Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Etc., Smart, Electric
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Cars don’t get much smaller than the Smart ForTwo, but that, apparently, still isn’t small enough for Daimler. So after having unveiled electric scooter and bicycle concepts at the Paris Motor Show last year, the Smart brand has announced plans to putting the latter into production in time for this year’s Frankfurt expo.
Why electric bikes, you ask? If for no other reason, then because of their sheer growth. Smart notes that in its home market of Germany alone, the market for e-bikes rose nearly threefold from 70,000 in 2007 to 200,000 units in 2010. Across Europe as a whole, the market has shot up from 200,000 in 2007 to 500,000 in 2009 and 700,000 in 2010. Those are some compelling numbers, so little wonder Daimler is getting on board.
Created in collaboration with electric bicycle specialists Grace, the Smart e-bike packs a 250-watt electric motor juiced by a 400 Wh lithium-ion battery that can provide a selectable level of boost to the rider’s pedaling. Disc brakes front and rear do the stopping power, recharging the battery from the regenerative braking system. The battery can provide up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) of cruising depending on how much power is dialed in, and can even charge a mobile phone through the integrated USB socket.
The smallest Smart yet will be launched in Europe and North America early next year, after being unveiled at the Eurobike show in Friedrichshafen and the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. In the meantime you can scope it out in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.Continue reading Daimler gets in on the electric bicycle game with Smart E-Bike
Daimler gets in on the electric bicycle game with Smart E-Bike originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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