London, England — Every street in any city has its own, official name – the name the city planners give it. And then there are the names that other groups give it – the cyclists, the roller bladers, the skateboarders – names that describe the features that these individuals care for most/

For example, in South London there’s a “Crafty Slope,” a long, subtly sapping stretch of terraced houses”; “Death Row”, a “steep road that skirts the cemetery”. And then there is “Cardiac Crest”, a South London cliff-like crest that puts riders in mind of a Pyrenean climb in the Tour de France.

Neville Hawcock, who writes for the Financial Times, recently got a chance to take the A2B Metro out for a test spin.

“In appearance at least, it resembles a chunky version of an old-fashioned shopper, minus the basket at the front and with a shoebox-sized battery at the back. The motor sits on the rear hub, and is connected via a chain to the pedals in case extra power is needed and via cables to a twist-grip “”hrottle””on the handlebars. The saddle is broad and comfortable, and there is front and rear suspension. It’s sturdy and solid. Built, I thought uncharitably, for comfort not speed.”

Read the rest of the article at Ultra Motor’s A2B Metro electric bike.

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New Zealand – Ron Jarvis and his business partner Ricahrd Boyer are the owners of Ecogo, a Christchurch-based business. They sell their brand name bike, the Ecogo, which they have manufactured in China.

The bicycle is heavier (23.7kg with battery) than the carbon-fibre and aluminum bicycle most people are used to riding. The Ecogo cycle’s electric brushless motor is hidden inside the rear hub.

It has three modes, which are selected through a switch next to the throttle lever on the handlebar: pedal assist (in which the motor helps out with the pedaling), neutral (in which the rider does all the work) or automatic (where the motor does all the work).

The Ecogo cycle has a claimed top speed of 25kmh. When using the pedal assist mode, the motor will last for 65km on a single charge.

Because of its 200W motor, the Ecogo is considered a bicycle and not a scooter, so no licence is needed.

Also available is a conversion kit ($1199 fitted), which includes a front wheel hub motor and a bracket- mounted battery, to retrofit a standard bicycle.

The Ecogo carries a 36-volt lithium-manganese battery, which slots in behind the bicycle’s down tube and powers the motor and front light and horn. Features vary on certain models of course. A mountain bike model ($2499) has a front disc brake, adjustable suspension forks, a cycle computer, and a carrier and LED gauge indicating the battery’s charge level.

This is where Ecogo feels its strongest: as a mode of transport for sight-seeing tourists who want to zip around inner city streets from attraction to attraction.

Visit Website: Ecogo

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Cambridge, England — The Ultramotor A2B electric bicycle is a comfortable ride, with a large saddle, wide tyres, shock absorbing front and rear suspension, and Avid BB5 disc brakes. One drawback is the bike weighs 31 kg, and you have to be pedaling before you can start the motor.

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Now that electrically assisted bikes have been around for a while, and are starting to account for a bit of market share, technology designers are really making a run at coming up with some innovative designs.

It’s all about the look of the bike. Clunky is out, sleek and fast-looking are in.

The problem of the motor has long been solved – hub motors are mounted within the bike frame, either in the front or rear wheel.

But what about the batteries? That continues to provide an aesthetic concern for potential buyers.

Electric Motion Systems have instituted their solution. They’ve combined a 750 watt rear wheel mounted hub motor with built-in motor drive electronics, with a battery pack mounted in the front wheel hub.

Their E+ Electric Bike is available in six styles – all a variation on a hard-tail mountain bike.

The E+ comes standard with a 750 watt BLDC rear hub motor. (A high torque 85 Nm 1kw hub motor will be an upgrade option.)

The front hub mounted battery pack is something innovative – it’s never been done before, as a matter of fact. Thirty NiMH battery cells are arranged in six groups of five cells arranged in a polygon layout parallel to the axle and mounted on the stator. The battery pack puts out 36 volts at 9 amp hour giving a battery capacity of 324 watt hour. (0.324kw/hr). A full charge from a 110v wall socket will take four to six hours and cost about $0.03.

The E+ has a handlbar mounted LCD display. The rider can select 19 different cycling modes, ranging from full electric to pedal only modes. It also shows speed, distance traveled, battery capacity, and cruise control option, as well as trip-specific data such as distance of trip, duration, and average speeds.

The display is pocket sized and easily removed. When the display is removed, the battery is disabled and it becomes virtually impossible to pedal the bike – a nice theft-proof feature.

The Electric Motion Systems E+ Cruiser and E+ Mountain Bike cost USD$3,495.

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Marrs Cycles, established in 2007, claims to be the creator of THE Electric Beach Cruiser. Each electric cruiser, which rides like a motorcycle but is legally regarded as a bicycle, is handmade in their workshop. The Cruiser is not yet ready to hit the market – when it does it will go on sale at a starting price of $6,499.

The Cruiser consists of a hand-crafted 4130 chromoly frame, handlebars, and leaf-spring front, which ensures strength and quality control. The highest quality motorcycle components are then incorporated: Excel rims, 10 gauge motorcycle spokes, Metzeler motorcycle tires, and springer solo motorcycle seat and springs.

The power is provided by a rear hub-motor system, driven by a battery concealed in a real wood veneer battery box for that classic California styling. As far as coming to a quick stop, the cruiser is equipped with an Avid 4-piston hydraulic brake and large 9 inch rear rotor.

You can get a view of this Beach Cruiser being put through its paces at: http://www.marrscycles.com/

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OHM Electric Bike

If your looking for a true off road experience the Ohm’s XS700 comes closest. Fitted like a real mountain bike and headlining a burly 350 watt motor, this is the true off road experience in an pedal-assisted bike.

This efficient two wheeler weights only 53 pounds and has a nine level power- assist regeneration system.

Whatever your thrill is, the Bion-X power plant which is mounted to the rear hub constantly adjusts the level of assistance depending on the terrain. You can be gliding downwards on paved asphalt, heading into boggy ground, or charging up a steep hill – with a flick of the throttle the motor will take over and the pedaling is no longer required.

The nine modes can be fitted onto almost any bicycle, with four pedal assisted power settings, a neutral positing and four regeneration modes that allow you to put some power back into the battery on the downhill slopes.

For a ton of fun and a suprisingly good range -including a test of rolliing hills, bike paths and off road double tracks . The Ohm’s little gem will set you back $3,450 US.

Source: Wired

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Ultramotor A2B

If you’d like to look cool and stand out while cruising the streets check-out the new A2B electric bike from Ultramotor. The quality front and rear suspension with fat motorcycle-like tires make for very comfortable riding. The 500-watt motor in the rear hub and twist throttle delivers solid power at a speed of 20 miles per hour.

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