Arevo is not a known name in the cycling world. But the Silicon Valley-based company is using its expertise in composite materials manufacturing and 3D printing to produce the “world’s first” 3D printed unibody electric bike. (It’s not really the first, but more on that in a moment.)
Two models are launched today under the new Arevo Superstrata brand. The Superstrata Terra is a lightweight analog that can be customized for a variety of riding styles. And the Superstrata Ion is a Class 1 electric bike with a 250W motor with rear hub, a 252 Wh battery and an estimated range of 60 miles.
The frame is single-bodied thermoplastic carbon fiber, meaning it is manufactured as one continuous piece rather than welded with a dozen pieces like most bicycle frames. Superstrata says that the use of thermoplastic materials makes it extremely shock resistant and remarkably lightweight. The Terra’s frame weight is 2.8 lbs (depending on size), while the Ion reaches 24.2 lbs.
But the absence of a downcomer really puts the Superstrata in a class of its own. The only other bike I could compare it to is the Byar Bicycle Volta electric bike with axle, with its floating saddle and missing crosstube. And Superstrata-style cast wheels echo Juiced and other moped-shaped electric bikes.
3D printing can be expensive and laborious, but Superstrata CEO Sonny Vu says it creates a stronger and more durable bike frame, as well as a more personalized design that is sure to appeal to customers who are willing to pay more for a custom fit. Customers can submit their measurements, and Superstrata will 3D print the bike down to the spokes. Each box takes approximately 10 hours to create, and the company claims that it can create up to 250,000 unique combinations.
“There is no glue, no joints, no seams or anything like that,” said Vu The edge. “And then you get a lot more strength.”
Vu will readily admit that it is not a “bicycle type”. For information on how to design a great-looking bike, he turned to Bill Stephens, who has been creating cycle designs at StudioWest Concepts for decades, including high-end carbon fiber bike frames for Schwinn, Raleigh, Diamond, and Yeti. . Together, they came up with the idea for Superstrata, which Vu says will be a direct brand to the consumer, which he hopes will showcase Arevo’s 3D printing chops.
Not everything about the Superstrata supply chain is finalized. Vu is still negotiating with various battery and motor manufacturers to find the best deal for the bicycle transmission. And the company’s bikes will be available to reserve on Indiegogo, suggesting that this is all just an experiment that could collapse if not enough sales materialize. Crowdfunding for product launches, especially complicated products like electric bikes, is much more difficult than it sounds. Crowdfunding-funded gadgets are sometimes delayed for months or years, and in some cases, never shipped at all. If the company decides to abandon the project, bike owners could be left in the lurch when it comes to maintenance and repair.
“To be completely honest with you, we are literally building the bike as we ride it,” said Vu. “There is something exceptional about that.”
Carbon fiber bikes are nothing new, but they are generally made of dozens of parts and can cost anywhere from $ 4,000 to $ 12,000. Superstrata will start at $ 2,799 for Terra and $ 3,999 for Ion. (Orders can be purchased for $ 1,799.) The company will launch its pre-order in July and will begin delivering bikes later this year.
This is not Arevo’s first stab at 3D printing bikes. The company unveiled a 3D-printed prototype bicycle in 2018 called Emery One as an “exploratory project,” of which it only sold a few units, a spokesperson said. The frame looks almost identical to the Superstrata, which makes sense considering that Stephens also inquired about the Emery. Superstrata is “like five iterated versions since then,” Vu said.
But Arevo is much more serious about Superstrata, to the point that Vu doesn’t care if he covers his costs on the project. It’s more about demonstrating Arevo’s 3D printing chops.
“We really don’t care that much about margin,” he said. “This is almost a demonstration of the technology market.”
If the Superstrata is successful, Vu hopes that legacy bike manufacturers will eventually call, eventually configuring Superstrata to become a major supplier to the industry and 3D printing to become an accepted manufacturing process in the world of cycling.
“Instead of knocking on the doors of these big bike companies and begging them to do things for them, dammit,” Vu said. “Let’s just send in a product that people love. What if the big bicycle companies want us to make carbon fiber frames for them? We will totally do it. “
