London-based Swytch Technology have completely revamped their e-bike conversion kit, and it's now less than half the size. It works by fitting a battery pack to your handlebars connected up to a wheel with a hub motor, that you use in place of your original front wheel.
One issue we found with the original Swytch kit was that the weight of the bag and power pack mounted to the bars combined affected the bike's handling somewhat; it appears Swytch may have remedied this by reducing the size of the pack by 70% and reducing its weight by 50%, with the pack now fitting in your palm and weighing just 1.5kg. The front hub motor wheel also weighs 1.5kg, for a total system weight of 3kg.
If you already own the previous version, both the power pack and hub-assisted front wheels are backwards and forwards compatible, so you can keep your existing front hub motor wheel and just switch your Swytch to the smaller power pack.
Swytch say theirs is now the smallest and lightest e-bike conversion kit in the world, and transforms any bike into a premium quality e-bike. CTO Dmitro Khroma says: “We set out to create the most compact e-bike kit possible without compromising on power and performance. Every millimetre of each component was carefully considered. We’ve harnessed the best in class battery technology available today to develop the most energy dense power pack possible.
"We pushed the boundaries of power electronic technology to design an ultra-compact, lightweight motor controller that is not available anywhere else. The result is the smallest and lightest e-bike system that is possible with today’s technology."
The new Swytch is now crowdfunding on Indiegogo, with discounts of up to 51% off the RRP if you become an earlybird backer. You can currently pre-order the Universal Eco kit for £322. If you live somewhere EU power and speed restrictions don't apply or want to register a pedelec, there's the Pro kit that can go up to 20mph for £400. There's also a Brompton Eco Kit for £401, and Tour kits with extended range of up to 100km. Head over to Swytch's Indiegogo page for more info and to see all the backing options.
