The gentleman next to us on his fast e-bike really gives it his all. But no matter how hard he turns his biker with a maximum speed of 45 km/h, the brisk cyclist has no chance against eRockit. The reason is the unusual tool we use today. The eRockit is extraordinary in many ways: In terms of appearance, the bike is vaguely reminiscent of a bike with its helicopter design. But a lot of technology is hidden on and around the curved aluminum frame. For example, the electric motor for the driver sending up to 16 kW (21.7 hp) of peak power to the rear 17-inch wheel.
To the office without sweating
For takeoff, you don’t turn the steering wheel lever like you would on a classic motorcycle, but pedal like you would on a bicycle – the faster you pedal, the faster the eRockit accelerates. “But it’s not stronger than level one on the fitness bike, we don’t want people to come to the office sweaty,” explains CEO Andreas Zurwehme, who describes this interaction between muscle and propulsion as a “human hybrid.” As part of a future software update there will be a function where you can define the pedaling resistance yourself – ie sporty with more power.
The pedal-drive reflex is a lot of fun. With 5 kW (6.8 hp) of continuous output, you can already make good progress in the “Normal” drive program. The moment you pedal with complete determination, the brushless permanent magnet synchronous motor makes the most of itself and accelerates the vehicle to almost 100 km/h. “This makes the eRockit the only bike in the world you can ride on the highway,” says CEO Andreas Zurwehme. If you switch to “Sport”, things get noticeably faster when you start (also interesting: This beast is the SUV among e-bikes).
Inexpensive in operation
Thanks to the large wheels and full suspension, the eRockit copes with sills and cross-links more easily than many conventional two-wheelers. In addition, it has a slim design and maneuverability that almost approaches that of a classic bike without e-support. Since you can’t drop the weight of almost 130 pounds and you have to practice a bit before taking the really tight corners. The 7.5 kWh battery placed in the narrow case should provide a maximum of 120 electric kilometers.
It’s enough for people using eRockit to reach the company’s target audience, without the rush hour to commute every day. Charging the battery from 20 percent to 80 percent takes three hours at a regular household outlet. It takes six hours to charge from 0 percent to 100 percent. A big plus point: Depending on the electricity tariff (we calculate at 25 centimetres per kWh), the operating costs are only 1.30 francs per 100 kilometers!
expensive to buy
In addition to its high weight, we also discover other weaknesses in the eRockit: For example, there is no luggage rack due to the construction. The digital display is difficult to read in direct sunlight. And there’s the price: The company from Henningsdorf (D) in Brandenburg currently estimates 12,900 euros including 19 percent German VAT. That’s a lot of money when you consider that a family of four could use it to switch from bike to e-bike.
Another important point is the A1 license, which is required to drive motorcycles with a maximum power of 11 kW in Switzerland. For example, a person with a category B vehicle identification card must attend an additional 12 hours of practical basic training course. Will what is arguably the world’s fastest “bike” actually revolutionize European roads and revolutionize our traffic in the long run? Wait.