Tag: electric bike

GI Go

Gi-BikeWhen we think of a “G.I. Bike” we think of something American soldiers used in World War II, but the Gi Bike is something different. It is a full-sized, folding, electric bike designed for travel around town.

It folds up or down in just three seconds, and can run 40 miles on battery. It even offers smartphone integration with apps and maps, and designed to handle the mean streets with side lights that help riders be seen, while an anti-theft safety lock ensures the bike is there where you left it. This is Gi is ready to roll. Video after the jump

Add Some Juice and Go

RubbeeThere are times when an electric bike can come in handy, but for those who prefer simple pedal power buying an electric bike might seem a waste. Not only is there the added cost, but also the weight. However, the Rubbee could be just the thing.

This add on gizmo is being developed through a Kickstarter project, can turn (almost) any regular bike into an electric bike. This unique conversion kit features an integrated clamp mechanism that can be mounted on a bike in just a few seconds, while the innovative drive motor with an internal battery can help propel the bike for more than 25 miles without pedaling. Unlike other kits that can add as much as 15kg to the bike, this one weighs just 6.5kg (14 pounds), and it can fully recharge in just two hours. Video after the jump

Electrical Stromer

Stromer-ST1Stromer, the electric-bike brand of Swiss-based BMC, has launched its ST1 pedal-assisted electric bicycles. The 500-watt ST1 rolls out with style and functionality. This ST1 is aimed at commuters more than those looking for a casual weekend ride, and as such it offers a lithium-ion battery that can power a 500-wattt rear-mounted brushless-hub motor and provide up to 30 mph of speed with a 50 mile range. Regenerative braking further helps power the battery.

Stromer has actually rolled out four models, with two now available in the United States beginning at $3,499. While it is a lot to pay for a bicycle it might make that daily commute a whole lot easier and more enjoyable.

Stromer Official Website

Stealth Bomber Takes Flight

Stealth technology isn’t just science fiction anymore, and British electric bike maker takes the concept to the dirt trails with its new Stealth Bomber, which utilizes a 4.5kW electric motor to help users get through any terrain. While we know part of the reason for riding a mountain bike is to get in a good workout, we have to admit that sometimes what goes down can’t always so easily get back up.

This is where the power assist comes in handy. The bike is capable of hitting speeds up to 50 MPH, needs only a two hour recharge and offers zero emission. It is durable enough for the trails, which means it can readily handle the condition of the roads in most of our urban jungles as well. Plus it has a look Batman might love, just in case you ditch the suit and tie and decide to be a crime fighting vigilante instead.

Stealth Electric Bikes Official Website

Interbike: Go with eFlow

Pedal power is certainly what next month’s Interbike is all about, but more and more we’re hearing about hybrid electric bicycle technology that offers an assist. The idea here is that electric bikes can provide a means of transportation that allows the car to stay at home.

Currie Technologies announced that it will debut its eFlow electric bike, which won the Gold Award from the German design group iF International at the Taipei Cycle Show earlier this year. The bike allows riders to go with the flow so to speak as it features a battery that is integrated into the seatpost, and can be recharged without the need to bring the whole bike to an outlet. Video after the jump

BlueSkyBike Foldable and Electric

There have been two trends in bicycle design over the past couple of years – foldable commuter bikes and electric bikes. Richard Heath, an industrial design intern in Australia has crafted a design that is a merger of the two and is aimed at commuters.

The concept is a bike that can be easily folded, thus able to bring into buildings as well as on trains and buses. This way the bike can be easily recharged, even in an office cubicle during the day and then unfolded and ready for the ride home. The bike is powered by a 250w electric hub motor, which can be charged via a standard outlet – or even powered up on the go from regenerative braking function “whilst braking downhill” Heath explained. Continue reading BlueSkyBike Foldable and Electric

Pedal Power Gets Boost From Powerpedals

Going out for a spin can mean a good workout, but if you’re spinning to work sometimes you can use a little help with the pedal power. To that end Powerpedals is on the way. Enter the Tonaro electric bicycles, which feature a revolutionary central drive technology that makes electric cycling more efficient and gives riders more freedom when shifting and when choosing how to ride.

“Every so often a radical new design comes along and changes everything. So it is with Tonaro’s patented central drive technology and electric bicycles,” said Philip Hughes of Powerpedals. “The entire drive system is housed within the pedal cranking system and the bracket mount motor enables the bikes gears to be used with the motor. This allows you to down shift for hills and to shift up to higher gears as you gain speed.” Continue reading Pedal Power Gets Boost From Powerpedals

NAIAS: Smart Shows its Ebike

At the North American International Auto Show, also referred to as the Detroit Auto Show, Daimler’s smart ebike concept bike was on display. We wrote about the bike last fall when electric car manufacturer smart planned to display it at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. We thought it was worth showing again now that we got to take a look at it, and find out more details.

It’s a striking bike. The simple modified triangle design looks futuristic. While it looks light, it weighs in at approximately 50 lbs. With a full charge, the bike has about a 50 mile range though that varies on how much you use the electricity versus pedaling. There’s four modes of electric assist that seem to kick in as needed rather than controlled by the rider. At 50 lbs. I can see wanting the assist more often than on any of my current bikes, especially when faced with a hill. You recharge the battery slightly when you brake, so you can squeeze a few more miles to a ride if you’re strategic. Continue reading NAIAS: Smart Shows its Ebike

Smart Car’s Two-Wheel Companion

The makers of those little electric cars, Smart Cars, that fit in even the smallest parking space and go for miles on an electric charge are ready to introduce an even smaller mode of smart transportation. The Smart ebike has a four-level electric boost that charges as you brake. The ebike’s design is a solid frame with clean lines. The aluminum frame and all the bike’s components weigh in around 22 kilograms, making it a lightweight contender among electric bikes. Smart’s parent company Daimler went so far as to construct the frame so it suspends the rear wheel by large, sturdy aluminum profiles to eliminate struts that are typical for a similar bike. It also conceals the Bowden wires and cables so they don’t impede on the streamlined design.

Design elements lend way to technology on this ebike. The two-wheeler uses a belt drive instead of a chain, which minimizes maintenance and makes for a quieter ride. The belt drive demands a particular shape of the rear triangle. On this bike the geometry allows for a rear extension of one side of the triangle, which allows for the belt, a continuous loop, to be installed. Traditional frames require a cut somewhere in the rear triangle to outfit the bike.

Continue reading Smart Car’s Two-Wheel Companion

Cycling Brakes for Energy Boost

Every time you shift into granny gear, don’t you wish you had a motor on your bike to kick in and help you up that hill? The Copenhagen wheel claims to do just that. Developed by a team of students at the SENSEable City Lab at MIT, the motor encases the rear hub of the wheel on your existing bike to give it power. The MIT team recently won the U.S. national round of the James Dyson award for the Copenhagen wheel. Continue reading Cycling Brakes for Energy Boost