The Estonian company Ampler has announced the Nova and Nova Pro electric bikes. Their main feature is that the USB Type-C interface built into the frame is used to replenish the battery's energy, which can also be used to recharge various gadgets if necessary.
Nova electric bikes use relatively small 48V 336Wh integrated batteries that can be charged from 0 to 100% in three hours using USB-C PD 3.1 at up to 140W. For comparison, most bikes with similar batteries typically take around five hours to charge, and around two hours with chargers with 300W or more. With 240W USB-C chargers already hitting the market, it's safe to assume that USB-C for bikes will become a competitive interface in the foreseeable future.
Ampler has reportedly tested its new bikes for compatibility with less powerful Ikea and MacBook chargers that support the older USB-C PD 3.0 standard. If the user doesn't have such a charger, they will be able to purchase the original 140-watt Ampler charger separately for €80. Although the bikes' USB-C interface can be used to recharge various gadgets, it only supports charging up to 15 W.
As for the bikes themselves, the Nova model costs €2,990, and the Nova Pro costs €3,490. Available in Step-over (for men) and Step-through (for women) frames, the bike comes with a standard 250W motor that provides speeds of up to 25 km/h. The standard Nova model comes with wide 27.5-inch wheels, a chain, and a 9-speed gearbox. The Nova Pro is available with a single-speed Gates Carbon belt drive or a 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain. The Ampler Nova and Nova Pro bikes are now available for pre-order in the EU.
