This Clever New Product Solves One of the Biggest Problems with E-Bikes

A forward-thinking Dutch start-up borrows tech from the smartphone world to seamlessly streamline the charging process.

Published 6 hours ago

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In case you haven’t noticed, e-bikes have grown increasingly popular over the past decade or so, and the market for them shows no signs of slowing down.

But while the bikes themselves have gotten progressively better (greater range, lighter weight, etc.), comparatively little attention has been paid to a critical element: charging.

tiler compact orange bike — Assuming you can get over that chonky kickstand, the Tiler Compact system is pretty dang sleek.

We are still, by and large, plugging these things in, which means dealing with the hassle of bulky charging units.

Seeking to make that process a bit easier and more seamless, a Dutch start-up called Tiler borrows from the smartphone world, employing conductive charging to power up your battery through the kickstand.

The product’s latest iteration, Tiler Compact, is its most streamlined yet. Let’s take a closer look.

From the ground up

It’s worth noting that — unlike a fair number of e-bike brands — Tiler is no fly-by-night operation.

They’ve been at it for a few years now, with over 200 demo units breaking new ground in their home country of the Netherlands as well as Germany and Ireland.

tiler compact cargo bike — Tiler makes a cargo bike-compatible kickstand and is also developing variants for e-mopeds and e-scooters.

The company claims they have already delivered nearly 200,000 miles of cable-free pedal assistance, via a beefy kickstand that intakes the energy and sends it through the bike’s frame to the battery.

The power flows to the kickstand through a 150-watt weatherproof pad, which can be plugged into a wall outlet or (more cleanly) installed in the floor.

tiler compact woman — Simple indicator lights on the pad keep you apprised of charging status.

The Compact plate measures roughly 10 square inches and, according to Tiler, can charge a 500Wh battery in about 3.5 hours.

One 230-volt/16-amp wall outlet can support as many as 24 Tiler pads, and the whole kit (including the kickstand) is compatible with 80 percent of major e-bike tech brands, including Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha and more.

Real-world applications

The number of pads the outlet can support points to larger-scale use, such as e-bike fleets you might encounter at, say, a shop that rents bikes out to tourists.

However, I can also see this thing being a pretty cool offering for a progressive company with a lot of e-bike commuters, who could simply roll their bikes into a designated area and return at the end of the work day to a fully charged ride.

tiler compact two bikes — A room full of smartly spaced Compact pads could be an awesome work perk for e-bike commuters.

One hopes such forward-thinking folks have played a hand in Tiler racking up the equivalent of more than $150,000 on the equity-raising site Crowdcube with a few days to spare.

That said, Tiler Compact is not unrealistic for individual consumers. At less than $300, it is more approachable than the Uno, its pricier and larger predecessor.

Availability and pricing

The Tiler Compact system is available for pre-order for €250, which currently converts to roughly $294. A down payment of $35.35 is required, and it’s estimated to ship next summer.

Tiler Compact

$294 at Tiler

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.