Getting around in the city ends up being a pretty complicated problem. Depending on where you work, what you do, and what sort of terrain you’ve got going on, you may want to take the bus, subway, a car, a bike, or a scooter. I bike, but I also live on top of Capitol Hill in Seattle. So if I want to go anywhere, I end up having to slog back up seven blocks of incline; so I end up driving distances I should probably be riding. This kind of half-electric cycle seems like it could be a really nice fit with a lifestyle like mine. Pedal when you want, cruise when you need to, and plug it in pretty much anywhere.
The A2B is all-electric, has a 20-mile range (with the option of an extra battery to make it 40) and a maximum speed of 20mph. You can just pedal if you want, or you can hit the throttle when you need more go or you hit a gnarly hill. It weighs 70lbs, so you won’t be carrying it up any stairs, but the hands-on suggests it’s not a problem while riding. Of course, it’s not meant for going up on curbs and through parks, but it’ll certainly get you to work faster than a bus and you can be happy knowing you’re doing something that’s good for you and the environment.
I hope the 20mph is a power limit and not a programmed-in one. Because I bet if you pedaled it up to 20 and then hit the throttle, you could really fly with this thing.
[via Treehugger]
Very cool, except the price tags. They usually go for around two grand (USD). ><
Actually, I think they are closer to three grand. However, that is a pretty good price. I have a friend who converted his bike to an electric with the Bionx kits, and that alone was over $2,000. Hell, my best normal bike with no electronics at all cost over $2,000.
Oops, I meant to include that. yeah, you’re paying pretty much that. But like Lee says, it’s all relative. A scooter or motorbike would set you back at least that much as well. Or a really sweet road bike.
tryna be the coolest kid on the block
IF I WAZ DAT BYKE I WULD NAWT LUT U RYDE IT CUZ NO
joey has one , goes real fast
if html wasn’t BANNEDEDEDEDED i would SO post nudes of joey going fast.
look at the death trap at the back. a giant slab of metal to smash through your helmet and make a brutal scene for the cops
Best Buy is going to have them for $1,800.
Ebikr – Two points; this is news about Best Buy taking on the A2B. I knew they were going to sell the Enertia MC, on the west coast only in 09, but not about the A2B.
About the price of $1,800…The standard retail price is around $2,800, so it would be a real stretch for Best Buy to sell them for what I’d guess would be a bike dealers cost. Maybe, maybe due to quantity, but still.
Thanks for the info.
There is a bike shop in Pompano, Fl I was at last weekend. Don’t remember the name right now and can’t find the card, but it is on Atlantic Blvd. They sell the folding E-bike for $1000 and the full size 27″ for like $1700. The folding bike has pedal assist all the time and the full version allows you to shut it off. I weight about 250 lbs and got to about 20 mph in a very short distance with power only and when I peddled and then hit peddle assist I really flew.
I had an Italian elect bike before and loved it except it wasn’t comfortable for my body type and the power wasn’t enough to get me over the bridges that go over the inter-coastal in S. Fl area. The E-Bike does the job with no problem.