If you live in an area with snow, you know how much fun a snowmobile can be. However, they can be really large, heavy, and cumbersome. This is where MoonBikes comes in. These devices are small, lightweight, and easy to maneuver. Nearly anyone can easily control one of these devices, making it easy for more people to enjoy the snow together.
MoonBikes give you the freedom of an e-bike with the power of a motorcycle. Whether you're rallying on trails, venturing into the backcountry, or simply cruising around town, MoonBikes make winter your playground. Like a bike, a MoonBike is just 70. cm wide and can pass through doorways and be transported on a hitch carrier or in the bed of a truck.
MoonBikes are a fascinating middle ground between a motorcycle and a snowmobile. It looks mostly like a motorcycle, except the wheels have been replaced. The front wheel is replaced by a short ski, while the back wheel is replaced by a large tread. Even with the altered design, it is still capable of doing most things a motorcycle can do.
Because of this design, the controls are also changed from that of a snowmobile to something similar to a motorcycle. To change directions on a snowmobile, you turn a movable handle and the front of the machine changes direction with the back coming along behind. In this case, you lean to the left or right in order to change direction.
A MoonBike weighs just 87 kg with a single battery, and 100 kg with a second battery. With a single battery, you will get about 1.5 hours of run time. You can also add an optional dual battery to double the range with up to roughly 3 hours of ride time. All of this is possible while managing to attain 42 km per hour (about 26 miles per hour). In addition, all of this makes it so that the center of gravity is low, making it easy to ride for everyone.
Even with all of this power, a MoonBike still comes in at just $8,500. That is comparable to a traditional snowmobile, or in many cases far less. And, when you consider that it can run for hours and is more maneuverable, it makes for a great option for most people.
They aren't just great for individuals, they are great for rental agencies, as well. Because of the ease of riding, the long battery life options, and the ability to charge outside of the device, rental shops, hotels and lodges, and even ski lift companies can easily and safely add them to their offerings.
Most importantly, MoonBikes are just plain fun! They're fast, agile, and easy to handle so you can really let loose and enjoy the ride. Whether you're an experienced cyclist or a beginner, MoonBikes make winter biking easy and enjoyable. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and have some fun on a MoonBike! To learn more or reserve one for yourself, check out the company's website.
Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.
Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.
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So we have Nicolas Muron from MoonBikes, and you're a French startup. So tell us about MoonBikes.
Nice to meet you. So MoonBikes is the first electric- Can you hear me?
Yeah.
Hmm hm.
So MoonBikes is the world's first electric snowbike.
Electric snowbikes.
Yes.
Interesting.
And so it has the power of a small motorcycle and the freedom of any bike to explore nature in snowy environments.
So you know, here in the States, everyone, I guess they call them, I call them snowmobiles, snow machines. So is it run under the same posit? We don't have a picture for it of course. But is it running into the same premise of having a track system?
Yeah. So it's much simpler than a snowmobile, it's three times lighter than a snowmobile. That's a foam blade, and a track at the back of the machine. And so and you have to lean it like a motorcycle. And it's totally silent. So it's amazing.
So it's electric. So what is the typical range then of a MoonBike?
We talk about autonomy in terms of hours of with one battery is between one hour and one hour and a half, but you can double stack and put another battery. And in this case, you can reach three hours.
And what's the top speed on it? Then?
It's 26 miles.
26 miles per hour.
What is the load capacity on it by chance?
And so the load capacity, you can be one or two people. And, and in terms of the load capacities, in kilograms, it's 120.
Okay. Okay.
So very, very cool.
Close to 250 pounds.
Yeah.
Almost. I see.
So I'm sure a lot of our listeners at home are gonna want to check out your guys' website. Where's your guys' website at?
Moonbikes.com
So it's Moonbikes.com?
Yeah.
And what was the origin of the name?
MoonBikes? Because I'm a former aerospace engineer.
Ohh.
I love space and the moon. It's white like the snow. It's silent. Everybody loves the moon. So for all of these reasons, I choose this name.
Nice.
You know, I think oftentimes, so even here, you see people with snow machines that either will get stuck or what is the, you know, it may be getting deep snow or going fast enough. How does it do in deep snow? And what's the weight and kind of curious on all that?
Yeah, the weight is around 190 pounds. And it's very fun in the powder. You cannot go uphill, if it's too steep and too deep, like a snowmobile. So the nice thing to do is you go uphill, thanks to the tides when it's packed,
When it's packed-
You can jump into the powder.
Ohh.
There's no limit and it feels like-
Cool.
-Snowboarding or skiing with a moto. So it's crazy when you go in the powder when it's flat or downhill.
Wow.
So go ahead and scare us. What's the what's gonna be the retail price on this?
It's $8,500. So if compared to an automobile, it's less cheaper.
Yeah
So I think what you're gonna find then is for people that are into I would consider. You know, if you want to run this around on an ice-covered lake, that would be okay, but I think it'd be more fun to go through. Maybe areas that you're gonna ski
Yeah
Versus how does this then compare to like, because you think about this is a bike. How does this compare to snowboarding or something?
