At the International Bike Trade Show (IFMA) in Cologne, Germany last September (2008) the ELMOTO HR-2 was debuted. It combines the best qualities of a bicycle and an electric scooter.
This light electric vehicle (LEV) is designed and built in Germany and will debut in the European market in July 2009.
It is built on an aluminum frame, and uses 33 lb ft of torque from a brushless 1.7 kW motor to take riders up to about 30 mph . It’s lithium battery pack has a range of 40 miles and recharges to 80 per cent in 2 hours.
It also comes with Marzocchi 888 suspenders up front and dual oil-spring shocks in the back. It also has an instrument panel that tracks speed, battery capacity and remaining range.
In Europe, cost is expected to be €3340 ($4,389) before tax and shipping.
The bike will be available in the USA by Spring 2010 at the latest.
July 18th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I own one since couple of weeks and here is what I experienced so far.
- the fork feels as if it’s not made for that weight. It’s maximum spring preload struggles with the weight of the bike + a 86kg rider, but the riding comfort and the traction are good
- exactly the opposite is the case with the rear suspension. The use of 2 bike rear shocks results in quite insensitive damping. No rebound adjustment. It feels harsh and terribly slow. It often looses traction.
- tires roll good on dry and hot asphalt and that’s the only condition they are good for. Just a bit cold and slightly wet, and they slide like a puck on ice.
- engine’s lack of induced heat and stench is a bliss. It’s acceleration and consistent torque are very enjoyable. One big problem though – the torque in a combination with the lousy rear suspension and the plastic-like tires can easily put the bike out of control and you in considerable danger, as I already experienced myself.
- initially I thought that the lack of directional lights is not an issue, but the more I use the bike the more I miss them
ELMOTO is undoubtedly a novel product and there are plenty of reasons why you should buy it, but it is far from being a mature product. It is more of an experiment, so unless you are a brave early adopter, I’d advise to wait until this young industry learns from it’s imminent mistakes and starts to make products that are enjoyable, clean, and equally safe and reliable.