After graduating in December 2014 with a degree in chemistry, ASU alumnus Tel Tucker decided to use his knowledge of batteries and his passion for bikes to become an entrepreneur and pioneer in the electric bicycle field.
With a rechargeable motor that produces virtually no sound, Tucker has created an environmentally friendly and energy efficient alternative to cars.
“It’s like a magic carpet ride,” Tucker said. “It’s quiet so you can clear your mind or you can use your Bluetooth to listen to music. It’s safe too because it only goes at a minimal speed.”
Tucker said one of his customers had an eight-mile commute to work Monday through Friday.
“What’s nice about it is she doesn’t have to fight for space in the parking lot with her colleagues," Tucker said. When she gets to work, she parks her bike next to the bike rack. She says she saves nine minutes coming into work. Not only is she saving money, but she saves time.
Besides reducing a person's carbon footprint, the electric bike makes it easy to navigate around the downtown Phoenix area, Tucker said. It allows the rider to save money on gas and parking.
His path to developing his own electronic bikes began while attending ASU for his graduate degree. Tucker would ride his bike to class every day and show up sweaty. He said he did not enjoy that, so he decided to do something about it.
“I was a grad student on a budget I didn’t feel like buying a car or paying for parking and buying gas so I ended up buying my first electric bike downtown," Tucker said.
From there, he saw a great opportunity to tinker with these machines. Because he wrote a dissertation in energy, specifically fuel cells, he saw a way to customize and create his own electronic bikes.
“I didn’t invent the electric bike,” Tucker said. “It’s not a household name. But we did customize some energy performances to get optimal efficiency out of it.”
While Tucker’s electric bikes look like scooters, they fall under the legal definition of a bicycle, meaning they be taken on the road and can also be ridden in parks and be parked on bike racks.
“Legally what makes it a legal bike is that it only goes 20 miles per hour,” Tucker explained. “All you need is a state issue ID, not a motorcycle or driver’s license. Secondly it has pedals so you can use it with manual power. Lastly it has no internal combustion engine. The internal hub motor is less than 150 watts basically that is around one horse power.”
One of Tucker’s summer interns Da’Monique Davis enjoyed being able to be creative while promoting a product that is not only, efficient but environmentally friendly.
“It’s more than just a sustainable transportation company,” Davis said. “It preaches a sustainable way of living.”
Battery Bike representative Evan Gaines, who recently helped with the Ebike event at First Friday was glad to help promote a product that he considers "quick, sustainable and affordable."
Tucker understands though that at the end of the day it’s about making a product that’s attractive to consumers. A big example he mentioned was the work Elon Musk has done with Tesla, making cars that are good for the environment but look good too.
“You got to have a sexy product man and that’s just a generational thing and an American thing,” Tucker said. “We want to look good while we’re doing it and it’s our job to let the customer know, 'hey man you look good over there,' but then whisper in their ear 'and you’re saving the environment too.'”
Related Links:
Bike culture continues to thrive
Professor plans to create a sustainable, happy neighborhood in a Tempe barrio
Reach the reporter at mhclose@asu.edu or follow @KingCloseTM on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
