Main fundraiser photo

VeloAdvance community e-bicycles

What is Velo Advance?
Velo Advance is an innovative project that aims to make or upgrade affordable, sustainable, practical, up-to-date electric bikes (E-bikes) available to people in South East Wales and beyond. We have several proof-of-concept ebikes we're testing to perfect the design for simple, reliable and easy-to-maintain solutions. We are also looking at providing many secondary markets and services through our own ebike fleet & trained volunteers.

What are E-bikes?
E-bikes are like ordinary pedal-cycles, with an electric battery added wich can provide extra power to the wheels. This means that they have greater speed, distance and carrying capabilities than a bike which relies on muscle power alone.

What is the business model?
Velo Advance is a Social Enterprise. This means that, while we do aim to make a profit from work we do and the products we sell, all those profits will be channelled into the social aims of the business. Like any business, we also have to pay for things like raw materials, running costs and the time and experience of the people who work on the bikes.

Who is Velo Advance for?
Welo Advance is for everybody, but some people will benefit especially from what we offer. Many people who live in rural or semi-rural areas, or urban areas without good public transport links, find themselves missing out on social, educational and employment opportunities. This is especially true if they can't afford, can't drive or simply don't want a car of their own. Velo Advance is a great personal transport solution - flexible, sustainable and, above all, affordable.

Why is Velo Advance Different?
There are other e-bikes on the market. However, these are aimed at the luxury and sports consumer, people who have easy access to other modes of transport and use their bikes mostly for fun and fitness. Velo Advance bikes can be used for these too, but they're primarily intended to be a practical and economical way of getting around a person's local area.

Backstory:
Since austerity vulnerable adults like myself in remote or hard-to-reach areas of the community have found transport costly or impossible.  I've wanted to make use of transport that's already available without having to invest what little finance I have in car transport.  Cuts in public transport have not made this any easier.  However, as a cyclist I saw an opportunity within the e-bike market that no-one else was fulfilling.  The price of other e-bikes is as expensive, if not more than, a car, and the pursuit is limited to those who are interested in leisure cycling.  Also, job opportunities for people like myself with autism are especially difficult in Wales where 10-15% of us are in any form of employment.  This opportunity is to especially look at providing both an affordable e-bike with high performance and easy maintenence to allow what were thought impossible travel options to people not in education, employment or training or on low wages.  I have sourced those contacts that can make my dream a reality - a dream I've had since I was little - as well as provide employment in many services that can be built up around this product.  There are already significant improvements to the initail design that I hope to up-scale for a variety of uses from individuals to community-based services.  I have spent most of my own savings on initial research and development, and was very surprised at how little I needed to spend on it.  Reaching my goal of £3,500 will enable me to continue research and development and, crucially, begin production so that other people can benefit from my work.

Organizer

David Malins
Organizer

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