The idea for the Brekr comes from entrepreneur Niels Willems and his partner Jasper Hagedoorn. “We are making the transition from fuel to electric, but the vehicles still look the same. Electric mopeds and motorcycles all have a kind of petrol tank. That is illogical, because you actually want the battery and the center of gravity as low as possible. We changed the design at the Brekr. ”

Willems started developing the Brekr in 2018 together with two technical experts and a designer. The design is very different from the traditional moped, with a low-placed battery, large wheels and an aluminum frame. “A moped is, of course, also a lifestyle product that must look attractive. The beautiful history of mopeds and motorcycles is certainly reflected in the Brekr. ”

Theft prevention and detection KPN connected moped

KPN has made Brekr connected . It contains a GPS module and a SIM card, and the moped is connected to the Brekr app. The app provides insight into the rides, the location, and suspicious circumstances. “Suppose your Brekr is lifted or someone bumps into it, you will receive a notification. You can also set up a geofence around your home. If the Brekr gets out there, someone will try to steal it. ”

The average scooter owner knows that this is a real risk. “In Amsterdam, it is almost certain that your Vespa will be stolen within a year, otherwise within two years,” says Willems. “As a result, insurance premiums are incredibly high. We have found a solution for this with the Brekr. If the Brekr is stolen, press the theft button in the app. Professional investigators then immediately investigate. ”

This mechanism appears to be extremely effective. Expensive cars and e-bikes with similar systems are often found within 48 hours. In addition, the anti-theft functionality has a preventive effect. “Stealing a Brekr is very risky for the thief,” Willems explains. “The method, the storage location, the destination of the stolen vehicles: the investigators can find out all this. That is why many criminals prefer to leave the Brekr. ” 

Insurance is getting cheaper

The business model is also innovative. The Brekr is sold directly to the consumer, with one year of connectivity added. “Then it costs 100 euros for a period of three years. But the anti-theft functionality also provides a premium discount on the monthly insurance premium. Bottom line, it is more beneficial for the customer. That is why we expect that almost everyone will continue to use the smart functionality after that year. ”

Customer needs are also central to maintenance and insurance. Willems: “Just like the connectivity, these are additional modules that we offer at Brekr. For example, the customer concludes a maintenance contract and we will visit you periodically, or when necessary.

The insurance is provided by the ANWB. A party that has a lot of experience with innovative insurance concepts and has been working with KPN in the field of track & trace for bicycles for a number of years . Willems: “We receive a commission on the premium, but we don’t want to earn anything from replacing stolen mopeds. That is why we keep the price low for the insurer if it has to replace a Brekr. Customers are entitled to a new Brekr as a replacement for three years from the start of insurance. ” KPN connected moped

Customer needs are also central to maintenance and insurance. Willems: “Just like the connectivity, these are additional modules that we offer at Brekr. For example, the customer concludes a maintenance contract, and we will visit you periodically, or when necessary.