2 May 2024
 Bicycles, mobile networks, and fiber-optic infrastructure don't go together in the same company? At Austria's Spusu, they do, and the family-owned business has become an example of how new technologies and mechanical craftsmanship can be combined in one company. Since it was founded in 2015 by Franz Pichler, the company has continued to expand - including into other countries such as Italy and the United Kingdom. Since 2021, Spusu has also started its activities as a technology pioneer for the development of fiber optic infrastructure with its own construction crews and fleet, especially targeting rural regions to ensure stable internet also outside the big cities. In 2022, the company started its own e-bike production. 'Made in Austria' is not only a slogan for the company, it's especially, if you read the text of the last press release, a quality award for the craftsmanship of the team of mechanics working in the factory in Wolkersdorf, Lower Austria. According to the press release, the driving force behind the new company branch was Franz Pichler himself and his requirements for e-bikes, especially a strong battery charge in order to ride as long as possible. Pichler himself - a technician - and his team began to develop the first Spusu e-bike. In the meantime, two model series have been launched - model 2023 and model 2024, each with a low-entry and diamond frame version. Franz Pichler gave a few tips for those interested in buying a new bike - without forgetting to point out how the e-bikes he produces meet his requirements. One of the tips concerns the capacity of the battery. The higher the watt-hour (Wh) value, the more energy the battery can store, which usually results in a longer range. A battery with a capacity of 400 Wh or more should be good for just over 80 kilometers. The 800 Wh lithium-ion battery used by Spusu achieves a range of up to 200 kilometers on the lowest support level and in good conditions, according to Franz Pichler. Another tip is to pay attention to the warranty period, because it's a sign of quality. In Austria, the legal warranty for e-bike batteries is 24 months; anything beyond that is considered a manufacturer's warranty. Spusu currently offers a five-year warranty on the battery, as Franz Pichler explains, pointing out that three years or more is generally a sign of high quality. Image: Since the beginning of the year, Spusu e-bikes have been handmade in the Wolkersdorf factory in Lower Austria. Photo: © spusu. |