Electrek.co
by Micah Toll
Late last year, VanMoof unveiled the VanMoof V as a high-performance electric bicycle that the Dutch brand referred to as a “hyperbike.”
Now the company claims to have surpassed 10,000 reservations, despite the bike reaching a top speed that isn’t legal in most countries.
In most of Europe, electric bicycles are largely limited to slow speeds of just 25 km/h (15.5 mph). In the US, riders have a bit more leeway with options for 20-28 mph (32-45 km/h), depending on the class of e-bike.
But the VanMoof V concept was unveiled with a top speed of 31 mph (50 km/h) thanks to a pair of 500W motors.
The company says that the bike will be capable of power and speed limiting to match local regulations in each country. But there remain few places where the e-bike would be street legal in its unlocked power mode.
VanMoof cofounder Ties Carlier elaborated at the time of the launch, saying: The VanMoof V is our first hyperbike, an e-bike dedicated to higher speed and longer distance. I believe this new type of high-speed e-bike can fully replace scooters and cars in the city by 2025.
We’re calling for policies designed around people, rethinking how public spaces can be used if not occupied by cars. I am getting very excited thinking about what a city could look like in the near future, and we are very proud to be part of the change by building the right tools for the transition.