I'm a snowboarder, and you have the same sensation when you go in downhill in powder. Because you have to and you have to lean.
Right
You have to use your hips like skiing.
Sure.
It's a mix. And when we arrived for the first time in the US and make people try in the US, they were amazed saying that it was a new snowboarder. It's a totally new sensation. It's a mix of some things we don't really know. So-
Right
Yeah, And about your question about ice, it works. For example, we have some inbound some icey shells, and from handles. But yeah, it's much better when it's in powder.
Okay,
What's also amazing is to go into the forest because it's very narrow, so you can
Sure
You can go between the trees. And yeah.
You know, you never know you think about when snowboards were introduced. It wasn't a sport.
Yeah.
Right? You guys may be on the cusp of a new sport. Have some sort of new competition sport. Is there anybody else making something similar to what you've you creating?
No, not yet.
Not yet.
I founded the company five years ago. And every year I'm like, "Okay, someone is going to do the same". But we are still the only ones.
Wow.
Still the only ones.
Interesting. I could see that as actually, somewhere, like, where you live, especially if you live out in the country or something. It is a very easy commuter device to be able to get from point A to point B,
Where I live? No.
Never, you-
Yeah, but if I was in, it would be a much bigger alternative in the winter too.
Yeah.
You know, a scooter or you know,
Yeah.
Our bike you know-
Exactly.
That makes sense. Within with it being under 26 miles per hour then I wonder how it's classified here.
I'm sure it would be classified the same as any bird scooter.
Yeah, maybe? Yeah.
Same as any e-scooter, probably.
I would think so too because it doesn't go super fast.
That's correct.
Yeah, that'd be interesting to see what happens when someone's riding one around town.
Oh, I guarantee you. You will see some minor taking one to work with it.
Yeah, I did that in West Yellowstone to go down in the city and go to the restaurant-
Yeah.
Yeah.
-With the MoonBikes. It was so amazing.
For me, it actually makes sense because I live in rural America and we have woodlots so it'd be and I don't have a snowmobile. So this would be something that would be handy. Because what do we get the quad out-
Yeah.
-Or we get the, you know, the Ranger or whatever it may be. But still, when it snows, that thing gets stuck just as easy thing else.
Sure.
So something like this is a good quick alternative to jumping on a snowmobile.
Well, even you know, if you guys considered something along the lines of like a tow-behind cart or anything like that for, you know, pulling small items-
Small items on MoonBikes.
Yeah, yeah. Something like going to the grocery store, being able to pull groceries behind you, or something like that.
It's pretty sporty. So we can even use it. You can put it at the back of your car so far as the size is good now.
Okay. Yeah. So I know what you're saying.
Yeah. Yeah.
From a utility standpoint.
Well, even you're like, "Hey, I need to go out and get some wood from the shed".
Alright.
Pop it in the back and just truck it back to the snow.
Yeah, cuz I see a lot of people that have snowmobiles are pulling like mini sleds behind.
Exactly, exactly.
You know, So this could be if there would be a small hookup system to it, you could pull small little mini trailer too.
Yeah. Yeah.
And you can put them on bikes on the bike rack or so.
Oh, wow.
Bike rack. Yeah.
That was great.
And the weight is a little 100 pounds or so heavier than a regular bike. So you want to make sure your bike rack can support that.
Yeah, yeah, we use motorcycle racks so you need the hitch. And yes, you can use a regular snow motorcycle rack.
Cool. Is it a product available out of the market now.
Yes.
Or are you still in the prototype?
Yes, we launched last year in Europe with 50 units and to test the market in ski resorts. We have been 500 rental bikes in ski resorts. And now this winter we're building 400 units. And we are shipping 100 to the US and northern Canada. So the first container will arrive in two weeks and the one in February.
So you snow enthusiast out there. Snow bikes.
Yeah.
Now what you guys need to do is adapt it so that in the spring when it is muddy, I can run through the mud.
Thank you so much.
All right,
One last time right there for the camera. Let everybody know where they can go to find out more about MoonBikes and where they can go to get their own.
So you have to go to our website, Moonbikes.com
Moonbikes.com
Easy.
Alright, Nicolas, thank you so much. Thanks for coming over for sharing your time.
Thank you so much man, I appreciate it.
Yeah, Outstanding.
TPN CES 2022 coverage is executive produced by Michele Mendez. Technical Directors are Kurt Corless and Adam Barker. Associate producers are Nancy Ertz and Maurice McCoy. Interviews are edited by Jo Mini. Hosts are Marlo Anderson, Todd Cochrane, Scott Ertz, Christopher Jordan, Daniele Mendez, and Allante Sparks. Las Vegas studio provided by HC Productions. Remote studio provided by PLUGHITZ Productions. This has been Tech Podcasts Network Production, copyright 2022.
