Where to transform your bike with an electric bike kit in 2023 ?

Want to Transforming your current bicycle into an electric bicycle? Excellent news!!

It's indeed a great way to save money and enjoy a level of comfort you'll quickly come to rely on. This method also allows you to benefit from the same high-quality motorization as a brand-new electric bike (speed, power, weight, pedaling efficiency, etc.). Finally, and this is a point we care deeply about, it's a way to convert existing bikes rather than buying new ones, thus helping to protect our planet. And that's something we really appreciate.

Without further ado, let us explain where to electrify your bike. Let's go!

Why don't we have electricity in our offices?

That's a good point.

At the beginning of our journey, Virvolt was a bicycle repair shop, located just steps from Place de la République. Back then, customers were welcomed directly on-site. Since then, we've become a supplier and motor manufacturer. We've therefore chosen to focus on research and development and the rollout of future products. Our offices are now reserved for our teams.

However, you can electrify your bike with our kit in over 250 partner shops in France. A look at some key shops in the biggest cities in France.

Good to know: OUR kit 900 It must be installed by a professional in order for you to benefit from the manufacturer's warranty. This is our way of ensuring that your installation is carried out correctly and that you can drive safely.

Where to get your bike electrified in France

Here's an overview of some of our partners located in France, particularly in major cities. We also have over 250 partner stores across the country; to discover them, visit our store page.

Bicycle electrification in Lyon

In Lyon, we have 3 key partners:

• Virvolt Lyon : 8 Rue Romarin, 69001 Lyon
• Vincent Cycles : 10 Grande Rue de St Clair, 69300 Caluire-et-Cuire
• AJD Foundation : 13 Rue Saint-Simon, 69009 Lyon

Bicycle electrification in Montpellier

In Montpellier, we have two key partners:

• Cycles and recycling : 6 Av. Bouisson Bertrand, Montpellier, 34090
• Hello Bike : 1 Pl.de la Fontaine, 34570 Montarnaud

Bicycle electrification in Marseille

In Marseille, we have 8 key partners:

• Bicycle Workshop 1 : 71 Bd Gillibert, 13009 Marseille
• Massilia Bike System : 3 Boulevard Adrien Rousseau, 13011 Marseille
• Vélo Azur : 37 Rue Goudard, 13005 Marseille
• Cargo Mass : 58 Rue Consolat, 13001 Marseille
• Cobannos Cycles : 6 Rue de la Grande Armée, 13001 Marseille
• Doctor Bike Marseille : 33 rue Edouard Delanglade 13006 Marseille
• Gaaswatt : 227 Avenue Pierre Mendès, 13008 Marseille
• Pedaling : Château de la Buzine, Parc des 7 Collines, 15 Rue de la Saoupe, 13011 Marseille

Bicycle electrification in Toulouse

In Toulouse, we have 8 key partners:

• Mechaniccycle : 47 Avenue de Grande Bretagne, 31300 Toulouse
• Botch Cargo : Minimes district, 31200 Toulouse
• Pasquet Cycles : 108 Avenue de Muret, Toulouse
• Bicycle workshop Toulouse : 33 Av. Crampel, 31400 Toulouse
• Cycle and Performance : 103 Av. Jean Rieux, 31500 Toulouse
• Alaska BC SARL : 241 Bis Route d'Albi - 31200 Toulouse
• The bicycle house : 61 RUE PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE, 31670 Labège
• Ebike Fab : 13 Rue Arthur Rimbaud, 31530 LASSERRE

We are very pleased to have a partner specializing in converting classic bicycles into electric cargo bikes: Botch Cargo. To learn more, see our article "Is it possible to..." converting a standard bicycle into an electric cargo bike, or contact the Botch team directly.

Bicycle electrification in Bordeaux

In Bordeaux, we have 10 key partners:

• Boudebois : 18 Rue Gouffrand, 33300 Bordeaux
• Backpedaling : 158 Rue Fondaudège, 33000 Bordeaux
• Ecocycle Darwin : 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
• Queen Cargo : 135 Rue Montmejean, Bordeaux
• Lilicycle : 69 Rue Paul Doumer, 33700 Mérignac
• Ecocycle : 36 Av. Aristide Briand, 33700 Mérignac
• Cultu' vélo : 1 Chem.de Pouchon, 33700 Mérignac
• Alpina Cycles : 7 Avenue Georges Clemenceau, Talence
• Mr. Clement Recycles : 46 Rue Ferdinand Buisson, 33130 Bègles
• Cruiser dealer : 7 rue des 29 Aviateurs, 33700 Mérignac

By the way, Bordeaux ranks 2nd in the ranking of the most bike-friendly French metropolitan areas. A very encouraging result and enough to make more people from Bordeaux want to take up cycling.

