Wouldn't a world where we could retrofit everything be amazing? Maybe... maybe not. When it comes to adding a souped up engine to just about any transportation device, contraptions like this come to mind. Likewise, when it comes to added utility there's often the notion that we should just throw it out and upgrade for 'fully integrated' design. The Rubbee however, is a neat little gadget for the casual bike enthusiast looking to add some juice to their ride. At roughly the size of a loaf of bread, the device allows you to give your bike all of the perks of being electric with only about a minute of installation.

The Lithuanian company behind Rubbee set out to fill a gap in the market for an easily installed and flexible electric conversion kit for bikes. As some of you may know, converting your tried and true two-wheeler into a super-charged electric ride requires users to switch out a tire and hook up a battery cable—not an entirely quick fix for the casual cyclist looking to bounce between the traditional and electric. The Rubbee requires only that you clamp the box on the seat post, remove the fixation pin to enable suppression system, connect the throttle and turn the system on. You can also ride with without the drive engaged and pedal normally by replacing the fixation pin. On the whole, it seems like a pretty simple bike hack... though many normal conversion kits only take about four minutes more to install and offer double the speed.

The most interesting aspect of the design is that the drive relies on a friction wheel that runs along your back tire and mounts just behind the seat post. The rollers that contact the tire are cast from a polyurethane formula that claims to maintain grip (even in rain or bad weather) but not wear away tire tread. The friction drive may raise a few eyebrows as it seems like a longevity issue for the product. The Rubbee is only guaranteed up to 15 mph, so if you're looking for a super fast ride get ready to pedal. Likewise with the system weighing in at 14 pounds zipping around on a lightweight frame may be a bit out of reach.

Design iterations over two years of development

You can check out the Rubbee through their website or Kickstarter, cheers to hoping they ride off into the sunset—without pedalling, of course.