We tested KLEMENT, Skoda's amazing mid-bike mid-bike concept

Skoda

Presented at the last Geneva Motor Show, Skoda KLEMENT is a completely unclassifiable electric bike concept. As for pedals, this futuristic frame has two footrests with tilt controlled acting as accelerator and brakes. With this alternative vehicle intended to circulate in urban areas, the brand revisits the concept of electric bikes. 

To find out if he keeps all his promises, Skoda invited us to Prague to slam a clock in the alleys of Stromovka Park. In the saddle!

Intro: a bit of history on Skoda

For those who are not familiar with the long history of Skoda, the Czech manufacturer is not a newcomer to the world of cycling. Created in 1895 under the name of Laurin & Klement, the group began its activity by the production of cycles, then motorcycles, and finally of cars in 1919. 

Fall under the lap of Volkswagen in 1991, Skoda continues to manufacture and market a wide range of road bikes, mountain bikes, and e-bikes. Named KLEMENT in honor of the co-founder of the brand Václav Klement and Skoda's debut in the manufacture of bicycles 124 years ago, this two-wheeler is a particularly innovative model of VLEU (single-person electric light vehicle).

Skoda

Halfway between a bike and a moped, it embodies the vision of tomorrow's individual urban micro-mobility of the brand. The incredible rise of new types of electric vehicles such as hoverboards, monoroues or scooters has not escaped the manufacturer, who is working on different solutions that can ultimately complement its four-wheeled models - the objective being to find solutions to deal with the growing problems of car traffic in city centers, allowing its customers to travel the last meters with an alternative vehicle housed in the sub-safe, for example.

Skoda

KLEMENT: a bike 3.0

With KLEMENT, Skoda mainly targets environmentally- conscious young people who are looking for an alternative solution to the car for everyday commuting in urban areas. More than a century after introducing its first bicycles on the market, the manufacturer shows that it still has in the foot by creating the first model ... VAE fixed pedals!

Featuring an imposing aluminum frame and suspensions mounted on one-sided swingarms, it has a futuristic look. Exit the pedal, place two fixed pedals tilt forward to advance or back to brake. Inspired by hoverboards, this system is based on a small 4 kW engine concealed in the rear hub and powered by two removable lithium-ion batteries (52 cells) with a capacity of 1250 Wh. The machine also incorporates a hydraulic disc brake system with ABS on the front wheel associated with a braking energy recovery system on the rear wheel.

Skoda

The rest of its equipment consists of an LED lighting system including a headlamp, a brake light, indicators (placed at the end of the handles and around the pedals), and support with charger with induction for a smartphone on the crossbar. Thanks to a Bluetooth connection and a dedicated application, the smartphone acts as a locking system and onboard dashboard capable of displaying information on the charge of the two batteries, remaining battery life, speed, etc. Rendez-vous is taken in the huge park of Stromovka to discover the capabilities of this amazing concept.

In use: as a hoverboard

Although it looks like a bike, KLEMENT is not really one. Like everyone who was able to ride this funny mount for the first time, we thought it would be difficult to handle. The first meters with KLEMENT are indeed quite disturbing because it takes a little time to find its balance in an unusual position, on a bike with both feet laid flat on a fixed surface. But like most apprentice pilots of the day, it took us only a few tens of seconds to master the machine and drive to block. The driving mode is exactly the same as the hoverboard.

The movements of tilting the feet forward to accelerate, or backward to decelerate are intuitively done after a few tens of meters. Electric propulsion forces, the bike offers impressive acceleration thanks to a couple immediately available. Basically, it takes about ten seconds to push the machine to its maximum speed clamped at 45 km / h, in accordance with European legislation.

Skoda

An unprecedented driving experience

Above 40 km / h, however, the machine becomes much less stable and much more difficult to control. At moderate speed (between 15 and 35 km / h), the bike is well balanced and ensures overall good handling. 

Things get complicated from the moment one exceeds this speed, and especially when it is necessary to approach turns or to roll on a path or an unpaved path. The static position of the legs with the flat feet does not allow to handle the KLEMENT with agility, for example by counterbalancing with his body in turns, or by dancing on bumpy roads to cushion shocks.

Provided you do not think outside the box or want to break the speed record, this model nevertheless offers a rather fun driving experience thanks to its ABS braking system.

Whatever the speed, it responds to the finger and the eye with flexibility and remarkable efficiency on a bike. In ideal driving conditions (on a flat surface), this assistance not only makes the bike safe and malleable, but it also helps to recover energy and significantly extend the range announced by 62 km. 

After a little over an hour on board the KLEMENT and a good twenty kilometers swallowed, the meter that showed 48 km of range at the start was down to only 42 km at the end, a gain of about 14 km by energy recovery.

Although this test does not quite reflect the normal driving conditions, because we put the brakes too hard tests throughout the course, it has the merit of showing that this system works and allows us to recharge the batteries. They can also be easily removed to be fully charged on a conventional power outlet. For the moment, the manufacturer has not indicated the required charging time.

Namely:
Able to climb to a maximum speed of 45 km / h, KLEMENT is part of the category of VAE requiring, such as scooters less than 50 cc, a registration, insurance, and a driver's license or a Road Safety Patent (BSR).

Skoda

Basic comfort and advanced equipment

Although very simple and fun to drive, this concept intended to become a serial version is not really a model of comfort. Not only the height of the handlebars can not be adjusted in height, but it incorporates suspensions a little too firm and especially a tiny bike saddle can quickly become very uncomfortable. Just imagine driving a scooter with this type of saddle to understand the problem. However, the manufacturer has reassured us on these topics by explaining that the serial version could be offered with very different equipment.

The bike will also have to undergo a slimming cure to go from a weight of about 30 kg currently to a target weight of 25 kg for the standard version. Nothing is fixed because it is above all a concept. The team even told us to think about a version that would integrate the brakes and throttle on the handlebars.

Apart from some unfortunate details, KLEMENT still has other interesting arguments to make. Starting with the smartphone stand attached to the crossbar. 

Although the manufacturer does not give any technical details on this system, the idea is quite ingenious. It is enough to place the terminal on the dock to turn it into a connected dashboard. Once installed, the dedicated application called simply KLEMENT Connect permanently displays the autonomy of both batteries, as well as the cruising speed.

Side features, the application only for the moment, to turn on / off the headlights and lock/unlock the bike. Skoda's team plans eventually to enrich the application with the same connectivity features found in its models of cars such as Coming Home, the emergency call with automatic trigger, or the diagnosis and remote maintenance.

In conclusion: should we fall for the Skoda KLEMENT?

Although this concept is far from perfect, it offers real innovations for the promising future of electric micro-mobility. The Skoda team also gives a nice design lesson with this futuristic model with racy lines. 

It remains to be seen at what price will be marketed such a serial version. On this subject, the Skoda team only told us that the KLEMENT would be sold at the price of a pedelec. Knowing that there may be several thousand euros of a price difference between models of VAE, the mystery remains ...