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ELECTRIC bikes are spreading fast but this one is something a little different.

The Biiista, developed by Austrian firm Hammerschmid Maschinenbau, has been revealed this week and despite its crazy looks the project is surprisingly far down the development path, having been undergoing work since 2010.

Under that one-piece body there's a simple aluminium chassis carrying the battery, a single-sided rear swingarm and a 14bhp electric motor in the rear hub. It adds up to a 60mph top speed and 60 mile range with a two-hour recharge time for the 80-volt battery pack. Weight is just 140kg, which is impressive for an electric bike.

The Bimota-Tesi-style front end incorporates a steering system that allows the handlebars to swivel separately in their own bearings; they each disappear into the bodywork with no provision to allow them to turn as a pair. They're connected by a linkage under the bodywork so when you push the left bar, the right bar swivels towards you, and vice versa. Check out the on-board shots in the video above and you'll see it's not as weird in practice as it sounds.

No word yet on price or availability, but the firm's photos and videos clearly show there are already several running prototypes in action, and the polished finish suggests production might not be too distant.

What do you think – is it a beauty or, ahem, a Biiist? The Biiista's radical looks are largely made possible by the fact it's electric and can move away from the traditional motorcycle layout (that steering goes in a space that would normally be full of engine, airbox and radiators).



Source

Audi e-bike concept.




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The Audi one looks very nice,


Peter.

Kentucky Fried Panda wrote:What do you think – is it a beauty or, ahem, a Biiist?

Some innovative thinking going on, that's for sure.

The Biist needs a front mudguard - seriously, that part of the body that curves over the front wheel won't be much use in rain.

Likewise the Audi, mudguards needed. Plus, when you add on the bits and pieces you'd normally add - a bit of luggage, helmet, drinks holder, ashtray etc - the efficiency will be further compromised.

Otherwise like I say, keep the ideas coming.

A couple of years ago I was teaching part time in Dungarvan, 15 miles from home. As my wife needs our car most days I was considering a second car, something I really didnt want.
I have a good sturdy Peugeot mountain bike that has a large frame that suits me very well. I bought an electric conversion for it from Goeco in county Tipperary and fitted it myself. It was fairly straightforward ( had to modify a couple of the brackets). The kit cost about 600 euro.
The bike easily covers the 15 mile journey on a charge and a few times when I was unable to recharge it at work I would do the whole 30 miles on a single charge.
I disabled the continuous power because I found it a nuisance and only use the motor power when going up hills or going against a head wind. It makes journeys a pleasure and I still get exercise and fresh air.
I could heartily recommend Goeco, they were very helpful and replaced the battery free of charge when it developed a fault.
An electric bike really is a viable alternative to a second car for many people who commute less than 20 miles each way.

imakebiodiesel wrote:I bought an electric conversion for it from Goeco in county Tipperary and fitted it myself.

<pedant>County Limerick </pedant>

My apologies, you are right of course, co Limerick.

A neighbour of mine was there recently to buy an electric bike. This neighbour of mine is huge, in the region of 20-odd stone, mainly round the middle...I hope his electric bike helps in his efforts to keep his weight down.

An interesting project in the US to retro-fit a car with power-assist hub motors in the rear wheels linked to a LiIon battery in the boot to form a cheap plug in hybrid. Conversion cost $3-5k. (Not sure how much LiIon you get for that money).

http://phys.org/news/2012-07-wheel-hub- ... ybrid.html

Nice simple idea. If properly integrated into the car control electronics it could save a lot of fuel. If you added in a bit of google mapping to plan your journey, it could tweak the amount of power assist to maximise the return over the journey without flattening the batteries half way there.

Not sure if it would work as easily with a manual transmission.

OK it is not an electric bicycle, but same concept.

What a good idea!
Both the conversion in the video and electric bikes use battery power to augment the primary power source. You get good fuel economy or in my case easy cycling but when the battery runs out you can still travel.
That is the weakness of the full EV, once you run out of battery you are stuck until you get to a recharge station and even then it would take at least half an hour for a fast charge.

Nice innovation, though soon wrecked on some of our roads, I think.

And water!

Isn't this a mobility scooter for people with more money?...

Ideal for some of the people in my neck of the woods to pop down the shops.

Argocats are very popular on the estates in the far north. (although it's pleasantly surprising to see how many estate ghillies still use ponies to extract culled deer from the hill).

I've driven 1,082 miles in the last year, and the longest journey was 54 miles. Maybe I need something a bit smaller than my van, but an electric bike wouldn't carry enough.

Or maybe I should get out more!

JohnB wrote:Or maybe I should get out more!

Like the 57 year old rickshaw driver in London for the Olympics?

mobbsey wrote:

JohnB wrote:Or maybe I should get out more!

Like the 57 year old rickshaw driver in London for the Olympics?

I wouldn't choose to go to London at any time, and for any purpose!