Hyboo Bike: electric bikes and conversion kits
We interviewed Carla.
From haute couture to bamboo, from Parisian luxury to Vietnam, Carla Sarantellis has come a long way atypical and enriching for creating Hyboo Bike.
Visionary and determined, she merged sustainable design and social commitment to create a bamboo bicycle unlike any other. Balancing ecological innovation and technical challenges, she brought to life responsible and elegant mobility.
👉 Follow his adventure, from his beginnings in the world of luxury to the creation of hybrid bikes inspired by nature and carrying unique values.
Carla Sarantellis: founder and designer of Hyboo eco-friendly bamboo bicycles
👉 Carla Sarantellis is the founder and the designer/designer of Hyboo hybrid bamboo bicycle models.
"I consider myself a Swiss Army knife," These are her words. She designed Hyboo bicycles, focusing particularly on frame geometry, with a strong interest in design and patent filing. Before that, she worked in the world of luxury and fashion, in ready-to-wear, designer, and haute couture.
She made the leap from different fields to dedicate herself to humanitarian work. Her journey, she says, pushed her to go far beyond what she had imagined, and she continues to take action to make a difference.
After five years of incubation at the Institut Mines-Télécom in Lille-Douai, she perfected the design and tested the robustness of the HYBOO bike, choosing bamboo for its mechanical qualities and flexibility.
The origins of Hyboo Bike
"Hyboo Bike's story began more than 20 years ago, when I was an expatriate in Asia. I became involved in humanitarian and volunteer work for an NGO," she said.
Upon her return to France, she was entrusted with new missions by this NGO, focused on helping men, whereas she had mainly worked to develop jobs for women in Vietnam.
"Inspired by the bamboo frame initiative already launched by the NGO, I wanted to create a bridge between Vietnam, where I have lived for over ten years, and France, by allowing people with disabilities to participate in The assembly of bamboo frames. Carla announces.
Gradually, she realized that this presented significant challenges, particularly due to ISO standards and the strict specifications for these Hyboo bikes. Becoming a bike manufacturer doesn't happen overnight! However, Carla persevered, and soon the first Hyboo Bike bamboo bicycles were born.
The concept: eco-friendly bamboo bicycles combining design and sustainability
Hyboo Bike is a unique approach that combines sustainable design and commitment social. It's the only patented bamboo bike eligible for the e-bike subsidy, incorporating ecological benefits. in its process innovation.
It stands out due to its use of this plant-based material for the frame, mudguard, and certain accessories. a material chosen for its ecological and mechanical qualities and its ability to absorb shocks.
The design of each model is optimized for a specific use, from urban cycling to sporty gravel biking, and supported by a rigorous testing and certification process, ensuring bikes that are as high-performing as they are eco-friendly.
The ranges Hyboo Bike: Comfort, Gravel and Cruiser
Hyboo Bike bicycles are designed to adapt to the different sizes of their users and their specific needs. The brand offers three ranges : Hyboo Comfort, Hyboo Gravel and Hyboo Cruiser, each comprising two bicycle models.
Hyboo Comfort range
🚴♂️ Hyboo Comfort
"This unisex model, with an open frame, is designed for everyday urban use, ideal for commuting by bike. Lightweight and electrifiable, it combines comfort and practicality."
🚴♂️ Hyboo Comfort City
"Designed for shorter people, this urban and electrifiable model offers the same lightness for daily commutes in the city."
Hyboo Gravel Range
🚴♂️ Hyboo Gravel Fitness/Hyboo Gravel Line
"Designed for gravel enthusiasts, these lightweight, muscular bikes offer a sporty and recreational experience. They come in one Kaiser model and two City bikes, with open frames and several sizes."
Hyboo Cruiser range
🚴♂️ Hyboo Cruiser
"Eco-friendly and made from bamboo, this lightweight electric bike is perfect for urban commutes and daily travel."
How Hyboo Bike met Virvolt ?
During ProDays, Nicolas, Director of Partnerships and Product Innovation at Virvolt, visited their booth to present our equipment. Carla struck up a conversation with him and met him again later at another trade show in Strasbourg. They stayed in touch, and she subsequently met Yvan, CEO of Virvolt.
Carla recounts the chronology of events: "Initially, we tested a front-wheel motor, which didn't perfectly suit the open geometry of our bicycle frames." Recently, I I became interested in rear wheel motors and we equipped one of our bikes with a Virvolt 750 Kit, which was a hit with our customers.This rear-wheel drive version is safer for our models."
Electrifying an unusual bike like the Hyboo was a challenge they decided to take on. Today, we're starting a new adventure with them and we're thrilled!
Performance and lightness: the advantages of Virvolt Kits to optimize Hyboo bikes
👉 ""A couple and a lighthearted atmosphere!" in Carla's words.
Hyboo bikes were designed to remain lightweight, and the addition of Our kits maintain this quality, which delights Carla. Furthermore, the torque allows for effortless climbing of steep hills.
Success stories: testimonial related to Virvolt
Carla recounts:Recently, a woman called me explaining that she had suffered a hernia and couldn't climb the hill in front of her house. She had had her bike electrified by a competitor, but the motor wasn't powerful enough and the competitor refused to take the bike back.
She therefore decided to go to Lyon to bring her a bicycle equipped with a Virvolt motor so that she could try it out. She is convinced that Our electrification kits offer sufficient torque to help it climb this hill with ease.
And what about "Made in France" in all of this?
For the founder of Hyboo Bike, working with a French motor manufacturer is an advantage, but it's not her priority. What matters most is being able to communicate quickly and easily. She values listening, kindness, and responsiveness.
♻ "Of course, if it's made in France, that's a bonus!"
It always favours its local ecosystem, and for its motorization, its source is in France.
What are the current trends in the market?
👉 Today, the trend is leaning more towards motors in the bottom bracket.
"However, we cannot integrate them into their framework without completely rethinking research and development," she explains.
The rear wheel motor suits them well, as it also allows them to ride in muscle mode.
In short...
In conclusion, the Hyboo Bike adventure, led by Carla Sarantellis, continues to push the boundaries of eco-responsible cycling. The launch of this The partnership with Virvolt marks a turning point for the brand, allowing it to offer powerful and adaptable motors that perfectly complement its unique bamboo bicycles. Together, Hyboo and Virvolt have created an alliance where performance, durability, and French expertise converge.With this collaboration, Hyboo Bike continues its vision of accessible and sustainable mobility and proves that innovation and responsibility can transform everyone's daily life.
Share:
Find your electric bike kit near you – Bike electrification solutions
Electrify your bike with a Gambade Cycles