ASUS Oxiis Turns Any Bike into a Smart E-Bike with 500W Peak Power
Asus Bike Booster
ASUS introduces the Oxiis Intelligent Bike Booster (E250G1), a universal friction-drive motor that converts any conventional bike into a smart e-bike. It features adaptive boost technology for effortless climbs, a 500W peak motor, wireless cadence sensor, and a smart brake-detecting taillight. The removable 158Wh battery offers up to 50km range in eco mode and charges in 2 hours via USB-C PD. Compatible with most bike frames and tire sizes, it installs without modifying gears or brakes.
Oxiis is a universal, friction-drive motor system that transforms any conventional bicycle into a smart e-bike.
- bri3d
Friction drive e-bike conversions were popular years ago.
They generally:
* Wear tires surprisingly quickly
* Absolutely suck in any form of weather or terrain condition (dirt, rain, etc.)
* Have ~20% less efficiency than any other drive form.
But, they are easy, and they do work.
- mvdwoord
It seems to me this is a product for almost no one. Inefficient delivery of power, bulky, "smart" detection in stead of reliable operation and most importantly, the only target market I could imagine cannot use it. Not sure about other places and climates, but over here, most bicycles have fenders.
Bicycles without fenders are typically used for specific recreational activities and those sure as heck do not want this clumsy thing attached.. If they want any form of electrical assistance they would want it a lot more sleek and efficient.
Other than that, it reminds me of the Spartamet, a Dutch piece of tech from 1985 which added a small combustion engine to an otherwise regular city bike.
- ChrisMarshallNY
I remember these, from when I was young: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNtHBEdZDYs
- selfhoster1312
A smartphone app to change motor speed, really? Not even talking about your motor getting hacked (with the S in IOT standing for security and all), getting out a fragile device that captures all your attention while biking is really dangerous for you and the device.
So they say there's a button on the thing itself which is not so much more practical. If they insist on wireless controls, the cost of a waterproof battery-powered button to stick on the handlebars sounds worth it.
- mekpro
It’s interesting in terms of the economics of development.
This product takes advantage of advancements in lithium-ion battery technology driven by phones and cars, benefiting from improvements in both performance and cost at scale without requiring extensive additional research. Looking forward to trying it.
- LeoPanthera
Clive Sinclair designed one of these in the 90s. It actually sold reasonably well, but was limited by the available battery technology of the period.
- imnotr0b0t
Funny little gadget but I feel like ASUS is about 5 years too late. With so many alternatives for the same money a friction drive just looks like a solution to problems that don't really exist anymore
I can see who might actually buy this: some guy with an old Specialized that he can't bear to throw away, but who doesn't want to show up at work all sweaty. Strap it on, ride in. Take it off, toss it in a backpack. There's something cool about that. But 3.7 kg in a backpack... yeah, no thanks. I'd probably just get a proper city e-bike instead of messing around with this contraption
- yazaddaruvala
Ouch, love to see a great product like this. However, hate to see that bike theft wasn’t discussed at all.
“Easy installation” with two screws seems like a benefit to customers except when they come back to their parked bike only to find their expensive mod also had a hidden feature: “easy uninstallation”.
- flimflamm
Excellent unless you have a mudflap in your back wheel in countries where it rains.
- orsenthil
Where is the buy now button in that page ?