Demand for electric bikes is exploding. Faced with an offer that is struggling to keep pace and high prices, the young French shoot Upway is betting on VAE from major brands reconditioned and sold 20 to 50% cheaper.
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Find a electric bike at the moment is not easy. Between the shortages of components which strongly disrupt production and a demand which has known a meteoric rise since the beginning of the pandemic (515,000 VAE sold in 2020, + 29%, source USC), you often have to wait several months to get the electric bike of your choice. Or, resign yourself to revising your budget upwards or its criteria downwards to fall back on the available models. There is now another solution that is set to become very popular in the years to come: reconditioned electric bikes. This is the bet made Upway, a very young French company based in Gennevilliers (Hauts-de-Seine).
Founded by two former Uber executives, it has just launched a marketplace where individuals can buy electric bikes reconditioned. There are currently around thirty city models, mountain bikes and mountain bikes from major brands including Canyon, Giant, Mustache, Nakamura or even VanMoof. ” We received the first bikes four weeks ago and our inventory keeps swelling », Assured us Toussaint Wattinne, CEO and co-founder of Upway.
Reconditioned VAE from 429 euros
The prices charged are advertised as 20 to 50% lower than the new price. There is something for all budgets: from 429 euros up to 3,439 euros. These electric bikes have all undergone a more or less extensive overhaul and have a one-year warranty. Delivery is free in mainland France and buyers can return their bike within 14 days if they are not satisfied with it.
Upway also allows individuals, but also professionals, to offer their VAE for sale. A team of five specialized mechanics receive the electric bikes and assess their condition based on an inspection at 20 checkpoints (engine, battery, wheels, brakes, tires, etc.) which confirms or adjusts the price. purchase proposed on the basis of the initial description made by the customer. This amount is determined in particular by the year of entry into service, its mileage and its general condition.
Reconditioned battery if necessary
After agreement, the bike is paid to the customer then Upway begins its repair. ” We are working to make sure the bike is as close to new as possible », Explained our interlocutor. Regarding the battery, the company takes into account the number of charge cycles to decide on a possible reconditioning which is then entrusted to a specialized service provider. The threshold was set at 600 cycles. ” We want to ensure that the consumer has at least a large year of use », Specifies the leader of Upway.
In addition to individuals, Upway is open to professionals. The company targets leasing or rental services which renew their fleet of electric bicycles and need a commercial outlet for the fleet from which they are separating. It is also a question of addressing independent distributors and stores with a take-back program that they can offer to their customers buying a new electric bicycle. A solution of the future for a eco-mobility affordable and virtuous.
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