In fact the Kickstarter webpage does acknowledge that the UK model will adhere to the parameters you’ve found.
Unfortunately Barclay’s specifically prohibits attaching any accessory to the bicycle.
There is/was (27 days left!) a very good approach to collaboration with all of these bikeshares, at least the large ones. That is, they are very hard to run, often under-funded & often in need of more subscribers. It could easily be presented as a licensing opportunity that would increase ridership.
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So much of the project’s done due diligence would make technical consideration by the bikeshare quick compared to starting from scratch.
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Offer revenue, get promotion to subscribers & a x1000 visibility boost. For a 2.5%-5% licensing arrangement based on locale & whether the mount is for a bikeshare bicycle, the unit could bear the branding of the maker & the intended bikeshare system, the bikeshare supplying it’s own stickers to the spec of the maker.
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Be ready for concessions. Maybe the bikeshare does not envision 18mph as desirable. Remember this is an assist, not a motor. If it is maxed out at 12mph w/out pedalling it is still an awesome product for people who want a small motor of this sort.
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Play nice, make friends. If they don’t need subscribers, they still want them. Create a conciliatory growth scheme pitch. Offer 1+ years of bike subscription w/purchase to incentivize your product to persons not currently subscribed. Negotiate a reduced rate for that subscription with the bikeshare. Note that the initial investment by the prospective customer in your product dramatically increases the odds of subscription renewal. You could negotiate that fee to half with that alone. Don’t complain to me about margins. If $50.00 was already your margin on a $1000.00 product with such a limited market you were already scuppered.
I could go on & on. There was no reason not to make this a marketing + design experiment in collaboration. The trade-off possibilities would boost this project right up into “feasible”.
Also, where’s Velib? They have 20,000+ bikes & easy to accommodate EU standards & a strong need for subscribers.
