Besides recently acquiring Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, German auto manufacturer Audi has recently announced a new electric bicycle dubbed the "Wörthersee".
[youtube width="610" height="353"]httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0bN_G90bc
As you can see from the photos, the Wörthersee features a prodigious amount of carbon fiber construction and also features disc brakes and Acros hydraulic shifting (with the cables run internally). It also features a lithium ion battery located between the down tube and the seat tube. Charging is said to be in the neighborhood of 5 hours for a full charge.
The Audi e-bike can also link up to the rider's smartphone via WLAN and record tricks performed, routes taken, speed, distance, and more. Audi is entertaining the idea of integrating social networking in to the smart phones data capture as well.
From the manufacturer:
"One of the highlights on the Audi stand is the bicycle technology concept known as the Audi e-bike Wörthersee -- a sport bike that does not fit into any of the usual categories. It is neither a pedelec nor a conventional bike, but is best described as a high-end pedelec made by Audi for sport, fun and tricks. The Audi e-bike Wörthersee combines the Audi brand's principal competences -- design, ultra, connect and e-tron -- and explores the limits of what is technically feasible in terms of design, lightweight construction, networking and electric mobility."
Given the high output of this ebike (50mph!) it is doubtful that this will ever reach American shores as a anything other than a cool prool-of-concept bike. The Wörthersee weighs in at about 46 lbs.
Here is a short video of French trials rider/Superstar Julien Dupont taking the new Audi e-Bike for a spin.
[youtube width="610" height="353"]httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edmH0Zx57JY
Audi Website: www.audi.com
[youtube width="610" height="353"]httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0bN_G90bc
As you can see from the photos, the Wörthersee features a prodigious amount of carbon fiber construction and also features disc brakes and Acros hydraulic shifting (with the cables run internally). It also features a lithium ion battery located between the down tube and the seat tube. Charging is said to be in the neighborhood of 5 hours for a full charge.
The Audi e-bike can also link up to the rider's smartphone via WLAN and record tricks performed, routes taken, speed, distance, and more. Audi is entertaining the idea of integrating social networking in to the smart phones data capture as well.
From the manufacturer:
"One of the highlights on the Audi stand is the bicycle technology concept known as the Audi e-bike Wörthersee -- a sport bike that does not fit into any of the usual categories. It is neither a pedelec nor a conventional bike, but is best described as a high-end pedelec made by Audi for sport, fun and tricks. The Audi e-bike Wörthersee combines the Audi brand's principal competences -- design, ultra, connect and e-tron -- and explores the limits of what is technically feasible in terms of design, lightweight construction, networking and electric mobility."
Given the high output of this ebike (50mph!) it is doubtful that this will ever reach American shores as a anything other than a cool prool-of-concept bike. The Wörthersee weighs in at about 46 lbs.
Here is a short video of French trials rider/Superstar Julien Dupont taking the new Audi e-Bike for a spin.
[youtube width="610" height="353"]httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edmH0Zx57JY
Audi Website: www.audi.com