Market: At the EICMA 2014 in Milan, the Italian manufacturer Piaggio gave an impressive demonstration of what the future of e-bikes could look like. The pedelec, which is equipped with many forward-looking features, should be available in stores from the middle of next year.
With the Electric Bike Project, Piaggio is reacting to the constantly growing e-bike market. As with the Vespa, the Italian group wants to set another milestone in the two-wheeler segment. A project that is definitely possible with the Electric Bike Project. The Piaggio e-bike is built on a rigid aluminum frame and has a suspension fork. Hydraulic disc brakes are used to safely decelerate the bike. The central motor with an output of 250 or 350 watts is a completely in-house development by Piaggio. The very compact motor is arranged around the bottom bracket and thus ensures a low center of gravity. To ensure smooth gear changes in all driving situations, the Italian manufacturer relies on a NuVinci automatic transmission. No bicycle chain is responsible for the power transmission, but a maintenance-free toothed belt.
A 400 Wh lithium-ion battery, which is attached to the seat tube below the saddle, supplies the e-bike with energy. According to the manufacturer, ranges of 60 to 120 kilometers should be possible. The drive train and battery are waterproof and meet the IP-65 standard. The Piaggio Multimedia Platform, PMP for short, is used to control the pedelec. The control unit is already used in a similar form in motor scooters. A GPS-GSM module housed in the battery ensures communication between rider and bike. The PMP can be controlled with the control buttons on the handlebars, the smartphone and the language. A Bluetooth connection for the mobile phone is therefore available as well as a USB port. Special and individually adaptable fitness applications allow controlled and effective training rides. The price for the e-bike, which will be available from the middle of next year, should remain below the 3000 euro mark.