If the humble smart takes up too much space on the drive, then you’ll be relieved to know the diminutive car maker is now put a smaller mode of transport into production.
smart is now producing an ebike, with a production ready model set to be displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Produced in collaboration with renowned e-bike manufacturer GRACE, based near Berlin, the new ebike will go on sale across Europe and the USA in the first half of 2012.
The battery-assisted bike offers the perfect compromise between the healthy exercise offered by a conventional bike with some of the comfort and convenience of powered transport.
As a pedelec (Pedal Electric Cycle) the bike operates as a hybrid, allowing the rider to determine how much of the strain his or her own muscles will take and how much the 250 watt electric motor will do. There is a choice of four power levels, which can deliver support to the rider’s efforts for more than 62 miles, using the energy stored in the 400 Wh lithium ion battery. The exact range depends on the manner of cycling and the power level chosen, but the electric power can drive the cycle up to speeds of 15 miles per hour.
The portable battery can be charged either at a normal socket or whilst riding with the wheel hub motor acting as a generator when the rider brakes. The braking energy is recuperated and converted into electrical energy and stored in the smart ebike’s lithium-ion battery.
The smart ebike also features state-of-the-art infotainment: a USB interface is a standard feature and enables various mobile end devices to be connected with the help of a versatile cradle. There are even plans to develop a special app for the iPhone which would allow smart ebike riders to use their iPhone as an information centre, for example to call up information on the charging status and range.
smart is expected to release pricing details nearer to the time of launch next year.
