Market / E-Performance: The German manufacturer eflow should certainly be known to e-bike fans in this country. With a courageous, own way - technically as well as optically - one could already make a good name for oneself in the few years of existence.
eflow: design and technology on the cutting edge
After being founded in 2012 and the first e-bikes in 2014, the manufacturer eflow, based in Fürth, Franconia, experienced rapid growth. You consistently go your own way with your e-bikes, both technically and visually - it pays off, because numerous awards and steadily increasing sales figures speak for themselves. However, the success of the company is anything but coincidence: the founders around the conceptual head Norbert Haller, who was able to make a name for himself as a designer far beyond the borders of his native Berlin, have many years of experience in the field of electromobility.
At first glance, it is the design that makes the eflow bikes stand out from the confusing mass of available e-bikes. While in the past the battery was on the down tube on most bikes and has been hidden in the same in the past year or two, the eflow takes a different approach: the energy cells are in the voluminous seat tube. At first sight, this takes some getting used to, but it gives it a distinctive and unique look and also brings technical and ergonomic advantages. On the one hand, the center of gravity of the bikes is in the middle above the bottom bracket: Perfect, not only for sporting use. On the other hand, the battery can also be removed and reinserted quickly and easily.
All the ideas and concepts for the now nine different e-bike models, from tourers to urban and mountain bikes, are created in Germany, more precisely in Norbert Haller's Berlin office.
eflow: The portfolio - from tourers to MTBs
At the beginning they concentrated primarily on the area of practicable touring and city bikes, but in the few years of existence at eflow they have already broken new ground several times and are expanding their own portfolio into new areas. It was only last year that the CM2 mountain bike dared to step outside the box, and for 2017 we can expect the step towards the stylish, simple urban bikes with the new UM-2 – the UM-2, like the single-speed version, is said to be a long-running hit CR-2 will be available in February 2017.
At eflow, we also know from a technical point of view: Standing still means going backwards and so, in addition to the in-house hub motor, they now also use the ContiTech mid-motor. These, like the brushless hub motor, are powered by the battery in the seat tube, which, depending on the model, holds between 370Wh and an impressive 550Wh and thus provides the necessary endurance during longer tours.
eflow: eSocialBike app transforms e-bikes into smart bikes
With the eSocialBike app for smartphones, you can transform the eflow pedelec into a smart bike. The mobile phone communicates with the drive and all sensors installed on the bike via Bluetooth. The smartphone can not only be used as an additional display that shows data such as speed, charge level and more, but also GPS-based navigation and route recording are integrated.
They are also particularly proud of the service function of the app. Should the bike or the drive actually cause problems, a comprehensive diagnosis can be carried out via smartphone, which is then sent directly to the responsible technician at eflow. This then carries out an analysis and then reports – also via app – to the owner of the bike. This service is included for two years with the purchase of an eflow e-bike.