Formula 1- Electric bicycle - Red Bull

Hey car enthusiasts! This might not be your usual topic, but it's pretty cool and worth checking out. You know electric cars are all the rage, but here's something interesting: you can't just slap a 4kg box on a petrol car and turn it into an EV.

Now, in the bike world, that's exactly what you can do, thanks to Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT) and a clever British inventor. The gadget in question is called Skarper, a sleek box that attaches to the back wheel of almost any regular bike with disc brakes and transforms it into an electric ride.

This 4kg, 34cm-long detachable drive unit packs a 240Wh battery connected to a 250W motor. The cool part is the gearbox housed in Skarper's 'DiskDrive' replacement rear brake disc. It lets the brakes work normally while sending torque to the back wheel through the hub. RBAT used its F1 experience to enhance the system's strength, reliability, and efficiency.

Here's the simple deal: power goes to the bike through the chain on one side, and on the other, the Skarper box gives you a boost. A sensor on the pedal arm and an inclinometer in the drive unit calculate how much boost you need based on the terrain.

Skarper started as a lockdown project, and its first investor was the six-time Olympic champion, Sir Chris Hoy. Dr Alastair Darwood, a biomedical specialist who previously worked with RBAT on ventilators during Covid-19, is the brains behind it.

They claim up to 60km (37 miles) of range and a 2.5hr recharge time. The box attaches and detaches in seconds, so you can ride an electric bike to work and just leave a cheap commuter bike chained up for the day.

Now, here's the kicker – Skarper's box of tricks costs £1,295. Still, that's way cheaper than converting your classic V8 into an EV.

xbox gamepassalpha tauribilly goat ebikef1 academy 2024red bull stickershow many weeks until april 20thdavid goggins shirtbarcelona f1 trackred bull jacket f1