Usually, when a new company claims that their product is the “best” or “most advanced” on the market, it turns out to be marketing hyperbole. Which is what I assumed when I saw the Calamus One labeled as the “world’s most advanced e-bike.” But when you dig into the details on the Calamus One (prototype), it does seem to offer a few features that certainly make it stand out.
As a start-up based in India, Calamus One is the product of co-founders Nilesh Bothra and Huzaifa Hararwala. Between Bothra’s experience in advanced composite designs and time at Rolls Royce, and Hararwala’s abilities in coding, building programming boards, and computer science, the two seem uniquely suited to create the next big e-bike.
Calling it a new class of e-bike, their “ultrabike” starts off like many – with a mid-drive motor (250w or 750w), integrated battery, Headhshock style front suspension, and belt drive with an internal gear hub (and automatic shifting!) in the back. But what makes this bike an ultrabike resides in the electronic wizardry.
Thanks to ultrasonic sensors built into the back of the bike, the Calamus One will alert you to approaching vehicles. The sensors continually scan your blind spot area, and if a vehicle approaches, the bike will vibrate the grip that is on the same side as the oncoming vehicle. That haptic feedback could potentially alert you to the potential danger, and allow you to move out of the way ahead of time without even looking back.
Most e-bikes have some type of display to control the functions, but the Calamus One includes an integrated 5″ TFT touchscreen that is unlocked by a biometric scanner allowing you to use your fingerprint to start up the bike and unlock it.
To prevent theft, the bike has a number of safeguards including a built-in smart-lock in the frame, anti-theft hardware throughout the bike, an anti-theft alarm system with app-based notifications, and geo-tracking and fencing with a Find My Ride feature.
The touch screen will also be google map enabled allowing for easy to follow navigation. The system can use a global network card with the integrated GPS chip for world-wide navigation. There’s also support for android apps, real time self diagnosis if a problem arises, and support for different rider profiles with some of the information that can be provided listed below:
Performance of the bike –
- Speed
- Battery level
- Range
- Distance to empty
- Mode – Sport, Eco, Manual
- Trip
- Battery temperature, health
- Motor temperature, health
- Sensor status
Other data –
- Time
- Weather
- Blindspot assist
Phone-based –
- Navigation
- Music
- Call notifications
- Push notifications
Health Data –
- Workout mode
- Calories burnt
- Distance cycled
But wait, there’s more! In addition to the typical front and rear integrated lights, the Calamus One includes front and rear turn signals. At the rear they’re placed on the seat stays, while up front they’re mounted to the ends of the grips.
With the insane amount of features, you might expect for this bike to cost upwards of $10k – it wouldn’t be the first e-bike in that range. But retail price for the top tier 750w One-75 is listed at $4,649. The 250w One-25 is just $3,599.
Now, to be clear, this bike is still in the prototype stage and is being offered for even less through an indiegogo campaign. But if it makes it to production with all of the promised features, this will be a very interesting addition to the world of e-bikes.
