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Currie Technologies puts the "COOL"
back into electric transport
Richard LIM
has the ability to pick new and developing markets. Late
in 1996, Richard started importing the relatively unknown
Palm Pilot organiser and shortly after, became Australia's
first distributor of Palms at a time when hardly anyone
realized the potential of handheld computing. Today we
know of Palm as a listed US$2 billion company and Richard
expects that Currie Technologies will grow in a similar
manner.
Richard
first noticed Currie products while searching the internet
for an electric scooter. Time and time again, Richard
read such glowing reports from happy users of Currie Phat
Flyers that he shipped a couple of sample units to Melbourne.
"I was totally blown away by the functionality and
the practicality of the Phat Flyer scooter. In most inner
city environments, the Phat flyer was the perfect set
of wheels." He was so impressed that he immediately
devised a business plan to distribute the product in Australia
and the management at Currie Technologies Inc. was so
impressed that they granted him an exclusive contract.
 Currie
Technologies produces one of the world's best electric
propulsion systems for bicycles and scooters. Most R&D
has gone into producing a fully sealed drive system that
is robust, powerful, inexpensive and simple to install
onto bicycles. Although Currie produces a range of electric
bicycles, Richard believes that the EV market on top of
reliability, performance, price, wants great looking transport.
"That's the problem with most electric bicycle on
the market, they look ordinary and many have problems
pulling slight inclines". In comparison, cars today
have evolved into much more than just transport; they
have become an extension of our own image and of us. That's
why many people who could possibly use an electric bicycle
choose not to try one out because most have been not sufficiently
fashionable. Richard believes that the Currie Technologies
US ProDrive kit represents the birth of the electric bicycle
revolution. In Australia, they are teaming up with bicycle
manufacturers to offer an electric solution to their customers
and thus expanding their potential market appeal. Currie
Technologies relationship with the Australian importers
and distributors of bicycles has been a huge success.
Many in the Australian bicycle industry understand that
the US ProDrive kit allows them entry into the emerging
electric bicycle markets at very little cost and effort.
One Australian success story has been the Phat Choppers
and Phat Cruisers. These were traditionally classed as
recreational bicycles due to their styling, weight and
lack of gears but with the addition of a US ProDrive,
they are totally transformed to practical and unique pieces
of urban transportation art. "When I ride along the
bike path, I virtually get star status!" People love
it because of all the advantages of green electric travel
but most of all, because it looks totally awesome.
 Once
on the road, the extra weight of these e-bikes over a
modern alloy road bike is of little consequence as a gentle
flick of the thumb throttle, can power you past most weekend
bicycle riders with ease. Currie US ProDrive Systems can
propel a typical bicycle or scooter to a top speed unassisted
of 28km/hr and a range of 20-30km.
The
creative minds at Currie Technologies Australia are always
exploring new markets. The latest is a funky lifestyle
scooters called the "Phat Cow" which is a standard
Phat Flyer SE accessorized with a cow seat, new grips,
Speedo, horn and other extras. Although the image of the
scooter is transformed, the US ProDrive propulsion system
ensures state-of-the-art performance so you look cool
while leaving most cyclists in your dust. The Phat Flyer
is such a versatile platform. The base unit can be transformed
from urban commuter to industrial workhorse to funky-mobile
to off-road warrior with quick minor changes.
Currie
Technologies has always been in the market of affordable
transportation and now they are also making the most stylish.
For more information, visit: www.currietech.com.au
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