This eBike has a stunning minimalist design and a name that I can't pronounce

Electric bikes have been popping up all over the place throughout the last year. We’ve seen a variety of designs from transformers-esque to more classic stylings. It’s seems as if manufacturers have struggled to bring this alternative source of energy to bicycles without creating a battery pack on wheels in the process. A new Swiss-built e-bike with Italian design cues has a different look in mind. Velocipede Fogliaverde, which means “green leaf velocipede” hit Kickstarter in hopes of funding this project. More below.

For me personally, a slim-frame cruiser such as this would fit the bill as an electric bike alternative. The single-speed cycle has a 22-inch steel frame and double butted tubes. A lightweight design allows for a smaller battery pack to be used, making it a perfect combination for a sleek stance. Everything, including the battery, sensor and electronics and stored in the rear hub. Unless you were to be looking specifically for the power pack, it would likely go unnoticed.

It has a 250W motor and electric drive system that provides speeds up to 15MPH in most situations. Like many other eBikes, it also offers a powered assist mode that lets riders combine their own energy with the built-in battery. There are seven levels of assistance and rides times vary based on the amount of power required. The bike itself weighs in at 33 pounds, which the Kickstarter page proclaims is “probably the lightest eBike on the market!”

Additional features include smartphone connectivity for tracking data, performance and locking the bike itself. The battery takes around two hours to fully charge and should provide enough range for most commuters. After just a few days on Kickstarter, this project still has a long ways to go. It has raised around $3,500 with an end goal of $312,000. That said, there is still 25 days of funding that remains. A pledge of $3,336 will deliver a bike next April, if all goes to plan.