We did not necessarily expect Carrefour on this ground.
The retail giant has just entered into an unprecedented partnership with a Parisian start-up, Virvolt, specializing in the electrification of bicycles.
In recent days, a room installed at the Carré-Sénart shopping center in Lieusaint (Seine-et-Marne) has housed technicians from the young company who are able to transform your old bicycle into a dashing electric-assisted bicycle (VAE).
“For that we need half an hour to an hour and a half depending on the characteristics of the bike,” says Jérôme Aristide Gaymard, founder of Virvolt.
The company has developed a kit that is plugged into the rear wheel before being connected to a battery placed on the frame or the luggage rack.
Eligible for municipal premiums
Giving a new lease of life to your two wheels will cost you at least 800 euros.
A fairly substantial sum which can climb to 1200 euros if you opt for assistance located in the crankset.
But the addition can be softened, since the device is eligible for the premium provided by your municipality.
The cost is also to be put in perspective with the purchase price of an eBike in the store.
In 2020, the average price was 1,749 euros according to the Union Sport et Cycles observatory.
Adapting your bike also allows you to have an eBike without waiting, while the success of these two-wheelers causes delays on many models.
The offer at Carré Sénart has been enhanced with a repair workshop.
You can therefore drop off your bike at the workshop before going shopping and find it fully serviced on your return.
"It is a way to get in touch with customers who come at the start for a simple repair and to whom we can present the interest of our kit", judges Jérôme Gaymard, whose company also offers a reconditioning service. batteries.
Soon a kit at 600 euros
For this young shoot installed in the 11th arrondissement, the opportunity was too good to enter into a partnership with a major brand.
“We were skeptical, we will not hide it, but they were able to remove all our doubts, recognizes Jérôme Gaymard, whose artisanal structure will have to move upmarket.
It's a big challenge for us.
Currently, when customers come to see us in our workshop, the kit is already sold.
There, it will be necessary to convince a customer who comes to do his shopping with his trolley.
"
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As for Carrefour, the experience allows it to put a second foot in the circular economy, after the launch of its shelves dedicated to second-hand items.
"We have not set any objectives with this operation", assures Emmanuel Rochedix, director of non-food goods at Carrefour, who says he is in the
t
est and learn
("We test and we learn").
“We will check that the concept works and possibly make adjustments, if necessary,” he explains.
Virvolt is already promising a new electrification kit that is more efficient and above all less expensive (less than 600 euros), requiring barely a quarter of an hour of handling.