The E-Bike 1 looks great. Available with an open or closed frame, offered in two sizes (M or S), we instantly recognize it with its battery which acts as a rear luggage rack. Fruit of a partnership between the automobile manufacturer mini (BMW group) and the French manufacturer of VAE “made in France” Angell Mobilitythis electrically assisted bicycle presented this September 19 must be the first in a long series.
A supplement for short journeys
“We wanted to get closer to an automobile group that was as progressive as possible,” explains John Mollanger, CEO of Angell Mobily, a French e-bike brand founded three years ago by Marc Simoncini, known for having created the Meetic dating site. in 2001 and to regularly participate in the show Who wants to be my partner on M6. “We were looking for our customers to complement the Mini for short journeys,” replies Guillaume De Sazilly, director of Mini France. The two brands obviously had enough assets to match and to create a joint bike, theE-Bike 1.
A little tune already known
A bike that looks like Mini, and whose fluid and sporty line has been entrusted to the BMW design teams. Which applied to the manufacture of the VAE process specific to the automotive world, such as a paint mixing liquid and powder which matches the Mini 2024 color range: Vif Océan Wave Green and Vibrant Silver. It’s a success, even if the E-Bike 1 still looks a lot like the “Rapide” and “Cruiser” from Angell Mobility, the first two bikes from the young French e-bike brand. But the bicloune Mini benefits from “new electronics, a new battery, a new controller and a specific version of its mobile application”, assures John Mollanger. And “little by little, Mini bikes will adopt a more marked identity”, specifies 20 minutes the boss of Angell Mobily.
A technical range without excess
Weighing 17 kg (S version) and 17.5 kg (M version) with its battery (which remains quite light), the E-Bike 1 is announced with up to 65 km of autonomy in Eco mode, 50 km in Dry mode and 35 km in Fast mode. It has a saddle and handles (without leather) from the well-known English brand of bicycle accessories, Brooks, and a 250 W motor placed in the rear hub. Front and rear indicators, non-slip pedals, geolocation system, complete a technical range that is altogether honorable, but without excess.
The E-Bike 1 “made in France”
Like other Angell Mobility bicycles, the E-Bike 1 is manufactured in France, in the SEB group factories in Is-sur-Tille, Burgundy. “Manufactured” and not simply “assembled”, insists Marc Simoncini, interviewed by 20 minutes on his “made in France” VAE. Which has just raised 20 million euros to support the development of Angell Mobily from SEB, Bpifrance and CMA CGM. “The traditional digital funds refused, not wanting to take any financial risk for an industrial project that includes hardware,” laments Marc Simoncini.
Pre-order on the site mini-ebikes.comsoon in the showrooms from certain Mini dealers and bicycle dealers premium, the E-Bike 1 will be delivered in January 2024. Please note, if it is expensive, the places will also be expensive to be able to afford one: this first bike will only be launched in 1,959 numbered copies (for each of its versions). 1959? The birth date of the Mini brand! The other VAEs resulting from the Mini/Angell Mobily collaboration (at least three over five years) will not be in limited edition. And hopefully a little more accessible…