Stuff’s resident fitness geek may scoff at the idea of getting assistance from an e-bike, but the rest of us are more open to the idea. The only trouble is that they’re expensive. Quite expensive. But how about a regular bike that’s gifted the power of electricity? That’s what Asus is hoping to accomplish with the Oxiis E250G1 Bike Booster.
King of the hill?
The idea is simple. Simply buy Asus’ little booster (or wait for one of the inevitable knockoffs), strap it to your plain ol’ bicycle, and vroom — you’ve got an e-bike. The motor will cling to the seat post, where it’ll be able to power the bike’s rear wheel with one of its own. It’s a bit out-there, for sure, but if it works, it works.
It’s not the most overpowered accessory out there, but the name of the game isn’t speed; it’s energy conservation. The motor delivers a continuous output of 250W, though it’ll top out at 500W. It’ll assist your ride by getting you up to a top speed of 32km/h, though this might be decreased to a more humble 25km/h in certain regions.
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Oxiis can detect both the road’s incline and its driver’s cadence, allowing it to adjust the power output accurately and, more importantly, immediately. There’s no clumsy fumbling with batteries whenever you reach your destination, either. The built-in 158.4Wh battery charges via USB-C, at a max of 100W. The battery will occasionally need to be replaced, which Asus reckons is a relatively simple process. You’d hope so.
Asus claims the Oxiis will get riders at least 50km away from where they started, assuming they’re in ‘Eco’ mode. It hasn’t provided estimates for the ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ modes the booster offers, leading us to believe they’re not nearly as competent. Still, a trusty USB-C cable is all the backup you need. What the Oxiis will cost, and when it’ll be ready for consumers, is still uncertain. In the meantime, you can check out the product’s official page here.
