Eicma 2023, not just motorcycles and scooters.Make way for e-bikes and electric minicars

Eicma 2023:from e-bikes to minicars, attention is growing for urban mobility, with innovative products made in Italy.Here is our selection of the most interesting proposals.

Record numbers for the 80th edition of Eicma, the international two-wheel exhibition, which took place from 9 to 12 November at Fiera Milano, in Rho.As many as 2036 brands were present (historical record for the event), over 700 direct exhibitors, of which 67 percent came from abroad representing 45 countries.Attendance exceeded 560 thousand, equal to +19 percent on 2022:numbers that attest to the 2023 edition as the best in the history of Eicma.

Also noteworthy is the interest that has developed aroundYum area (Your urban mobility), another novelty this year, which welcomed companies, institutions, but also the most innovative startups.An area where space is given to sustainable mobility, with informative meetings and proposals that broaden the gaze of the world of two wheels.And it is right here, inside pavilion 18, that we observe the most interesting innovations making their way to Eicma.

E-bikes still protagonists of Eicma

The e-bike universe is still the protagonist of Eicma, in line with the latest editions.In addition to the many models on display, there was a great turnout in the area of ​​over 1500 square meters with the test track.

Numerous Italian brands present, including Unique6, with e-bikes produced in the Abruzzo plant of Iat srl which stand out for their 95 percent recycled aluminum frames.The professional series is aimed at those who use the e-bike for work (rental, sharing, delivery, pooling, corporate mobility) while the "crossover" wants to combine the convenience of the city bike with the possibility of going on excursions even on dirt roads.

Also at the stand of Word dimension, which has been producing e-bikes since 1999, we find a wide range of proposals, from retro cruisers for the city to models for travel, up to e-mtbs.For those looking for e-bikes dedicated to sport and the road, there is the Cunese "boutique". Cbt Italy offers carbon fiber models, the result of years of studies and research, where technology has led to the creation of a very light battery, perfectly integrated inside the oblique tube of the frame, easily removable and which can therefore be recharged anywhere. E-gravel And e-road position Cbt Italia at the top of the market.

Startup area, the most innovative projects

As always, the area dedicated to Italian startups contains a series of curious (as well as innovative) projects.This is the case of Untouchable, the e-bike made by 5R of Monza.The proposed product - as the name itself suggests - aims to make bikes "untouchable", thanks to an integrated anti-theft device.The technological control device essentially consists of a removable display connected to the e-bike.

Weelo is the Turin company that has created a network of parking lots or “modular” stations for bikes, to be installed in urban contexts, for private or tourist bikes.Agile solutions that can be placed where necessary, without excessive bulk.Just think about that Weelo box It takes up the space of a car and can accommodate eight convenient parking spaces. Weelo hub it is instead a larger structure, which acts as a velostation.It is already present in several Italian cities, such as in the municipality of Gorgonzola:here it has been placed next to the subway, it is available free of charge and can be used through the Weelo app.

A curious means is certainly the one invented by Indimob, the startup born in Milan in 2020 that wanted to bring something new to the world of sustainable mobility, that is, a three-wheeled cargo vehicle with a body that can be driven while sitting, with the "car posture".Paolo Granelli, CEO of Indimob, after having worked for a long time as a car designer, decided to dedicate himself to sustainable mobility and after three years of work, with the team, he created Coupe, This electric tricycle  which combines comfort, accessibility and pedaling efficiency.The components are designed for the transport of heavy loads, so we find special rims and tires suitable for supporting two adults plus the load.The cost is around 6 thousand euros:an affordable figure for a medium, which in Granelli's view, goes to replace the car.

Hyride suspension is another young Milanese company that produces an apparently "invisible" element, i.e. suspensions installed inside the bike column.Here the focus is on comfort and safety initially applied to the gravel world, but now aimed at bikes for urban use.The company boasts experience with brands of the caliber of Pinarello (for endurance bikes) and now works with Cinelli, Cipollini, Bmc, among others.

Make way for cargo!

Also in the Yum area we find some companies from northern Italy that stand out in the cargo sector. Biga bike, for example, it is located on the outskirts of Milan and focuses on vehicles for family and cycle logistics use, with a view to developing urban mobility.It selects the best freighters in the world which it then sells and promotes in Italy.

Also in the northern area of ​​Milan, in Arese, it is located TrikeGo by Francesco Casoli.In this case we are talking about a producer who creates cargo with pedal assistance very robust and safe, ideal for families, small businesses and companies and for which rental for events is also available.

Electric minicars, quadricycles increasingly present at Eicma

If in previous editions you could count them on your fingers, here they are microcar (also called minicars) have become one of the highlights of Eicma.We are talking about vehicles with extremely small dimensions, equated by law to light or heavy quadricycles.Among the models on display we mention the Citrusen Ami, with the two "classic" and outdoor versions (without doors), a vehicle that has enjoyed great success in Italy.Among others we find the Duo by Mobilize (Renault group), the Yoyo by Xev with removable battery, the Froggy by Nextem, but we cannot help but focus on the Fiat preview, which arrives at Eicma for the first time to present the new electric microcar Mickey Mouse.

A tasty solution for electric micromobility, which unquestionably impresses with its style and comfortable design.Another feature that makes it interesting is the price (9,890 euros), together with the possibility of driving it with a subscription of 39 euros per month.A commitment at Fiat to support the electrical transition in Italian cities.Two versions:open and closed.The range is 75 kilometres, while the maximum speed reaches 45 km/h, in line with the new urban mobility regulations.

Here are some of the most intriguing proposals that have come forward in the Eicma universe.An exhibition in step with the times, which in addition to encompassing the entire panorama of two wheels - from the classic and super-fast new products Augusta, Kawasaki, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi up to the futuristic concepts of Horwin – has been able to enhance and incorporate new areas of the sector.The appointment for 2024 it is already fixed from 5 to 10 November.