Bicycle electrification in Nantes

In Nantes, we have a main partner: Nantes Cycle Service.

Some information for those who want to start cycling in Nantes:

• Nantes is a city that is working extensively to promote cycling.
• According to the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB), the city of Nantes received a grade of C on a scale ranging from G for the most unfavorable to A+ for the most favorable.
• Nantes ranks 13th out of 20 in the ranking of the most bike-friendly cities in France.

Testimony from the media outlet Le Parisien: They electrified their bicycle

In this video, the Parisian team answers most of the questions you might have about the subject of bicycle electrification:

• How to install an electric motor on your old bike that's been sitting in the garage
• How to choose the right electrification kit (internet, shop, etc.)
• How long will it take to install and transform your bike?
• Which motor should I prioritize (pedal drive, front wheel, rear wheel, etc.)?
• Should you opt for a home installation or one by a professional?
• What advice is there for choosing a suitable battery?
• Is there a risk in terms of safety (frame strength, etc.)?
• How does the sensor work?
• What is the legislation in France?

PS: We had the opportunity to meet them during the filming of this video. The team also installed the 900 kit at our partner Cycler's location.

What is the price of electrifying a bicycle?

The cost of converting a bicycle to electric varies widely depending on several criteria:

• The original bicycle (repairs, compatibility, etc.)
• The chosen electrification kit (front wheel motor, rear wheel motor, mid-drive motor with torque sensor). Note that mid-drive motors are currently considered the most efficient. We offer two kit sizes: the KIT 500 (with front wheel motor) and the KIT 900 (with mid-drive motor).
• The chosen battery format (battery life, design, etc.)
• The type of installation (self-installation or via a professional).

We share all the information on the subject in our article dedicated to the possibility of finding a affordable electric bike. Overall, you should expect to pay between 800 and 1300 euros.

FAQ: Converting your electric bike

How much does it cost to electrify a bicycle?

The price to electrify your bike with an electric kit is around €700 for a mid-range kit. For electric kit models with a large battery, expect to pay around €1000.

How do you convert a regular bicycle into an electric bicycle?

There are currently 3 different solutions:

• A motor integrated into the rear wheel
• A motor integrated into the front wheel
• A motor coupled to the pedals

We discuss this in more detail in our article. Why and how to electrify your bicycle. It also discusses new electric bikes (e-bikes) so that you can have a complete view of the subject.

Where can I get my bike converted to electric in Paris?

At Virvolt, we have chosen to work with a network of professionals across France. As for Paris, we currently have 10 trained partners to electrify your bike:

• Cyclocare : 3 Avenue Victoria, 75004 Paris
• Pastel Turbigo : 38 Rue de Turbigo, 75003 Paris
• Pastel Richer : 4 Rue Richer, 75009 Paris
• V'lo 9n : 28 Rue des Bernardins, 75005 Paris
• Kameleon Bike : 10 Rue Thérèse, 75001 Paris
• Geppetto & Bike : 28 rue des Fossés Saint Bernard, 75005 Paris
• Great city bike : 4 Pass. des Marais, 75010 Paris
• 2 & 3 Electric Wheels : 148 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75014 Paris, France
• Bicloune : 65 Avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris
• Vintage bicycle Paris : 18 Rue Pache, 75011 Paris

Good to know: To find the Virvolt partner store closest to you, simply visit our page shop and enter your address. You will immediately see nearby partners.

How to obtain the scrappage bonus for an electric bike?

Yes. The conditions then depend on where you live. Let's take Paris as an example. To qualify for the scrappage scheme, you must scrap a diesel vehicle (registered before January 2011) or a petrol vehicle (registered before 2006). The grant can then cover up to 40% of the bicycle's price, capped at €3,000. It can be combined with subsidies for purchasing an electric bicycle, such as the "ecological bonus". To learn more, visit our page aid and subsidies.