If you want to explore the benefits of electric bikes, but don’t have the space or budget to invest in a new bike, then an electric bike modification kit may be your best choice. Jon Excell reviewed one of the most watched products in this emerging field-the Swytch suite developed in the UK.
Electric bicycles have been on the market for many years. However, sales have snowballed in recent months due to increased affordability, the bicycle boom caused by the epidemic, and the growing demand for more sustainable transportation methods. In fact, according to data from the Bicycle Association, the trade body of the British bicycle industry, sales of electric bicycles have increased by 67% in 2020 and are expected to triple by 2023.
Bicycle manufacturers are scrambling to enter this growing market, launching a variety of different products: from cheap electric commuter models to high-end mountain and road bikes with car-sized price tags.
But the growing interest has also led to the emergence of many electric bike modification kits that can be used to power beloved existing bicycles and may represent a more cost-effective and versatile solution than brand new machines.
Engineers recently had the opportunity to try one of the most watched products in this emerging field: the Swytch kit, developed by Swytch Technology Ltd, an electric car startup based in London.
Swytch consists of an improved front wheel, pedal sensor system and a power pack mounted on the handlebars. It is said to be the smallest and lightest electric bike modification kit on the market. More importantly, according to its developers, it is compatible with any bicycle.