Electric bikes from Karlovac proving to be a hit.
When they presented their first electric bicycle in early summer, engineers from the ENA company in Karlovac did not expect that their orange bikes will attract such great interest, reports Poslovni.hr on October 3, 2015.
The first electric bike was produced following a purchase order by Carpe Diem Association, which needed the bike for the project of distributing leaflets to information points around the city. “Since then, we have had a lot of inquiries, particularly from companies which are interested to purchase electric bikes for their employees, which would use them as substitute for cars. So far, we have made three prototype bikes which are being tested in Karlovac and Jastrebarsko, and we have published the product information on our website. For now, we are just examining the market and believe we will be ready for larger orders by next spring. What makes our electric bicycles different from others which are being produced in Croatia is the special retro design, plus a reasonable price. Bicycles are made of quality materials, but with little additional equipment, which explains a somewhat lower price. For example, the price of orange bike is 15,000 kuna, but if the bike were to have even less equipment, the price could be even lower, around 8,000 kuna”, explains Josip Bišćan, one of the engineers in the company.
Anyone who wants to buy an electric bicycle can talk with company representatives, just like when buying a car, and can choose specifications which they are willing and able to pay. Retro design of the bikes, which are made of special steel alloys, and details such as wider, more comfortable seats are the main advantages of the electric bikes from Karlovac.
The engine produces the maximum output of 250 W, there is a six-speed transmission, and a battery which can be dismounted from the bike and charged like a cell phone. With a full battery, it is possible to cover between 30 to 60 kilometres and develop speeds up to 25 kilometres per hour. The company also produces mopeds, which resemble models from the 1950s, with the engine power of 1000 W.
“In addition to bicycle for men, and we are planning a ladies model as well. Contrary to popular belief, electric bicycles cannot replace regular bikes, but can replace cars. Families generally need two vehicles if spouses work in different shifts, however, if they cannot afford to have two cars, then an electric bicycle can do the job, because the ride is very comfortable. In Croatia, going to work on bicycles may not be as popular as in some other countries, but I believe that will change”, said Bišćan.
He explains that the Rimac company, known in Croatia for producing electric bicycles, has good reason why its bikes are so expensive. They have a lot of additional equipment included which is produced with the highest quality materials. However, the company from Karlovac expects that its bikes will attract customers primarily thanks to their affordability.
