EV owners hit by cost-of-commuting crisis as recharging cars becomes nearly as costly as petrol

Is now the time to “Swytch” to an electric bike?

The average UK worker spends c.£8000 – 21% of their salary on commuting annually
Swytch launches to upcycle your journeys – saving commuters thousands

Oliver Montague and Dmitro Khroma, co-founders of Swytch Technology, comment on the launch of the world’s first pocket-sized eBike battery

New research from the RAC has found the recent energy price hikes of 42% to an average of 63.29p per kWh since May means drivers who use public networks to charge their vehicles are paying nearly 18p per mile for electricity, which is just 1p less per mile than a petrol car. Although charging from home continues to cost less than refuelling a diesel or petrol car, it is important to note the gap between these figures is narrowing.

At a time when the country finds itself in a deepening cost-of-living crisis, and the average UK worker spends 21% of their salary on commuting annually, Brits have been forced to seek more affordable sources of transport. Recent reports show cycling is up by 47% on weekdays compared to 27% on weekends across the UK, according to the Department for Transport,. Close to 16 million Brits now partake in cycling – the highest level ever recorded in the last five years, according to recent research from Mintel. Electric Bike conversion specialists – Swytch – have released data that finds one of the main reasons why Brits are currently considering purchasing an eBike is to save money on travelling or commuting, a burgeoning cost that currently stands at an average of £8,000 per annum across the nation. For this reason, Swytch has engineered a solution that allows you to travel electric for just 0.4 pence per mile, potentially saving you thousands a year on commuting costs.


Swytch’s CTO and Co-Founder, Dmitro Khroma comments:

“Our new improved Swytch Kit is a game-changer. It is going to totally disruptt the eBike industry because it is so much lighter, smaller and more affordable than anything else out there.”

Swytch’s CEO and Co-Founder, Oliver Montague adds:

“Our job as innovators is to make environmentally-friendly technology that people want to use because it is cool! That way, a global change to a more sustainable way of life will happen naturally”.

The new way to cycle: Who are Swytch?

The new Swytch Kit takes you further and faster by converting any regular bicycle into a state-of-the-art eBike. The conversion kit features a pocket-sized battery (the “Power Pack”) which is similar in size to a large smartphone. The battery provides 250W of power and enough range for your daily commute, whilst weighing only 700g (1.5lb) and can be recharged in around one hour. Furthermore, the high-torque frictionless motor allows Swytch users to easily climb gradients of 30% without breaking a sweat.

Such is the popularity of the brand in the UK, Swytch estimates that 1 in 14 new eBikes on the road in the UK in 2021 were Swytch bikes and is forecasting to account for more than 10% of the entire UK eBike market, by volume, in 2022.  

How does Swytch work?

Once you receive your made-to-order Swytch Kit, you’ll have everything you need to convert your bicycle into an eBike including a customised motor wheel, a Power Pack, a handlebar mount, a pedal sensor and a charger. You can install your Swytch Kit in three simple steps:

1. Remove your old wheel and replace it with the new motor wheel. 
2. Fit the pedal sensor onto the pedal (to detect when you are pedalling). 
3. Fit the handlebar mount to the handlebars, and plug everything in. Now you’re ready to simply click on the battery, and ride electric!

Where can I buy one?
 
The Swytch Kit is now available to pre-order here. Due to significant demand, the option to receive your kit from one of the first two batches of production (for delivery in September/October or November/December) has now sold out. However, you can pre-order a kit from a later production run, with prices starting from $549 (with 50% discount applied, delivery in January/February) or from as little as $449 (with a 60% discount applied, delivery in March/April).