Early Owner Tests ALSO TM-B Pedal-by-Wire E-Bike in Dead Battery Mode

An early Launch Edition owner of the ALSO TM-B, an e-bike featuring a pedal-by-wire drivetrain, conducted a real-world test to determine the bike's behavior when its battery is depleted. The experiment revealed that while the bike does not become completely immobile, it enters a restrictive state that severely limits utility on inclines.

What Happened

Owner Aaron Draczynski deliberately drained his TM-B to test the drive-by-wire system, which replaces the mechanical chain or belt with copper wires connecting the pedals to the rear wheel. As the battery percentage dropped, the bike progressively reduced its maximum assist level; at 31% charge, the limit was Level 8, but by 10% charge, it was restricted to Level 4, and at 8% to Level 3. When the battery reached 4%, electric assistance disappeared, and the bike entered what Draczynski termed "Infinite Turtle Mode," indicated by an infinity symbol on the display. In this mode, the system attempts to pass the rider’s pedaling energy directly through the electronic drivetrain to turn the rear wheel, similar to a crank-powered flashlight. However, as the battery neared empty, the bike exhibited erratic behavior, including random gear shifts in manual mode despite the lack of physical gears.

Why It Matters

The test highlights the inherent trade-offs of pedal-by-wire technology compared to traditional mechanical drivetrains. Unlike a conventional e-bike that becomes a standard bicycle when the battery dies, the TM-B relies entirely on software-simulated gearing. Draczynski reported that while the bike remained rideable on flat ground—feeling like a normal bicycle in fourth gear—climbing hills became a "truly grueling ordeal." Even slight inclines made the bike feel stuck in a high gear, such as seventh or eighth, because manual shifting is disabled in the low-power state and there are no physical derailleurs to change resistance. Additionally, the test uncovered a potential battery management issue, where the bike allegedly drained from 70% to 18% over two days while sitting unplugged, eventually displaying a "Bike issue detected" error that required a physical reset to resolve.

The Bottom Line

The ALSO TM-B's pedal-by-wire system offers a unique technological approach but introduces significant limitations when the battery is depleted. The "Infinite Turtle Mode" provides a functional, albeit difficult, fallback for flat terrain but fails to replicate the ease of a mechanical bicycle on hills. Owners should be aware that the bike's reliance on software for gearing means a dead battery results in a fixed, high-resistance ride, and connectivity issues or software glitches can impact battery retention and system detection.