One of the most impressive technologies for electric bikes in recent years doesn't involve more power, bigger batteries, or new motor designs. It's about getting rid of the charging cable. Dutch startup Tiler has developed a wireless charging tile that allows an electric bike to charge directly through its stand.
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Simply place the bike in place, lower the stand onto the tile and the battery starts charging automatically via a built-in magnetic coil.
No plugs, no dangling cables, no forgetting to take your charger to work. It was a promising solution for both the lazy commuter who just wants to charge their bike without bending over, and for commercial applications like bike-sharing fleets parked in public spaces. But now, according to a report by BikeEurope, the company behind it has filed for bankruptcy.
Tiler’s technology is based on a patent from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The idea was elegant: embed a transmitting coil in a tile placed on the floor and a receiving coil in the bike stand. Because the system didn’t require millimeter-level alignment, it seemed practical and quickly gained significant market interest. Early versions focused on B2B applications such as bike fleets and rental companies, markets where daily charging can be a real headache.
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The company’s first CE-certified product, the Tiler Uno, was launched for business customers after several years of development. But while the technology seemed to work well, production costs were high and profit margins were slim. This limited adoption to mostly select fleet managers. Last year, Tiler introduced a more consumer-friendly version called the Tiler Compact at Eurobike 2025.
It was designed as a plug-and-play solution for the home, targeting high-end and cargo electric bikes. More than 100 retailers in the Netherlands and Belgium have reportedly taken pre-orders to stock the new wireless e-bike charger, and the company had ambitions to eventually create a wider “Tiler network” for wireless charging on the go. Unfortunately, old financial problems seem to have caught up with the company.
Loans taken out during the early stages of the more expensive initial public offering, including government-backed loans, have reportedly become impossible to restructure. Potential investors were reportedly hesitant to see new capital used primarily to service old debt rather than scale the business. But there may be more good news on the horizon.
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Founder Olivier Coops has expressed optimism about a reboot, and discussions with financiers and a manager are ongoing. The stated goal is still to deliver pre-orders before the end of the year, despite the recent economic turmoil. It’s a tough time for a truly innovative idea. Wireless charging for electric bikes isn’t a necessity, but it’s the kind of convenience that reduces friction and could quietly reshape the user experience – especially for fleet managers, cargo bike users and commuters.
