The original “hybrid” bicycle was one that was also called a “city bike” as it was part road bike and part mountain bike. Often described as a bicycle that wasn’t as fast as a road bike, or as reliable in terms of handling than a mountain bike, the hybrid has lost momentum. But the “hybrid” may be making a comeback – but this time it is a pedal/electric hybrid.
Bicycledesign first spotted Roy Prince’s latest concept design, the eCortina v2 e-Bike. Oxnard, California based Prince is an old hand to electric bikes and other vehicles, and this latest product is reportedly “designed so that one can pedal only (human power), motor only (electric power), or in hybrid mode both motor and pedal at the same time. Under hybrid running the distance one can ride under one charge is extended.” Prince explained the concept more on his RPEV.org website.
The system utilizes a dual drive system based on BMX freewheels and chains, which Prince says allows “pedaling without driving the motor and motoring without forcing the pedals to rotate.” So what does he use? According to news reports this is all built around a 3-speed Shimano Nexus rear hub, and an RC (Radio Controlled) hobby motor!
Prince currently estimates that the bicycle can travel up to about 15 miles on a single charge, so it won’t actually take riders on a massively long ride. But he is working on developing a system with additional battery packs that could bring that up to 23 miles – so good for those in urban centers with reasonable commutes. The catch is that the bicycle weights in at just under 60 pounds, so while pedaling that is a lot of extra weight to haul. But it is good to see Prince looking down the road at a new type of hybrid.
RPEV.org Official Website
[Via BicycleDesign: RPEV hybrid electric bike and more]