- Smart will expand its portfolio of electric vehicles when it begins production next year of the Ebike.
- The Smart Ebike will be sold initially in Europe and North America.
- The Ebike is being developed and built in cooperation with German bike manufacturer Grace.
STUTTGART, Germany — Smart will expand its portfolio of electric vehicles when it begins production next year of the Ebike.
Unveiled as a prototype at last year's 2010 Paris Auto Show, the Smart Ebike is being developed and built in cooperation with German electric-bike manufacturer Grace. It will be sold initially in 2012 in Europe and North America.
Smart said it will display a "near-series" production version of the Ebike at the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, as well as the big Eurobike show that opens August 31 in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
Smart hopes to tap into a growing movement in Europe and other markets for e-bikes. The bicycle industry estimates that sales of e-bikes in Europe jumped 40 percent last year, to around 700,000 units.
The Smart Ebike is a lightweight two-wheeler that combines pedal power with a 250-watt electric motor and a removable lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged from standard household current. Range is 60-plus miles, and top speed is 15 mph.
Among the bike's features are lightweight aluminum and plastic construction, disc brakes, LED head- and taillights, 26-inch wheels, belt drive, regenerative braking, three-speed gearshift, adjustable seat height and a built-in USB port for smartphones.
Inside Line says: Depending on the price, the Smart Ebike could also find an enthusiastic audience in China, which is moving rapidly to battery-powered bicycles.
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lolxd says:
05:54 AM, 08/24/2011
Screw you Daimler >:D
sprocketboy says:
04:44 AM, 08/24/2011
smallfield: the e-bikes generally have multiple gearing, typically three-speed.
revdelimiterx says:
04:15 AM, 08/24/2011
Someone needs to wipe that idiotic smile off that Frauline's face. Idea: send her out to any Toronto freeway morning rush hour driving the Smart car behind her. Or maybe the autobahn on the ebike. (I tried biking on the autobahn in 1994, I really dont recommend it though quite exciting)
sprocketboy says:
01:34 AM, 08/24/2011
I was at Eurobike last September and was amazed at the amount of attention being paid to e-bikes. The growth in the sector is phenomenal and the margins are great for bike manufacturers. The target market is not sporting cyclists (who look down at e-bikes) but people who go short distances and don't want to use a car. You can commute to the office on one of these in a suit without getting tired and sweaty. I tried one out a few weeks ago during a "green" event and was amazed how fast these things go in spite of their noticeable weight. It is necessary to pedal all the time if you want the benefit of electric boost. The one I tried had a range of 50 kms/30 miles. The battery pack was under the rear rack and could be removed for recharging in the office. A number of regional tourism offices are promoting rental of e-bikes for visitors who might be otherwise discouraged by hills. That said, there are some issues. A recent German test by the equivalent of Consumer Reports tested eight e-bikes and only 2 barely passed their "acceptable" rating. E-bikes are heavy and the stresses on components, particularly forks, are considerable. I am sure that the Smart e-bikes will be produced by Grace, with only the Smart branding applied. Many German car companies have sold bikes in the past, including Porsche and BMW, but they were only re-labelled models from traditional manufacturers. I actually have seen a Cadillac-branded racing bicycle as well!
angry_mushroom says:
10:01 PM, 08/23/2011
Ought to be faster than the electric Smart.
awhen says:
09:27 PM, 08/23/2011
That woman looks silly on that bike.
smallfield says:
06:27 PM, 08/23/2011
I like this idea - electric to work - pedal back when it doesn't matter if I get a workout. Gotta be better then the scooters people ride in the city.
Looks to just have one speed which would be an issue for pedaling in my urban environment.
miscpippa says:
03:37 PM, 08/23/2011
ANYTHING to avoid exercise.