According to US News at least.
Hybrid electric bikes. Hopping on the Giant Twist Freedom DX
($2,000) produces a "wow" moment in technology. An electric motor
subtly eases pedaling and automatically disengages when pedaling is
stopped. With a range of 70 miles on its rechargeable batteries, the
bike can take the sweat out of a two-wheel commute. Less expensive
versions are available from Currie Technologies, and a high-style model
comes from Pi Mobility.
And on the market two-years before the Chevy Volt. A product like this can really expand the number of people who can bike commute (at least if the price comes down).
I'm pretty sure electric bikes have been around since before 2008.
In any case I would have said the NuVinci CVT, the bicycle belt drive, or the modernized bicycle shaft drive.
I belive a couple of years ago the Dutch Bike of the Year was a Dutch Roadster cargo-bike with NuVinci and electrical assist option on an enclosed chaincase. I'm not really sold on the bicycle belt idea, as you can't just break a link to get it off.. where is the benefit?
Posted by: Lee Watkins | December 17, 2008 at 08:36 AM
The belt would be better if it involved less maintenance, had a higher MTBF-to-cost ratio, was lighter and/or didn't get grease on you or others (one of the reasons often given for keeping bikes off of transit).
Why would you want to break a link on a belt? Just carry a spare belt.
When digital cameras came out I thought they were stupid. Who would use such a thing? I wonder if the belt will be the same way.
Posted by: washcycle | December 17, 2008 at 09:26 AM