Pedal pusher: Smart wheel turns bicycle into hybrid

The wheel is a self-contained unit with a battery-powered electric motor, wi-fi receiver and control system that gives the cyclist extra power when it is needed, such as when travelling up hills or over long distances. It is connected to a mobile app, so that riders can control when they want that extra boost, but the wheel also intuitively powers up, sensing when the motor is most needed.

‘Can we make bikes a competitive alternative to cars, buses and subways for people who live in or commute to work in cities? That is our mission,’ says Assaf Biderman, Superpedestrian founder and associate director of the MIT SENSEable City Laboratory, where the smart wheel initially began as a research project.

Each year more cyclists are taking to the roads. For more, read our Pedal Power microtrend on the Australian cycling market.