Electric bikes are doing very well in the pandemic era, but the traditional ones should not be forgotten. We’ve already seen kits for converting traditional bikes to e-bikes.
Now, a Canadian electric mobility company ENVO has unveiled the Electric SnowBike Kit that can turn an existing mountain bike into an electric snowmobile. The bike is both lightweight and transportable, just like an electric bicycle, and can travel on almost any type of hard iced, deep powered, slushy, or groomed snow terrain.
Made from multiple aluminum CNC machined parts, customizable snow track assembly makes it possible to be installed on a wide range of bicycle frames and building any other electric snow machine.
The main part of this do-it-yourself (DIY) kit is the aluminum-bodied bogie unit that replaces the rear wheel. The kit incorporates a rear snowmobile drive assembly that uses a kevlar/rubber track passing over a hub-type motor – with 1,200 W of power and 120 Nm of torque – and tough resin rollers. The bike’s chain transmits the power from the rider’s legs to a sprocket attached to the engine’s side to power the track, while a tube-mounted 48V 17.5Ah lithium-ion battery help assists the rider power through the snow.
The Electric SnowBike Kit provides a top speed of up to 18 km/h (11 mph) and a range of about 10 km (6 miles), considering how inefficient snow travel can be. Charging the battery takes 8 hours.
A crank sensor mounted on the pedal assembly detects the rider’s pedaling, which signals the motor to kick in accordingly. If desired, you can activate the engine without turning the pedals, using a switch mounted on the steering wheel. The kit also includes an LCD control panel that displays data such as motor-assist settings, current speed, and battery level.
In the case of very compact snow, the normal wheel can be used at the front, preferably with a fat tire. In the case of soft snow, the front wheel can be replaced with a snowboard using an adapter, ensuring more stability, smooth sliding on snow, and accurate turns.
The ENVO Electric SnowBike kit is now available for pre-order. You can order one for $2,789.
