If you’ve been getting passed on your daily commute by more and more electric bike riders, a Seattle-based manufacturer is promising a new machine that it says doesn’t really look like any other ebike that’s out there.
Zeitgeist is launching a crowdfunding effort today with the hope of revolutionizing the look and performance of bikes that rely on more than pedal power to get around increasingly congested cities. They call it, “The first electric bike you would actually want to be seen riding.”
The crowdfunding campaign for the Diavelo Zeitgeist Electric Bike is live on Crowd Supply and promises to ship the first 10 units in May. They’re seeking to raise $50,000 through the campaign. A video says the company has been working in stealth mode for over two years and using its own resources to “advance mobility devices.”
The company is promising a product that disrupts at three levels: state-of-the-art technology, incredible performance and drop-dead-gorgeous looks. Zeitgeist’s co-founders are CEO Kartik Ram, a veteran of Alibaba and Singtel; and Gregg Stewart, previously of companies including AOL and The Telegraph.
With a starting price of $3,999 via the Crowd Supply campaign, the Zeitgeist is the only carbon fiber frame and fork production pedelec (no throttle, just pedal assist) being sold in the country at this time, the company says. At just 44 pounds, it’s one of the lightest pedelecs on the market, and in the video Ram says the bike accelerates from 0-25 mph in seconds.
The Zeitgeist has an integrated downtube battery and 500W drivetrain that allows for an 80- to 100-mile range. The battery charges in four hours on or off the bike.
With the look of a more traditional mountain bike, the Zeitgeist campaign stresses design as a selling point. Designer Brian Hoehl of Denmark is a winner of Red Dot, Eurobike, and Taipei D&I awards and the company calls his bike “less clunky and more aesthetically appealing.”
The white and black coloring of the Zeitgeist even prompted the company to include a more unique image with its press kit. It might spark the interest of geeks with an eye toward futuristic modes of transportation.
