Innovative E-Bike Design: the Swapfiets Power Plus powered by VROEGH Design

The Dutch Design agency VROEGH and the industry defining company Swapfiets recently developed a unique e-bike, tailored to the specific needs and business model of the market-leading company. Swapfiets is the world’s first ‘Bicycle As A Service’ company and is a popular mobility solution for cyclists all over Europe. Members receive a fully functioning (e)-bike and repair service within ten minutes in the store when the bicycle needs a repair. VROEGH , the eBike specialised agency, has been working closely with Swapfiets for several years, successfully realising multiple bike models together.

This time Swapfiets teamed up with VROEGH to design and develop a strong e-bike tailored to the needs of cyclists who want to carry heavy cargo safely. Unlike typical consumer bikes, this project, emphasised Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) as a key metric, aligning with Swapfiets’ business model. Resulting in the Swapfiets Power Plus, a component-agnostic e-bike with long battery life, unique geometry, and stable driving characteristics under heavy load. Production has started and the first bikes can be seen in Paris and Amsterdam.

The ideal bicycle for heavy cargo

Backed by a deep understanding of the target group, a well-defined customer journey, and years of engineering expertise, the companies created a bicycle that remains safe to drive even with 60 kg of cargo weight. The front and rear carriers are versatile, making it an ideal bike for various cargo uses. Achieving such a multipurpose, high-utility status was challenging and required uniquely developed mechanical innovations. Whether it's a pizza box, a fully loaded shopping bag, or a child in a safe seat, the Power Plus can transport it all without a problem.

Dividing from traditional e-bike geometries, this e-bike has a unique geometry for this purpose, making sure that one size fits most. This is a valuable asset for Swapfiets, which offers to provide its members with a replacement vehicle in case of theft or a defect in the bicycle. Using the one-size-fits-most approach, there will always be a bike available in the right size for the person using it. The geometry also provides a stable standing position.?

The dream of a ‘Bicycle As A Service’ company: a vehicle that is hard to break and easy to maintain?

Swapfiets offers its members exquisite service, by taking all bike repairs and maintenance out of their hands. Whatever the problem may be, Swapfiets offers a replacement vehicle or a quick repair in the store. But of course, you would rather avoid having to bring the bicycle to the workshop in the first place.?

Therefore several elements were incorporated to make the Power Plus suitable for heavy use. The battery locking and docking system is designed for ergonomically optimised installation and removal. It is secured with a lock to prevent theft, providing users with the option to easily carry the battery with them and charge it wherever they please.

Designed for both cyclists and mechanics

For the Swapfiets business model, the TCO value of the bicycle is of utmost importance. Therefore, multi-year data is gathered from the mechanics who maintain and fix the Swapfiets bicycles. This resulted in six years of data that informed our decision-making process. It is important to us that the bicycle is not only loved by cyclists but also appreciated by technicians. For a company like Swapfiets, this is especially crucial, since part of their service is to provide repairs within ten minutes in the store. This makes it essential that any repairs or maintenance on the bike are high in quality, yet easy, quick, and low-cost.

?Cost-efficient, sustainable, and with room for improvement

If there is one thing that our design agency is highly aware of, it’s the speed at which the mobility market is developing. The innovation of bike components never stops, and the quality of batteries and motors is improving quickly. To make sure the Swapfiets Power Plus can keep up with these developments, the frame is designed to be component-agnostic for key elements like the battery, the motor, and the hubs. Enabling Swapfiets to install a variance of components on the frame over time, making them less dependent on the capriciousness of the supply chain, and enabling them to use the frame for an extended period. With this approach, the bike can continue to evolve and deliver great performance without the need to produce new frames. This not only saves costs in the future but also aligns with Swapfiets' commitment to sustainability.

Sustainability is an important pillar of Swapfiets. This can also be seen in the design process. While designing a new bicycle aspects like being able to separate the different materials already will be taken into account. In this unique model it also helps that Swapfiets is the continuous owner of the bicycles. They form the bike out of the raw materials, the bike is used by their customers on the road. By the time the bicycle has fulfilled its purpose all the raw materials can be taken out of the bicycle again and recycled and reused.?

Collaboration?between Swapfiets and VROEGH Design

During the development of the Power Plus, VROEGH Design operated as an extension of Swapfiets’ internal R&D department. They organised workshops with several departments, including logistics, mechanics, and user experience. With the knowledge gained from these workshops and the analysed damage and repair data, VROEGH Design was able to set up a strong design proposal, using sketches and prototyping.

Are you also looking to outsource the R&D of your next mobility project?

VROEGH Design offers mobility companies everything to design and develop exceptional vehicles for their specific vehicle category and/or target audience. Whether you are looking for a fully equipped R&D department temporarily, want to outsource project management, or need specialist knowledge, they are here to help. VROEGH Design adds value by high-quality design and engineering services.?

Are you interested in working with VROEGH Design? Get in touch! Send an email to [email protected]. In the meantime, you can follow VROEGH on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay updated on our exciting projects, news, and collaborations.