The Ultima Multipath : the lightweight 21kg electric bike
Discover the Multipath : Ultima Mobility's lightweight electric bike
We often tend to talk about lightweight electric bikes by looking at only one number : their weight. It might be 15 kg, 20 kg, 25 kg, and then we compare, classify, and make lists.
But the truth is, weight isn't the main argument. What lightweight electric bikes really change is how we experience cycling on a daily basis : more autonomy in our movements, more freedom in our journeys, and fewer physical and logistical constraints.
So in reality, it's not the weight that matters, it's what it allows.
Why is everyone talking about lightweight electric bikes (without ever explaining their true impact) ?
Electric bikes facilitate urban mobility, but many remain too heavy for truly smooth daily use. E-bike users therefore face several problems :
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Tired of carrying an electric bike up the stairs
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Difficulty maneuvering a heavy electric bike on a crowded cycle path (in the city)
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Stress of having to park a heavy electric bike (approximately 28kg) in a room or space that is too small
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An additional difficulty for the elderly, those of short stature, and beginners
That's why at Ultima, we wanted to change the game: to truly understand your needs and create a bike that adapts to your everyday life. Weighing in at just 21 kg, our Multipath is ready for any situation : a lightweight, powerful, durable, and recyclable electric bike , designed entirely for the city.
Who are lightweight electric bikes for ?
As you might expect, it's not the competitive cyclist who most needs a lightweight electric bike, but rather the cyclist who would never have bought a bike if it weren't already one. Several types of riders will naturally gravitate towards this type of bike :
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People who regularly climb stairs (very frustrated when it comes to carrying heavy bicycles)
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Elderly people or those with pain
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Beginners who might be intimidated by heavy electric bikes
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Users who frequently transport their bicycles (train, elevators, etc.)
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People who want a bike that's easy and quick to learn to use
How did we reach 21 kg at Ultima ?
This exceptional weight is the result of a unique combination of patented Ultima technologies and a completely redesigned construction to optimize every gram.
A monocoque frame injected from recycled carbon and a polyamide matrix
The Multipath uses an injection-molded monocoque frame made from recycled carbon and polyamide matrix.
This patented Ultima technology offers :
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exceptional structural rigidity
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a major weight reduction
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natural vibration damping
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low environmental impact manufacturing
And most importantly: the frame is fully recyclable at the end of its life, in line with Ultima's commitment to more circular mobility.
A built-in battery, lightweight and perfectly balanced
The battery is directly integrated into the frame, ensuring reduced weight, perfect balance and optimized range for urban journeys.
The Valeo engine with integrated automatic gearbox
The heart of the Multipath is one of the most advanced propulsion systems on the market :
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Valeo high-performance motor
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Integrated automatic gearbox (no derailleur, no adjustments, everything is automated)
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Smooth and ultra-responsive assistance
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Intelligent optimization of energy consumption
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Total simplicity : the engine automatically manages the gears for consistently optimal driving
This engine + transmission integration not only reduces overall weight, but also provides a more intuitive, efficient and reliable driving experience.
Components designed for lightness
Every component : wheels, brakes, cockpit, is chosen to maximize performance without adding unnecessary weight to the bike. The result : a bike that remains agile, stable, and extremely enjoyable to ride.
Why is an electric bike with a 100km range generally much heavier ?
As Colin Chapman said, "light is right".
To achieve a range of approximately 100 km, an electric bike needs a battery weighing 6 to 8 kg, bringing the total weight to an average of 27-29 kg. Ultima's Multipath makes a clear choice : prioritizing lightness, agility, and urban comfort over extreme range, which is unnecessary for most daily commutes .
How the lightness of your electric bike really changes your daily experience
Advantages of lightweight electric bikes
A lighter electric bike offers real everyday advantages. It's not just easier to carry; it completely changes how you use your bike and the quality of your experience with it.
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Transport made easier and effort reduced : climbing a few steps, overcoming an obstacle, or loading your bike onto a bike rack by yourself finally becomes simple. Everyday micro-movements are no longer a hindrance.
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More dynamic riding : with less mass to move, the Valeo motor and its automatic gearbox react more quickly. The bike responds better, accelerates more naturally, and provides an immediate feeling of fluidity.
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Instant maneuverability : you feel much less constrained, much freer, and this allows you to make smoother and more informed decisions on the road (for turning, starting, or avoiding a pedestrian). Ultimately, this also allows you to significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
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The biggest motivation to use it every day: if you live in an apartment, and especially on the top floor without an elevator, the difference is enormous. The lightness changes everything: you take the bike out more often and without hesitation.
