BITRIDE BIKE SHARING · Project

Station-Free E-Bike Sharing That Cuts Launch Costs by 78%

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Imagine launching a city bike-sharing program but skipping all the expensive docking stations, charging points, and kiosks — that's what this project did. Zehus built a hybrid electric bike that recharges itself while you ride, so it never needs to be plugged in. They added a Bluetooth smart lock and a smartphone app so riders just find a bike on the map, unlock it, ride, and leave it anywhere. The result is an e-bike sharing system that cities can set up for a fraction of what traditional schemes cost.

By the numbers

78%

Reduction in direct capital investment vs conventional e-bike sharing

70-80%

Share of capital costs spent on fixed stations in conventional schemes

€46.82M

Projected cumulated turnover by 2022

Municipalities engaged as early adopters (Milan, Rozzano, Arnhem)

Rounds of pilot fleet production completed

The business problem

What needed solving

Launching an e-bike sharing program today means spending 70% to 80% of your capital budget on fixed infrastructure — docking stations, charging points, and kiosks — before a single bike hits the road. This makes e-bike sharing prohibitively expensive for most cities and operators. On top of that, fixed stations limit where bikes can go and create maintenance headaches.

The solution

What was built

Zehus built a complete station-free e-bike sharing system: a self-charging hybrid bike powertrain (BIKE+ All In One) with CE certification and pre-series manufacturing, Bluetooth smart locks for dockless pickup and drop-off, and the BITRIDE APP (v2.0) for locating, renting, and navigating. Two pilot fleets were produced and tested.

Audience

Who needs this

City transport departments planning bike-sharing programsMicromobility operators looking to reduce infrastructure costsCorporate campus and business park facility managersTourism agencies in cities wanting green visitor transportReal estate developers adding mobility services to new districts

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Urban Mobility & City Transport

enterprise

Target: Municipal transport authorities and city governments

If you are a city transport authority struggling with the massive upfront costs of launching e-bike sharing — this project developed a station-free hybrid bike sharing system that cuts direct capital investment by up to 78% compared to conventional e-bike sharing schemes. The bikes never need grid charging, eliminating the need for electrified kiosks and fixed racks. Pilot deployments were prepared for Milan, Rozzano, and Arnhem municipalities.

Shared Mobility Operators

any

Target: Bike-sharing and micromobility service providers

If you are a micromobility operator dealing with high infrastructure costs — fixed stations account for 70% to 80% of direct capital costs in conventional e-bike sharing. This project built a complete fleet solution with self-charging hybrid bikes, smart locks, and a rider app (BITRIDE APP v2.0) that handles locating, renting, and navigation. Pre-series manufacturing and CE certification are already complete.

Corporate & Campus Mobility

mid-size

Target: Large employers, universities, and business parks

If you are a facility manager looking to offer green commuting options without building charging infrastructure — this project created a turnkey fleet of hybrid e-bikes with smartphone-based access. The BIKE+ powertrain recharges during riding, so there are no electrical installations needed. The system was piloted with real fleets and iterated based on user feedback through two rounds of testing.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much does this system cost compared to traditional e-bike sharing?

The project states that conventional e-bike sharing programs spend 70% to 80% of their direct capital costs on fixed stations (racks, charging stations, kiosks). BITRIDE eliminates these entirely, claiming up to 78% reduction in direct capital investment compared to conventional e-bike sharing schemes.

Can this scale to a full city deployment?

The project completed CE certification and pre-series manufacturing with a supply chain ready for mass production. Two rounds of pilot fleet production were carried out, and the company projected €46.82M in cumulated turnover by 2022, indicating plans for large-scale commercial rollout.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

ZEHUS SPA owns the BIKE+ All In One powertrain technology, described as the first worldwide full hybrid bike powertrain. The company holds the CE declaration of conformity. Licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with Zehus, as this is a proprietary commercial product.

How mature is the technology — is it ready to deploy?

The technology is at an advanced pilot stage. CE-certified pre-series hardware was manufactured, the BITRIDE APP reached version 2.0 incorporating user feedback, and two rounds of pilot fleets were produced. The system was prepared for real-world testing in three municipalities.

Does it integrate with existing city transport systems?

The BITRIDE APP includes mobility analysis, map, and navigation sections, suggesting integration with broader transport planning. Based on available project data, specific integrations with public transit systems or MaaS platforms are not detailed, but the app-based architecture is designed for flexible deployment.

Are there regulatory approvals in place?

Yes. The project completed a CE declaration of conformity, which is the mandatory European product safety certification. This covers the BIKE+ box hardware for the European market. Additional local permits for bike-sharing operations would depend on each municipality.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project by ZEHUS SPA, an Italian SME funded under the SME Instrument Phase 2 — a highly competitive EU grant reserved for high-growth companies with disruptive innovations. The 100% industry consortium with no academic partners signals a commercially-driven venture rather than a research exercise. Zehus positioned itself as a European leader in human-electric transport, and the sole-company structure means all IP and commercial rights remain concentrated, simplifying any business engagement or licensing discussion.

How to reach the team

Zehus SPA is an Italian company specializing in hybrid e-bike powertrains. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to their business development team.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore station-free e-bike sharing for your city or fleet? SciTransfer can connect you with the Zehus team and provide a detailed technology brief tailored to your deployment scenario.

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