Ford unveils E-Bike Concept
Green innovation news – by GreenWise staff
19th September 2011
In a departure for the giant carmaker, Ford today unveiled an electric bike concept the company has designed to explore future green mobility solutions.
Constructed from aluminium and carbon and borrowing cutting edge sensor technology from the world of Formula One, the
E-bike Concept has a frame that weighs only 2.5 kilograms and has a range of 85 kilometres on a full charge. There are no plans to release the bicycle onto the market, but
Ford said it planned to continue to develop the bike as part of its research programme into electric mobility.
"The e-bike market is growing very, very rapidly, with some 30 million units sold globally last year," said Axel Wilke, director, vehicle personalisation, Ford Customer Service Division Europe. "We see e-bikes as an important element of urban electric mobility. More and more people are using e bikes for short distance commuting and they are becoming comfortable with the concept of electric mobility."
E-Bike design
The E-Bike Concept was developed by a Ford
Design team in partnership with cyber-Wear, the German brand behind Ford's Lifestyle Collection products. It is minimalist in style, with six-spoke V-design wheels and drive system hidden from view that consists of a motor in the front wheel hub and a lithium-ion battery concealed in the frame. It is intended to appeal to both men and women.
In a first for electric bikes, the E-Bike also carries patented magnetostriction sensor technology used in Formula One to convert magnetic energy into kinetic energy, and vice versa. The sensors read the revolutions in the inner bearing and relay this information to the control unit within a hundredth of a second. The control unit then instantly activates or deactivates the electric motor, providing a seamless integration of the power of the legs with the power of the motor.
Top of range componentsThe bike also benefits from top of the range Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal gear hub and a 2012 Shimano Rapidfire shifter. In place of a traditional chain is a Carbon Belt Drive System, making for "a cleaner, lighter and more immediate transfer of energy", Ford said.
A handlebar-mounted display allows the rider to select from three support modes – Economy, Comfort and Sport.
Ford unveiled its E-Bike at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
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