Our History

Our story begins in 2014. The company was founded on the idea of designing, building, and importing exciting new technologies in the personal electric mobility industry. It began around electric-wheelchairs. Both of us founding partners have siblings confined to wheelchairs due to childhood medical issues. We shared a common desire to find practical solutions that might benefit our family as well as friends with similar challenges. However, many of the more advanced solutions were unavailable in the U.S. due to stringent regulatory laws. We knew there had to be a way through the regulatory restrictions that were dampening innovation in this field. 

The vision for our company crystallized when we attended the New Jersey Abilities Expo which featured many of the technologies that were being used by people with disabilities. It was a life-changing event. We spoke with dozens of vendors and watched demonstrations by many participants. On the drive home, we talked and discussed how PEVs were not only a practical solution for the disabled, some of these solutions could be commercially successful to a broader audience. We agreed on a core belief: if there is personal challenge, there is likely an PEV developed exclusively for that challenge. It was a matter of pulling those PEVs together and showing the world how innovation in this area was making quantum advancements and how these advancements might benefit us all.

We opened the shop in 2015 featuring a selection of PEVs that showcased innovation. These included electric scooters, electric wheelchairs, electric skateboards, hoverboards, solowheels, electric bicycles, electric trikes, and electric recumbents. Our shop motto became "Ride Far, Ride Free, Ride Green!". 

We didn't know exactly what to expect. The first month or so was a lot of discussion and "education". We met and were visited by many customers who had heard about one or two of our products and wanted to learn more.  Those initial customers turned out to be the best of the best. Word of mouth spread quickly and we were suddenly overwhelmed with customers interest in every type of product we sold.

Today, we’ve seen a surge of interest around e-bikes that clearly has become the dominant product group of our shop. Electric scooters and skateboards too are quickly finding a strong following in young professionals who are looking for a lighter way to commute between train and office.  Despite booming sales in Europe – especially in Scandinavia – where e-bikes are as common as conventional bicycles, the U.S. appetite for e-bikes has been slow to take root. Some writers have opined that the reason that e-bikes have not had as much success in the U.S. as in Europe and Asia is because of American’s love affair and dependence on the automobile. 

Thankfully, that love affair is beginning to wane. The Voltaire Cycles along with a few other exclusive retailers of e-bikes are experiencing a surge of early adopters looking for health, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to their car. Sales of e-bikes, e-trikes, e-scooters, and e-skateboards are soaring nationally; a fact confirmed by several industry research reports.  

More electric bikes are sold each year than any other electric vehicle. There are many new brands launching new types of electric assist systems that are pushing both range, and economy further than we’d ever have dream. This year, there are a number of new “super” bikes promising riding ranges of 130 miles to a single charge! We know that these miraculous numbers are just the beginning. Don’t be surprised to see personal electric helicopters, and taxi drones in the next 10 years enabling people to hop skip over to neighboring cities without wasting an afternoon in a traffic jam.

If you are looking to join this exciting industry – or even better – becoming a part of our history by owning your own branded Voltaire Cycles Franchise, please complete the form below. 

This is a high-growth industry with a bright future. In the next few years, e-bikes and related vehicles will be entering main-stream America where owning a personal electric vehicle will be a common as owning an iPhone or laptop computer. These personal electric vehicles are already finding a foothold in municipal departments such as police departments and parks and recreation departments; cleaning companies, health groups, recreational riders, and on many public roads. The economic, health, and sustainability benefits are too valuable today to think that the future of PEVs is short-lived. We know there is a lot more to come.
If you are looking to join this exciting industry – or even better – becoming a part of our history by owning your own branded Voltaire Cycles Franchise, please let us know by completing the form below. We will be happy to speak with you about your vision, interest and the many possibilities available. 

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