Mobilität: „Neue Fahrzeugklasse“: Novus will Autofahrer für seine Lightbikes begeistern

René Renger, a former Volkswagen designer, has spent years developing his dream vehicle, which he now hopes will revolutionize urban lightweight urban mobility through his start-up Novus. The first Novus Lightbike is now on the road, but the journey has been long and challenging. The initial model took longer to reach the streets than anticipated and is heavier than initially advertised.

However, Novus sees an opportunity for market breakthrough and has attracted the attention of prominent investors, including a former Lucid Motors engineer, Eric Bach, and Martin Hoffmann, who previously brought On, a footwear specialist, to the stock exchange as Co-CEO.

The company has secured a low six-figure million-dollar investment in a recent financing round, led by venture-capital specialist 468 Capital. Novus aims to establish a new class of urban mobility, borrowing the best features from electric bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. This "Lightbike" combines three different types of vehicles, each with its drawbacks.

Motorcycles are too large and heavy, electric bikes are too slow and cumbersome, and scooters are too conservative. The Novus One features a hub motor, a self-supporting carbon frame with an integrated battery, and aims to outperform traditional electric motorcycles by building the vehicle around the electric motor from the ground up.

The Novus One is lighter than a Vespa, has more torque than a Ducati, and is as easy to ride as an electric bike. It weighs 121 kilograms and costs €21,300, more than many small cars. In some European countries, the vehicle is legal with a standard driver's license, while in Germany, it can be driven with an adapted car license.

The Novus One reaches a top speed of 130 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in 1.9 seconds. The 6.2 kWh battery can be charged to 80% in 90 minutes, and the torque is 430 Newton meters. The entry-level model, the Novus One, is expected to launch in late 2027, with a successor, the Novus Two, being half the price.