WhaTTfornow Re-invents the Electric Bike

WhaTTfornow develops and manufactures “Twin Transmission” electric bikes. An electric boost activates only when needed, such as on start, acceleration, and climbs. The company wanted to provide an alternative to continual pedaling assistance, which can be frustrating to electric bike riders who do not need it all the time, especially on flat roads and downhills.

The innovative WhaTTfornow design has unique electrical and mechanical systems with a double transmission at the back of the bike as opposed to a traditional bike’s crankset and chain. A belt transmission on the left side of the light, maneuverable bike is powered by a motor regulated by a throttle on the steering column. The powerful motor generates two to three times the torque of other electric bikes, reaching top speed quickly. The lightweight, compact battery is enclosed in the seat tube for an optimal center of gravity.

The first WhaTT prototypes were made in 2016. The French startup company located in the French Alps currently offers three types of bikes: Messenger, for urban environments; Crossroad, for all types of terrain; and Player, for agile off-road and freestyle.

After two years of leveraging SOLIDWORKS® to innovate bikes, WhaTTfornow implemented 3DEXPERIENCE Works solutions. The company greatly valued the ability to secure its data in the cloud, better collaborate within its development team, share data, and avoid human error when sending files, especially regarding multiple versions of components. WhaTTfornow also appreciated the online help desk’s rapid response to their questions via chat or phone.

Simon Savre, mechanical and business development engineer in charge of developing the brand, creating new products, and everything innovative, comments that with 3DEXPERIENCE Works, “we collaborate without the worry, hassles, and mistakes that might occur because of incorrect file naming or managing multiple versions of the same file. When you are a startup, eliminating errors helps focus on creativity and speed.”

Guillaume Lenon, product development and industrialization engineer, sees three main advantages of using 3DEXPERIENCE Works: “The first one is data security; the second one is a better collaboration within the team via real-time data sharing, especially with remote workers; and the last one is the structuring of our development projects.”