Safety and security pushing connectivity solutions

Commsignia develops Bike2X device for e-bikes

To improve the visibility and safety of vulnerable road users in traffic, Commsignia has launched a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) device for e-bikes. The American company has been working with partners in the bicycle industry including Bosch to integrate the technology and expects mass market roll-out in the coming years.

Commsignia is now offering solutions for the complete V2X-based digital transport ecosystem. Called the OBU Lite it “comes in a lightweight form factor optimised for bicycles, primarily aimed at manufacturing partners”. A first demonstration of the system already took place last March, but the e-bike industry was not present. The demonstration partner said that they were looking for bicycle industry events to demonstrate this technology.

The device can be integrated or connected to bicycle and micromobility platforms. It broadcasts messages about the cyclist’s position and direction to other road users, as well as receives messages from other vehicles, so that the rider can be alerted to potential hazards by visual, audio or haptic notification.

The OBU Lite joins the global V2X ecosystem of cars, buses, trucks and other vehicles and a growing digital roadside infrastructure to help prevent collisions with real-time alerts. Commsignia, building on its automotive and smart city knowledge and its experience working with e-bike component manufacturers and OEMs, equipped the OBU Lite with its automotive grade, state-of-the art V2X Software Stack with Security which is already used by car manufacturers.

Connectivity gets more people on e-bikes, study shows

The demand for anti-theft solutions and services in micromobility is increasing. More than 60% of e-bike riders will opt for an e-bike with smart features for their next purchase. This was one of the outcomes of a survey by the Spiegel Institute and commissioned by Comodule.

The question ‘how can connectivity get more people on e-bikes’, was the main topic for connectivity provider Comodule. 400+ e-bike riders from Germany were involved in the market research. The study showed that in Germany bikes are mostly stored at home, using additional locks. Also the battery is charged at home. After the ride, the bike is locked with one or several locks when parked on a different location. 72% use one lock, while 28% use multiple locks.

Riders do take extreme precautions to avoid theft. Every third rider locks their bike with several locks while only 4% have experienced theft. In most cases the bike was never retrieved. 73% have their bike insured, which is usually bought together with the bike. Only 14% bought it after bike purchase. Still, the possibility of theft is regarded as one of the main concerns.

The market study by Spiegel Institute was one of the reasons for Dutch cargo bike manufacturer Urban Arrow to partner with Comodule. They will equip the electric cargo bikes with connectivity in order to improve the user experience and prevent bike theft. Urban Arrow owners can access the smart features via an app.

Comodule’s cellular connectivity solution enables riders to locate their vehicle in real time via GPS positioning and receive alerts on their phone when someone is moving the e-cargo bike without permission. In addition to security features, riders can get data about the bike’s battery status, range, and ride statistics. Also, existing cargo bikes can be retrofitted with the smart solution. The GPS solution is fully hidden and it’s not visible to thieves. According to Comodule, 80% of stolen e-bikes which are already equipped with GPS are recovered.

Velco adds Shimano to list of off-shelf IoT partners

Connectivity solution producer Velco is now collaborating with Shimano to offer IoT and digital solutions to bicycle brands and manufacturers. After 2 years of development, Velco announced at Eurobike that it has officially become an off-shelf IoT device partner of the Japanese giant bicycle parts and engine manufacturer.

 Through Velco's IoT products and software suite, e-bikes become smart bikes to facilitate the needs of both individual cyclists and fleet service providers. With a 360° vision, Velco has created an ecosystem to interconnect the players: e-drive system manufacturers, bike makers, brands, fleet managers, maintenance players and cyclists.

The new partnership with Shimano is the result of two years' work to support the Japanese giant in the integration of CAN. This enables Shimano's customer brands to add Velco's three main services, bike security, geolocation and maintenance reminders through a branded mobile app.

Velco is now able to connect to Shimano's newest EP6 and EP8 motor to offer an IoT solution as well as a white labelled mobile application. The EP6 and EP8 motors are equipped with a dedicated connector to plug a Velco IoT device, communicating in CAN. With this compatibility, Velco can collect data and send commands on the bike, offering connected services to brands and cyclists.

"Velco has developed a software suite for the entire bicycle value chain, starting from the motor manufacturers' perspective," explains Johhny Smith, co-founder and CMO of Velco. "In the future, technologies such as IoT to provide new services that enhance the cycling experience will be integrated directly into the engines. The focus will then be on digital solutions, in which Velco is already investing heavily with value-added applications for every stakeholder in the cycling industry, to support this transition."