Despite the popularity of battery-powered electric bikes doubling in North America in recent years, uptake in urban centres has been slow. Current e-bike models are heavy, unattractive, not portable enough and difficult to charge, store and maintain. Consumer awareness of e-bikes as a viable green transportation alternative to increasing costs of gas, parking and congestion is low.

Toronto-based start-up Revelo Electric is changing all that. The company has created the world’s lightest, design-savvy street legal e-bike, the LE-1, which is compact, chainless and ergonomic. The bike is powered by a lightweight removable lithium battery, folds easily and is virtually maintenance-free. It features a patent-pending dual-mode chainless front wheel pedaling mechanism that is unlike anything on the market. A single charge lasts 30 kilometres.

OCE initially supported Revelo Electric’s partnership with OCAD University through our Market Readiness program which helped the company create a prototype, perform engineering tests and develop marketing materials. A phase two Market Readiness followed, focusing on product development, user verification and establishing a supply chain. 

Revelo officially launched the LE-1 at OCE’s 2014 Discovery conference. Since then, the company has been selling their handmade e-bikes to customers across Canada and sourcing new manufacturing suppliers to become more cost competitive. Revelo is well positioned to sell in global markets, like China, where e-bikes occupy the majority of the world market. The company is also designing a new model e-bike with a complementary storage system and accessories line.

OCE©2014 Last updated 10/2014