In April 2020, the publication of a ministerial decree gave official existence to the “retrofit” in France, by specifying its regulatory framework.
Since then, around twenty companies have embarked on this niche and have submitted applications for approval of electrification kits.
And Noil, who wants to specialize in the “retrofitting” of two-wheelers, is the first to hit the mark.
Founded by three childhood friends and based in Montreuil, the company has obtained approval for its electrification kit for the Solex, and the Peugeot 103 should follow.
But Noil is not only targeting the vintage two-wheeler market.
Far from there.
What if the Solex made its big comeback in the streets of Paris?
Providence device for generations of post-war students, the moped has not been produced since 1988, at least in its thermal version.
"And since 2016 and the measures put in place by Anne Hidalgo to fight against pollution, it is no longer possible to ride with it in the capital *", recalls Victor Breban, co-founder of the Noil company.
What is true for Paris today could also be true, in the future, in the 35 agglomerations which will have Low Emission Zones (ZFE) by 2025.
It then remains for Solex to take the electric train.
The brand still exists and specializes in electrically assisted bicycles (VAE), the design of which is inspired by the original models.
Like the Solex Intemporel, a true copy of the first Solex released in 1946.
The "retrofit" ahead of two-wheelers
But hey, buying a brand new two-wheeler doesn't offer a second life to the thousands who sleep in garages. Another solution is the “retrofit”. The process, which applies as much to two-wheelers as to cars, trucks, boats, etc., consists in extracting the heat engine from a vehicle, and all the panoply that goes with it, to replace it with an electric motor. Another way, therefore, to move towards low-carbon mobility, but which starts from zero in France. Blame it on a regulatory framework that was unsuitable for a long time. A decree published on April 3, 2020 clarified this and should allow the industry to really take off in France.
Here we are ? Not that easy. About twenty companies have embarked on this niche and have submitted applications for approval of electrification kits. But the procedures are long, in particular because of the batteries of safety test to pass. In mid-April, in an interview with
20 Minutes
, Arnaud Pigoudines, co-president of the Electric Retrofit Sector Association in France (AIRe), did not announce until next fall the first “retrofitted” vehicles on our roads.
It was without counting Noil, launched in May 2019 by three childhood friends *, passionate about motorcycles and eager to decline the “retrofit” to two-wheelers.
"The procedures go a little faster on these vehicles," explains Victor Breban.
We obtained approval to "retrofit" the Solex three weeks ago, announces Victor Breban.
We also passed all the tests for the Peugeot 103 [another legendary moped] and hope to obtain approval for this model within two weeks.
"
An electric Solex, but with its roller transmission and pedals
Noil says he has already received a hundred orders to “retrofit” Solex, and 75 others for Peugeot 103. The first deliveries are scheduled for June. They will leave the Noil workshops, in Montreuil, or the network of around fifteen installers, all over France, that the company is in the process of approving.
Certainly, there will be purists to consider that switching these old models to electric is sinful. Noil made sure, in any case, that the transformation was as discreet as possible. For the Solex, for example, only the lithium-ion battery, installed on the rear luggage rack, makes it possible to realize this. Otherwise, the electric motor fits in the same cylinder, on the front wheel, as its thermal predecessor. “It took a lot of engineering work to get it into there,” said Victor Urban. Otherwise, we have kept the roller for the transmission, which gives that noise so characteristic of the Solex, and even the pedals for those who want to use them. ". Like the original also, we do not exceed 30 km / h. As for the battery,it offers a range of about thirty kilometers and is removable, which allows you to take it home to recharge it.
Don't limit yourself to vintage
Noil has other models from the past to “retrofit” in mind.
A third homologation, for the Vespa PX, is expected by the end of the year.
But vintage two-wheelers are only one of the markets targeted by the start-up from Montreuil, not even the one it was thinking of when it was launched.
The initial observation was quite different.
“On the one hand, there are still few offers of electric scooters on the market, and those which are well are worth very expensive, begins Victor Breban.
On the other hand, there are 1.5 million scooters in categories 125 cm³ and below today in France, and whose circulation could be constrained in the future, at least in large cities.
It is unthinkable to just scrap them and replace them with so many new electric scooters.
"
It is therefore the “modern” two-wheelers that the inhabitants of Montreuil are aiming for above all.
The French regulatory framework authorizes “retrofitting” on two-wheelers over three years old.
This leaves a vast playing field for Noil.
In the next three years, it hopes to obtain approvals for its electrification kits for fifteen to twenty models of 50 and 125 cm³, the templates that we see the most on the roads.
“And even if possible by the end of the year for the BMW C1 [recognizable by its roof] or the Xmax [from Yamaha], the best-selling 125cc in France.
Two scooters for which we already have a lot of requests ”, specifies Victor Breban.
Convert 10,000 two-wheelers to electric within five years
The price of these "retrofits" could however be a brake for some. For the Solex, the transformation amounts to 499 euros for the individual, after deducting the aid of 1,100 euros established by the State and "that we take care of ourselves to look for", continues the co-founder of Noil. The price rises to 899 euros for a Peugeot 103 and between 1,000 and 1,300 euros for a 50 cm³, still deducting these aids.
For the 125 cc, Noil is planning another commercial model. “We are on more powerful scooters [90-100 km / h], to which we will have to provide more autonomy [100 km], explains Victor Breban. This significantly increases the cost of the "retrofit". To amortize it as well as possible and allow the individual not to pay everything at once, the installation of the kit will be invoiced at 1,600 euros, but will then be added a monthly fee of 35 euros including maintenance of the engine and the drums. "
Noil hopes to convert 250 two-wheelers to electric by the end of the year and 10,000 within five years.
Not just individuals, for that matter.
The city of Montreuil thus plans to work with the startup to “retrofit” the eighteen thermal scooters in its fleet, announced the municipal magazine in February.
"We are also in discussion with other cities, including Paris," says Victor Breban.
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* At least for old vehicles registered under the collection regime on condition of being at least 30 years old and of being in the original configuration, we told the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles (FFVE).
And solex is eligible for this special regime.
The FFVE already says it has 2,000 registered in its database.
** Besides Victor Breban, the two other co-founders of Noil are Clément Fleau and Raphaël Setbon.
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