The electric bicycle market has a new French player called Anod, in which Xavier Niel has just invested through his venture capital fund Kima Ventures. But as sales slow in these sectors, the Paris-based manufacturer, which has an assembly plant in Fontenay-le-Comte in Vendée, is seeking to protect itself by targeting other means of urban transport.
For the occasion, Anod announced on May 16 a €320,000 fundraising round from several business angels, including Xavier Niel. The new money will be used for research and development (R&D) but also to make this shift towards other forms of soft mobility. Anod described the electric bike market in 2025 as a "gloomy" market at the moment.
To carve out a niche for itself, the young brand is banking on a powertrain connected to a motor capable of recovering energy using patented regeneration technology. The energy recovery system, in addition to a supercapacitor pack and a compact lithium battery, allows it to offer a system five times lighter and smaller than what competitors offer on the market.
For its image, the Anod brand proudly displays its Vendée roots. Arnaud Marlin, its founder, is from there, and many engineering schools are located in the department. A way to take advantage of an important industrial fabric for a company that must stand out in its motors and electric circuits.
Anod's patented technology: a motor connected to supercapacitors
It is with them that Anod has chosen to bet on a system highlighting supercapacitors, capable of carrying out many more charge/discharge cycles than a traditional motor with a battery. Anod announces a minimum lifespan of 15 years, while, in an interview with Les Numériques in 2023, Arnaud Marlin even mentioned the possibility of lasting around fifty years.
The advantage of supercapacitors also lies in their ability to operate over a much wider temperature range, from -40 degrees to +65 degrees. At just -10 degrees, a lithium battery will lose 40% of its capacity. When going uphill, the energy reserve stored in these cells also allows the motor to provide a temporary power of 250 W.
The Anod bike system still works with a lithium battery, installed in the seat tube, but this is only secondary. It works in conjunction with the supercapacitors that the electric motor recharges when the electric bike brakes. The regeneration system relies on a magnetic bearing to limit friction.
In total, Anod has already raised more than €4 million since its creation in 2022. In addition to its recent round of funding from business angels, the brand has been focusing since February 2024 on a Crowdcube crowdfunding campaign, where it presents itself as a company with a valuation of €8.6 million. Entry ticket to embark on the adventure: €1,000.
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