3 May, 2023
OOLab expands its limits to develop ebikes of the future
To lead the development of future-forward eMTBs requires bold decision making and the anticipation of riders’ needs. At Orbea, we truly believe that innovation and product development go hand-in-hand with the most rigorous tests. Which is to say: evolution requires continuous experimentation.
Our constant search for new horizons has led us to double down on our strategic alliance with Shimano through a new initiative. Together, we’ll develop electric mountain bike products that will be tested under the most demanding race conditions.
This new partnership will allow us to increase our product development by linking it with our main R&D project, OOLab.
Orbea Optimization Lab, the R&D program we launched in 2022, is expanding through a platform dedicated exclusively to developing and testing the most advanced solutions in the category.
This new structure will deepen our knowledge of eMTB systems, push the limits of the ebike category and launch us into the forefront of technology.
CREATING INNOVATIVE BIKES REQUIRES PUSHING THE LIMITS
OOLab will push our Rise and all our new innovations for lightweight electric mountain biking to the extreme.
It will be our test bench for evolving the new EP801-RS motor and the DEORE XT Di2 drivetrain equipped with AUTO SHIFT and FREE SHIFT technologies. It’s a laboratory with the freedom to perfect the SBS system, adjust the geometry and frame stiffness of our lightest eMTB, or develop lighter, more efficient batteries.
Our efforts to develop Rise’s features are already reaping rewards. Enduro Mag recognized Rise with its “Best Buy” award, applauding our vision of what an electric mountain bike should be.
OOLab is brought together by an exclusive engineering team from Orbea, Shimano, Oquo and HIRU who will work hand-in-hand with expert racers to push the limits of performance.
Damien Oton and Gabi Torralba will test the products created under this project. They will compete in high-level races with their Rise and share their impressions with our engineers. Julien Brugeas will lead the team, and his experience in bike performance will be fundamental to the success of the project.
Our objective is clear but ambitious: to offer you an eMTB with the best technology in the world. And to achieve this, we invite you to be a part of this endeavor.