Helsinki-based startup Urban Cycles is now taking orders on the Equal, an urban e-bike where the battery is located within the top tube.

Priced at €1,490, the single-speed Equal features a 250W 40Nm rear hub motor and a 225Wh Li-ion battery.

A torque sensor measures how fast and how hard you are pedalling and automatically adjusts the level of assistance.

The bike also comes with hydraulic brakes and integrated front and rear lights.

The base model has a regular chain, but customers can upgrade to a Gates belt drive for an additional €250.

Urban says that accessories like a kickstand, rear rack and others will also become available for purchase as they near production in summer 2021.

At a claimed weight of 14.7kg, it’s one of the lighter e-bikes around.

“Our bike looks beautiful, it rides like a dream, and comes fully equipped for safe urban trips,” said Urban Cycles co-founder and CEO, Andriy Sytnyk. “With a €1,490 starting price, we want people to stop comparing the cost of a decent e-bike and a used car."

The most striking element is the battery, which locks inside the top tube.

It can either be charged in situ or removed. The charging time is 3.5 hours.

"If you want to build an innovative e-bike, you can't just use off-the-shelf components,” said Urban co-founder and CTO, Serhii Yatsuk. “You've really got to engineer it from the wheels up.

"We in-house developed key technology, like adaptive pedal assist, removable in-frame battery, or mobile connectivity, and seamlessly integrated it into the bike. A lot of work has been done just for a single purpose: riding Equal leaves you with nothing to think about but the ride itself."