ExtraEnergy tested the world-first Kalkhoff Impulse in early summer and is now publishing the results in its autumn issue. The Impulse is the first pedelec to combine the tried and tested centre motor with the back-pedal brake. ExtraEnergy comments on this phenomenon in its test report with the words "… new in some ways … and yet so familiar …". Older pedelec customers in particular are often used to the back-pedal brake and request a pedelec that combines this feature with the many advantages of the centre motor. This observation is shared by Kalkhoff and ExtraEnergy, leading the latter to write the following in its current test summary: "The first bottom bracket motor with back pedal very specifically fills a gap in the market. Kalkhoff combines quality with clear customer focus." The testers went on to praise the long range on touring and urban routes, the powerful assistance on hills and the direct motor activation by power sensor, which was judged to be extremely gentle.

A total of 36 electric bikes were tested. Six of those in the City Comfort Pedelec group were rated as "Very Good".

The entire test is published in Issue 4 (Autumn 2011) of the ExtraEnergy magazine, which is also available to download at www.extraenergy.org.