User:CaseyTL/sandbox

BionX is a manufacturer of high quality proportional electric conversion kits for bicycles, with facilities in Sherbrooke, Quebec; Munich, Germany; Weiz, Austria; as well as a head office and manufacturing plant in Aurora, Ontario. BionX currently supplies many large bicycle manufacturers such as Smart, Trek, Matra, KTM, and Wheeler with their motor and battery technology.

Until January 2011, BionX was owned by Magna Marque International, a subsidiary of Magna International. As of January 1st, Magna and BionX have separated interests, and BionX is now owned by The Stronach Group, and is renamed BionX International. BionX International currently has interests in three different products, BionX propulsion systems, the Styriette bicycle, and the SeaScape 12, a proportionally assisted electric pedal boat.

Magna Marque’s founder and former CEO of Magna International, Manfred Gingl, saw potential in the small business from Asbestos, Qc; and BionX’ founding company, Energy and Propulsion Systems Inc, was purchased by Magna Marque International in January 2007.

The BionX system features 4 levels of proportional assist, 4 generation modes to recharge the battery, and a regenerative braking feature. The assistance is based on rider input, read by a torque sensor on the motor axle. The motor then reacts proportionally, offering natural feeling, easy to control assistance. BionX uses lithium ion batteries exclusively from suppliers such as Sony and Samsung.

In 2008, Trek bicycles and BionX partnered to develop a line of electric bikes under the name Ride+. With Trek’s input, BionX has since developed an innovative 3 speed internal gear hub version of their motor, currently the only one of its kind in production in the world. In 2011, Trek and BionX again partnered to develop a front wheel motor, to meet the needs of Trek’s customers.

In 2011, BionX launched the world’s first electric pedal boat featuring proportional assist, the SeaScape 12. The vehicle offers the same pedal-assist technology as any other BionX system, making it easier to go farther, and faster on the water. In 2012, Mercedes-Benz and BionX partnered to develop the Smart ebike, and is one of the first large automobile manufacturers to enter the growing electric bicycle market.

BionX has completed the first pilot electric bike share project with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) in Sacramento, Ca.

BionX has launched their first concept store in St-Petersburg, FL. called Energy Mobility. Just as Intel is recognised as a global leader with “Intel Inside” technology on millions of computers, BionX seeks similar recognition in the electric bicycle market with the label “Powered by BionX”.