There are now a lot of companies making ebikes, so if a particular model is going to stand out, it has to offer something a little different. The Aton fits the bill, as it features pedals with built-in turn indicators.
Currently on Kickstarter, the Aton is the result of a collaboration between two Italian companies – F.lli Schiano, which makes the base ebike, and Spearoad, which makes the Ped pedal system.
The bicycle itself features a folding aluminum frame, fashionably fat 20 by 4-inch tires, a suspension fork, mechanical disc brakes, front and rear fenders, and a grip-shifted Shimano 7-speed rear derailleur. Its rider’s pedalling power is augmented by a 250W/36V Xiongda rear hub motor, which is in turn powered by a lockable-but-removable 36V/12Ah lithium-ion battery. One charge should reportedly be good for a motor-assisted range of about 80 km (50 miles).
Each of the water-resistant pedals feature front and rear strips of amber LEDs, that wrap around the side of the pedal to provide 360-degree visibility. When wirelessly activated by a handlebar-mounted remote, the LEDs on either pedal illuminate sequentially in the direction of the turn, not unlike the turn indicators on an Audi.
And while the remote does require a battery, the pedals themselves don’t – instead, they harvest energy from the pedalling motion.
If you’re interested in getting an Aton for yourself, a pledge of €1,299 (about US$1,476) is required. You can also just get a set of the Peds, for €119 ($135) – they have a standard 9/16-inch axle, so they should be compatible with most bikes. A special (included) installation/removal wrench is required, though, in order to keep parts-thieves from making off with them.
Italian ebike has battery-less turn indicators in its pedals [New Atlas]