India's first crowdfunded e-bike Spero unveiled in Bengaluru

The country’s first crowd-funded e-bike Spero is here. What’s special about Spero is the fact that it looks like a normal bicycle but, no pedaling required. The new e-bike, which was launched in Bengaluru, will come in three different models and is priced between Rs 29,900 and Rs 50,900. It is available via Fueladream.com.

Spero is designed by Coimbatore based MBA graduate, Manikandan, who has worked on this project for three years. Manikandan says, “The experience I gained through years in the factory has given me the ability to innovate this cycle to perfection. The other thing that working within the manufacturing has given me the knowledge and expertise with handling machinery and sourcing materials that work best with this e-bike. Finally, all these things together has helped me to build a strong and reliable e-bike at affordable prices without having to compromise on quality.”

It will be available in a base model which is capable of a range of 30km on a single charge. The other two variants have a range of 60km and 100km. It is made with a mix of locally sourced materials and local ingenuity, and key imported components. The battery comes from Samsung, the motor and tyres come from partners in Korea. Other features include a detachable battery that can be charged through a 5 ampere socket, charging from 20 percent to 80 percent in four hours, as well as a feature that lets you charge the battery by pedalling.