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Not to mention that a lightweight electric bike will be much better suited to lighter riders, especially since weight is the enemy of cycling.
An electric bike is only practical if it's well-balanced. In other words, you shouldn't reduce the bike's weight just for the sake of it ; it needs to be optimized intelligently.
A bicycle designed to last… and to be recycled
Thanks to its monocoque frame made of recycled carbon and recyclable polyamide, the Multipath embodies a rare commitment to sustainability in the electric bike sector. At the end of its life cycle, its materials can be reused, drastically reducing its environmental impact.
In a few words…
A lightweight electric bike isn't just an object. It's a daily facilitator. It's a bike you pick up without hesitation, because it removes everyday obstacles. And that's why it changes your life more than a powerful or fully equipped bike.
With its recycled carbon monocoque frame, Valeo motor with integrated automatic gearbox, and featherweight 21 kg, the Ultima Multipath redefines the modern electric bike : light, powerful, durable and recyclable.
While long-range electric bikes generally exceed 28 kg, our Multipath offers you the perfect balance: more maneuverable, simpler, more enjoyable.
For those who wish to better understand the technology behind this framework, a detailed appendix is available further down in the article!
Technical Annex
How did we manage to manufacture a lightweight electric bike frame that ticks all the boxes ?
Manufacturing a frame for a lightweight and balanced electric bike
(Section intended for advanced readers and technology enthusiasts)
Complexity of electric bike frames : why are current methods insufficient to produce a lightweight electric bike ?
Manufacturing an electric bike frame presents a triple challenge : achieving a lightweight, precise, and repeatable frame while maintaining reasonable production costs and times. Current industry technologies partially meet these requirements but each has its limitations.
- Welded or bonded frames (aluminum/steel) : simple but limited
This type of manufacturing has the advantage of being simple and inexpensive to implement, but the quality of the resulting frame is only average, and therefore suitable only for entry-level bikes.
- Hand-draped carbon frames : high-performance but expensive and inconsistent.
The draping process involves cutting layers of raw material, called pre-impregnated material, and manually draping them in a mold that will give the part its shape. This second manufacturing technique results in high-end, lightweight frames, but they are very expensive due to high production costs (particularly labor).
- Frames made of two assembled half-shells : practical but fragile
A third technique involves creating the frame by manufacturing and then assembling frame halves. However, this technique requires a connection between the halves, which may lack robustness, watertightness, and/or geometric and dimensional stability over time.
- One-piece frames made from recycled polymer : eco-friendly but too heavy
Some patents propose using a one-piece mold into which a polymer derived from recycled polyethylene terephthalate bottles is injected. In addition to its environmental benefits, this process reduces the risk of frame aging due to steel corrosion and eliminates the need for costly and polluting anti-corrosion treatments. However, the resulting frame is relatively heavy and therefore unsuitable for certain applications.
- Other hybrid processes : still insufficient precision
There are also processes combining molding, internal drawers, and blow molding, but they don't always achieve the level of precision and repeatability required for a lightweight, high-end frame. In short, each technique offers significant advantages, but none ticks all the boxes :
- Optimal lightness
- Precise and homogeneous structure
- Perfect repeatability
- Durability over time
- Controlled production costs
It's precisely this lack of balance that has driven Ultima Mobility to explore and develop other avenues that can address existing problems and combine :
- The precision of a one-piece frame
- The lightness of an advanced material
- The repeatability of a modern industrial process
- And an ecological logic of recyclability
That's why we wanted to address this with a completely new manufacturing process.
Ultima's solution
Ultima Mobility uses an innovative process based on a specially designed mold to manufacture a one-piece frame from injected polymer material.
Unlike welded, glued, or two-piece molded frames that exhibit variations, weak points, or a lack of precision, Ultima Mobility uses a one-piece mold equipped with interlocking slides. During polymer injection, these slides remain perfectly in place, resulting in uniform thickness, stable geometry, and near-perfect repeatability, frame after frame.
Thanks to this automated process, the Multipath benefits from a lightweight, strong frame, free of weak points or joints that could deform over time. Manufacturing takes only a few minutes, resulting in a durable, single-piece structure perfectly suited to the demands of modern urban mobility.
This technology is necessary because it finally makes it possible to reconcile what traditional methods cannot do simultaneously :
- Lightweight frame
- Perfect control of thickness
- Stable and precise geometry
- Highly resistant one-piece structure
- Rapid and repeatable production
- Controlled costs
- Durability over time
It's this combination that makes possible a lightweight, reliable electric bike truly suited to modern urban use : the Multipath .
