If you have ever had to deal with a stolen or stripped bicycle, pay attention: Velo Labs, a company co-founded by former Boeing engineer Jack Al-Kahwati, has invented a new solar-powered smart lock for bicycles, and it is the kind of innovation that could change the game as far as bike security and safety are concerned.

In Al-Kahwati’s estimation, “the bike is still stuck in the 19th century,” even as virtually every other form of transportation has received sleek modernized updates that make them safer, more secure, and infinitely harder to steal. Velo Labs wanted to take those same adjectives and apply them to the bike, and they have done so by developing a bike lock that sounds like it could outsmart a lot of would-be thefts.

According to CNET, the new smart lock – which has been dubbed “Skylock” by Velo Labs – has a laundry list of impressive features that will make a die-hard cyclist’s mouth water. First of all, the solar power more or less ensures that the lock will never be put out of commission by a dead battery. Velo Labs has indicated that just an hour of sunlight can give the Skylock battery enough charge to last a week, while a battery allowed to achieve a full charge can carry on for a month or longer. Smart locks have been introduced in the past by other companies to target the issue of bike theft, but they have been powered by lithium batteries, and have therefore been largely unreliable.

In addition to solar energy, the Skylock device boasts Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, keyless entry via a iOS or Android mobile app, and even motion sensing capabilities. If your bike is moved, stolen, or even nudged when you are away – like if thieves are trying to steal your wheels – the Skylock can alert you using its Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities. Users can then alert the authorities and direct them to the site where the bike is being stolen or stripped. And that is not even the extent of the motion sensors on the lock: Bikers involved in a crash might well have their lives saved by the Skylock, as it can judge the severity of impact and call an ambulance if necessary.

The Skylock has not yet made it to retail, as Velo Labs is currently working on a crowdfunding campaign to help with manufacturing costs. However, expectations point to the device making it to store shelves by the end of the year. It will retail for $249.

Photo credit: Velo Labs