France surprises with battery-free electric bicycle that uses supercapacitors to store energy and contributes to environmental care

When Adrien Lelièvre unveiled the Pi‑Pop, you might have rolled your eyes. Yet another fancy e‑bike, right? But then you spot the twist: no battery... and maybe, like me, you got a little more curious.

Instead of those batteries, the bike uses supercapacitors - quick-charging, long-lasting energy storage devices, for those not in the know – to power your ride. That’s not just clever, it’s a potential game‑changer for urban mobility.

How does the Pi-Pop work?

Lelièvre, an electronics engineer at STEE near Orléans, has been refining the Pi‑Pop for a few years. The concept isn’t new – supercapacitors have been around since the late 1970s – but packing one into a bike so that it recharges on the go? That’s smart.

The Pi‑Pop captures energy whenever you pedal on easy terrain, roll downhill or brake, storing it electrostatically, not chemically. Then, when you hit a hill or stop/start, that stored power kicks in. Lelièvre says a well-charged supercapacitor can handle about 50 m of elevation gain – enough for roughly 80 percent of European cities’ rides

This method offers a few big wins: no rare-earth mining, no lithium batteries, no need to plug in overnight. And the supercapacitor lifespans, which can be 10 to 15 years rather than five to six for typical lithium packs – makes Pi‑Pop sound more like a durable investment than simply a fun gadget.

Are there any Pi-pop drawbacks?

While positive, the bike is not perfect. With around 250 W motor output (max assist 15 mph/25 kmh), 48 lb weight, it’s made for city commuting, rather than rugged hills or long trips. Independent reviews note that on steep climbs or long distances without downhill or braking recovery, the energy runs out fast. One blog warned it “may barely get you down the street” if the terrain doesn’t assist regeneration

Still, Pi‑Pop earned a gold medal at France’s Lépine Contest in 2024. That recognition speaks not just to its novelty, but to a growing appetite for greener, smarter transport. Production’s scaled from 100 bikes a month in Orléans to an ambitious 1,000 monthly by 2024. Veloci Industries aims for about 10,000 annual sales within five years.

If you ride mostly on flats with occasional mild hills, Pi‑Pop offers a refreshingly simple, zero‑charging option. No more forgetting to plug in. No big battery replacement costs. And you’re riding cleaner...

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