Gates Carbon Drive

The creators of the Faraday “Porteur” electric bike are self-professed “design geeks” who want to debunk the notion that eBikes aren’t stylish. The award-winning Porteur is inspired by the classic European delivery bikes of the 1940s and 50s but with a twist: state-of-the-art components and an electric assist to get riders from A to B with ease. The batteries are hidden within the frame tubes and power a 350-watt hub motor on the front wheel. Turn on the electric assist by pushing the blue button on the controller unit beneath the seat.

Faradayupdated the Porteur for 2014 with a Gates belt drive at the request of customers.”We heard from many of you that the only thing that could improve on the Porteur would be the addition of a belt drive,” Faraday’s founders say on their website. “After one too many greasy pant legs, we agree, and the Porteur now ships standard with a smooth, quiet and grease-free Gates Carbon Drive.”

The Porteur comes in three sizes and two colors. The bike revolution has begun, and it will be electrified and belted.

Watch the Tech Crunch video review of the bike and interview with founder Adam Vollmer below.