Revost launches pilot of smart e-bike rack

Lock and Load combines automatic locking and charging of e-bikes in one intuitive solution. Instead of dealing with charging cables and heavy locks, users simply place their bike in the rack. The system automatically secures the bike and starts charging, making everyday use easier while simplifying fleet management for organizations.

The solution addresses a growing need as e-bikes continue to gain popularity. In the Netherlands, nearly half of all bicycles sold in 2025 were electric, representing almost three quarters of the industry's total revenue.

From idea to innovation

Revost was founded in 2024 within TMC's Entrepreneurial Lab, our innovation lab that enables employeneurs to develop and validate their own technology ventures alongside their regular work. Earlier innovations from the programme include Throwabot, a reconnaissance robot now used by defense organizations. Lock and Load is the latest innovation to move from concept towards commercialization.

The start-up was founded by Paul Stöver and Maarten Smit, both University of Twente alumni and TMC employeneurs. The idea originated from Stöver's own commuting experience while working on client projects.

"I kept seeing e-bike users struggling with chargers and heavy chain locks. That's when I thought: there has to be a simpler way," says Paul Stöver, founder of Revost. "We also believe cycling should be the easiest choice for daily mobility. By removing these practical barriers, we hope to encourage even more people to get on their bikes."

To bring the innovation to market, Revost is collaborating with the University of Twente, Bazz E-bikes and Novel-T.

Designed for organizations with e-bike fleets

Lock and Load is developed for organizations that manage e-bike fleets, including bike rental companies, businesses with shared bicycles and employers promoting sustainable mobility for their employees.

A key advantage is that organizations can continue using their existing bikes and original chargers. The charging infrastructure is integrated into the rack, making implementation straightforward and limiting additional investment. The solution also creates opportunities for staffless rental concepts and more efficient fleet management.

Validating the concept

During the pilot, employees of the Centre for Facilities Management at the University of Twente will use e-bikes provided by partner Bazz E-bikes for travel between campus locations. For Revost, this pilot marks an important validation phase. The team has already filed a patent application for the technology and will use the pilot to evaluate how well the solution meets the needs of organizations managing e-bike fleets.

The results will help shape the final product before its planned commercial introduction later this year. Following a successful validation, Revost also intends to begin attracting investment to support further growth.