagen Wheel and director of the MIT Senseable City Lab.

Key specifications of the Copenhagen Wheel include: Price starting at $699.00; Speed up to 20 MPH/32 KMPH; Range up to 30 miles/48 kilometers; Weight, 13 lbs/5.9 kg; Rechargeable lithium Ion, 1000 charge cycles; Operating voltage is 48V; A BLDC hub motor with 250W, and 350W options; Supported Wheel Sizes include 26”, and 700C; Supported Drive Train Options include single‐speed, and multi‐speed derailleur; Rim Brakes, and Electronic Regenerative Back Pedal Braking. The new Copenhagen Wheel is available for purchase now for $699.00 at limited quantities and will begin shipping at the end of the first quarter of 2014.