Eliaz Barré He is only 21 years old and has created the Barrolex Type 113a light, simple electric moped designed to be easily repairable that is now seeking financing to make the leap to mass production. Electric mobility seems to be advancing in a very specific direction: vehicles that are increasingly larger, heavier, more sophisticated and loaded with technology. But Eliaz Barré has decided to take the opposite path.
This young Frenchman, as we are telling you, passionate about the classic mopeds of the 70s and 80s, missed those small and simple motorcycles that could be used daily and whose mechanics were not a mystery to their owner. Instead of just lamenting that the concept has all but disappeared, it decided to build its own EV alternative.
This is how Barrolex was born
The project materialized in the Type 113an electric moped that seeks to transfer the philosophy of those “mobylettes“That is, low weight, simple mechanics and ease of maintenance. And there it is, precisely one of its main differences compared to a good part of the electric vehicles that we currently find on the market.
An electric motorcycle that really wants to be light
The Barrolex Type 113 It moves in figures that are especially contained for being an electric vehicle. Its engine develops 3 kW and the maximum speed is limited to 45 km/h, so it falls within the category of mopeds. Its weight is around 53-55 kg, a figure that places it in a very different position compared to many current electric scooters, which in some cases greatly exceed 100 kg.
The announced autonomy is between 40 and 50 km, while the battery uses technology LiFePO4 and is designed to be dismantled. The philosophy of Barrolex It is not only about manufacturing an electric vehicle that consumes little, but about creating a machine that is accessible throughout its useful life.
Repair is, in fact, one of the pillars of the project
The idea of Eliaz Barré is that the owner does not necessarily depend on a complex technical infrastructure to keep his motorcycle running. The constructive simplicity and the possibility of accessing its components are part of the identity of the Type 113. It is a way of understanding electric mobility that is more reminiscent of the old ones «mobylettes«or in our case the “Vespins” than to modern connected electric scooters packed with electronics.
What started as a personal challenge went viral. Yeah, Barre did not start working on the Barrolex with the immediate intention of becoming a motorcycle manufacturer. The project was born as a personal challenge, taking advantage of his knowledge of mechanics and his interest in classic mopeds. But the result began to attract attention. The young Frenchman shared the evolution of his creation on social networks and, little by little, the project gained impact in the French media. Ouest-France and France 3among others, echoed the story of this young man who had decided to build the motorcycle he would like to ride from scratch.
The impact made the idea begin to take on a different dimension.
What was initially a personal creation could become a commercial product. And there began the most complicated part of the adventure. Because designing and building a working prototype is one thing. Turning it into a motorcycle approved and prepared to be manufactured in sufficient quantities is another matter entirely.
The next challenge: «approve and manufacture«. The project is now in a decisive phase. Barrolex works on the approval process of the Type 113 and seeks to move towards future industrial manufacturing. For this, Eliaz Barré has the support of different organizations related to entrepreneurship and innovation in France, including Le Mans Innovation, The French Tech Le Mans ID4Mobility.
But turning an idea into a company requires more than enthusiasm. You also need money. Financing has become one of the main obstacles for Barrolex can continue moving forward. The project needs to demonstrate to potential investors and financial entities that there is real interest on the part of future buyers. For this reason, the initiative has resorted to collective financing.
The amount initially set as the target was 20,000 eurosintended to continue the development of the project and advance on the path towards industrialization. The first reservations announced are around 2,500 eurosalthough the final price of the future production version has not yet been finalized. The approach is simple: if enough people are willing to reserve a Barrolexit will be easier to demonstrate that there is a market for this type of moped.
An alternative to the trend of increasingly heavier electric motorcycles
The initial success of the campaign shows that there is some curiosity about a proposal like this. The Barrolex Type 113 It is not intended to compete with large electric motorcycles or high-performance scooters. Its objective is much more specific: to recover a formula for simple and light urban mobility using electric technology. And perhaps that is precisely its greatest attraction.
It is a philosophy that already worked decades ago with traditional mopeds and that its creator believes can still make sense today. The project still has several challenges ahead before the first units can reach customers. Homologation, industrialization and the financing necessary to manufacture the model in series will be the big steps that must be overcome.
The story of Eliaz Barré It shows that it is not always necessary to have a large company behind you to attract attention. Sometimes it is enough to have a clear idea, the knowledge necessary to turn it into reality and enough perseverance to keep going.
