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Picture on top: Coboc
The E-bike had a hard time earning its good reputation. Despite the obvious advantage of representing an alternative to cars, e-bikes were perceived more often as a bulky and heavy means of transportation, appealing less to a younger group of cycling enthusiasts. However, along came COBOC, and with it a transformation of the e-bike’s image.
The e-bike has found its way out of the niche sector. Waning muscle strength or hilly terrain don’t have to be reasons for choosing a bike over a car journey any longer. E-bikes are far from being a new invention – you could already label some bicycles built before 1900 as electric bicycles, though the first fully functional e-bike was a model produced by Philipps in the 1930s. But even in this millenial, the technology of e-bikes had been far from satisfactory for a long time. The bicycles seemed heavy and were often regarded as a means of transportation for the physically less mobile. The physicists Pius Warken and David Horsch were determined ...
... to change something about the e-bike’s image, as well as the product itself.
The two being enthusiastic cyclists and bike couriers, they presented the first Coboc eCycle in 2012. At 13.5 kilograms it was the lightest integrated e-bike available on the market and as such, a big success. David Horsch says today:
... "When we started out, we did so in a very basic and laid-back manner. We had a small workshop in an old factory building, and payed rent for it by building plasterboard walls for the landlord. We made a living with other jobs on the side – I, for example, as a research assistant in the field of hybrid electronic vehicles – while firmly believing that we would succeed in developing an awesome e-bike.” ...
picture: Coboc
The first eCycle already appeared like an elegant, ordinary bike:
... the battery is located in the down tube of the frame and the motor in the rear hub is hardly any bigger than hub gears.
With the engine turned on, each push with the pedal leads to moving forward quicker. With the engine off, the eCycle rides like a non-electrical bike. A distance of 80 kilometers can be covered with a fully charged battery. The frame is made of aluminum, which, from a point of view of life cycle assessment is more suitable than carbon. And only a minimum of the other components is built using carbon, such as the fork and wheels. The same amount of electricity needed for three minutes of showering with warm water lets you ride the eCycle for 30 minutes.
One of the product’s major advantages is its low weight.
And at the same time, this feature stands for the promise that with each new development, a focus will be set on material-saving solutions.
... "The components making our design stand out are the electronics and the battery. The entire power electronics were created in-house, this is something that we’re really proud of. When we started out in this field, we couldn’t find anything satisfactory on the market. Which is why we built it ourselves – this mindset has guided us on our way until today: we’ll have a look at what is available, and if we’re not happy with it, we’ll develop it ourselves. To be honest, this is the most exciting part of our work." ...
David Horsch’s description also embodies the general approach the company has chosen to pursue. Coboc continued to research and investigate new areas of interest. In the meantime for example, Coboc has developed an own app working like a small on-board computer.
For this concept, the two founders were awarded the German Ecodesign Award in 2012. The prize acted as an incentive – highly motivated, the two of them decided to take the company forward. David Horsch says:
... "Being awarded the prize at a time when we had nothing more than an idea and a concept gave us a real boost. To accept the prize, we were invited straight from our backyard workshop into the Ministry of Environment. This was really motivating. It was important for us to experience that others also liked our idea and believed in it, too. Plus, the prize represents an independent opinion coming from a third party. This proves helpful from a business point of view when talking to banks about financing or when we want to be seen as reliable partners by potential dealers for example. People then say: Well, if they’ve won this kind of prize, there must be something to the product." ...
picture: Coboc
As of 2021, Coboc employs 30 people and has a dealing network of over 150 partners. Currently, , there is a broad product portfolio ranging from singlespeeds and urban e-bikes to trekking and gravel e-bikes, as well as a wide variety of accessories. In late 2018, a new edition of the eCycle was launched.
At just under 11 kilograms, it was repeatedly the lightest series-produced e-bike worldwide.
Nonetheless, a price for the bike’s light weight needs to be paid – not only by costumers. Carbon will continue to be used for the manufacturing of certain components, in particular fork and wheels, as there is no real alternative to carbon.
The product lines as well as innovations are developed in Heidelberg, assembled in Germany and produced in Germany, Europe and Taiwan. Since May 2018, Coboc bikes have also been sold via the company’s own online store, and sales figures are rising. Meanwhile, the bikes are distributed in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Spain.
And so, the company is progressing, motivation and energy remain high.
... "Our design works and can be transferred to other areas of e-mobility. It’s not easy to predict where exactly we’ll be in five years from now, but I’m confident that there will be many more ideas waiting to be implemented. Actually, it always feels as if we’re at the beginning of something new, and that’s a nice feeling." ...
picture: Coboc
WHO AND WHAT?
Coboc GmbH & Co.KG, based in Heidelberg, Germany, was founded in 2011 as Horsch und Warken GbR and renamed Coboc GmbH & Co. KG in 2014 to develop offerings for the growing e-mobility market.
THE INITIAL PROBLEM
For short distances, the e-bike can be an alternative to the car. In 2011, however, e-bikes were not very attractive due to their unsporty design and high weight, and were considered an offer for the unathletic and elderly. This presented a technical challenge and an image problem.
THE MOTTO
Making our bikes electrify the road!
THE IDEA
Making pedelecs lighter and more attractive to lure more people from cars to bicycles.
picture: CobocTHE BENEFITS
More lightweight and elegant than conventional e-bikes, and material-saving. The bike is robust and has conquered a new, younger target group./strong>
THE HISTORY
Two enthusiastic cyclists and physicists develop in 2011 in a backyard an individual solution for a drive system, present the not yet finished solution at the Eurobike in 2013 and from then on cause a sensation.
THE AWARD
The Award – In 2012, the creators were honoured with the German Federal Ecodesign Award in the category Concept. The Jury comments: “COBOC has turned the pedelec into a sporty and popular city bike! It is significantly lighter than the common varieties found on the market. The technology is inconspicuous and the battery cleanly hidden away. In city traffic, it’s a good encouragement to leave your car behind!”
A FEW NUMBERS
30 employees, dealer network consists of more than 150 partners, product portfolio ranges from singlespeeds and urban e-bikes to trekking and gravel e-bikes, price for each product is between 3,000 and 5,000 euros. The newly launched original model "eCycle" weighs less than 11 kilograms.
THE FUTURE
Coboc bikes are designed to motivate even more people to give up their small cars and switch to bicycles.