BIKE MADE BY AUDI: e-Bike
Last week German automaker Audi made its first big splash into the E-bike world, releasing photos and videos of an exciting lightweight prototype electric stunt bike that may be among the most ambitious projects introduced in this space to date. No specific names or dates have been announced yet by the Germans, so for now it is still technically a concept bike–but from the looks of it a radically groundbreaking one.
This ebike made #1 of our top 10 ebikes of the future list.
And is #4 on our 10 fastest production Ebikes list.
And to see the fasted ebikes in the world ever built check out our 10 fastest electric bikes on the planet.
Audi is making some other fast moves in the 2-wheel motor sport category with the announcement last month of their purchase of Italian motorcycle-maker Ducati for $1.2 billion in a rare move for an auto manufacturer. Ducati’s dealership network may well provide Audi with an instant world-wide distribution channel for upscale high-performance E-bikes.
And separately, VW, also owned by Audi, has been working on something they call “last mile transportation,” which focuses on the use of short-distance urban transportation.
Audi’s concept E-bike is what you would expect when some of Europe’s most skilled auto engineers and modernist designers get together and decide they are going to create a flagship E-bike with no expenses spared.
The Audi E-bike is based on custom carbon fiber wheels and a full-suspension carbon fiber frame; even the front suspension forks are custom designed for this bike. The rims look very similar in design to those on the $80K Blacktrail, leading to speculation by some in the E-bike community that this bike was partially designed by PG Bikes, the company behind the Blacktrail. Certainly at least the Audi ebike designers had the obscenely priced Blacktrail in mind when they designed their bike. The Audi E-bike also uses the same “Harmonic Drive System” as the Blacktrail, a highly regarded German design developed by Clean Mobile. Clean Mobile builds custom bottom-bracket drive systems for exclusive high end bikes made by innovative European companies such as KTM (see Egnition article here). Ironically Clean Mobile also went through an ownership change recently, first filing insolvency, and then being acquired by TQ-Systems GmbH and switching most of its staff just last month.
PG BIkes $80k Blacktrail… similar to Audi?
The key element to the Audi drive system designed by Clean Mobile, that it keeps the motor weight in the center of the frame (unlike most hub powered bikes which have heavy weight awkwardly placed in rear wheel) and most importantly allows the power to be driven through the bicycles gear system. This means that the motor is allowed to operate in its maximum efficiency zone, because as we know, electric motors like to spin quickly at a high rpm. Most expensive ebikes like this choose an In the Gear hub transmission like the German made 14 speed Rohloff (see our article on the Rohloff here). We are very surprised that Audi opted to go with a standard derailleur system given the other flashes of bicycle technology in this bike such as the $800 Brakeforce one carbon fiber hydraulic brakes. We suspect that going with a derailleur instead of a Rohloff was a compromise Audi had to make to accommodate the carbon rims which have attached carbon spokes, and may have been a design blunder that will be corrected if and when the bike goes into production. Carbon rims with built in spokes make no sense on an ebike other than aesthetics, and add considerably to the cost. To give you an idea the Blacktrail bike which uses an identical carbon wheel set, sells a replacement set of wheels and rims for a staggering $5000.
The Audi E-bike is designed with light weight, high power and nimbleness in mind, no doubt for BMX-type stunts such as those seen in the video, so does not carry a heavy, cumbersome battery pack. Instead it features a small, featherweight, quick-change pack, enabling the rider to choose between riding “naked” for short distances or hauling extra battery packs in a backpack for longer rides. The bike appears well-balanced, with most of the serious weight (battery and motor) situated very low and centered in the frame. Best of all, it tilts the scales at a scant 46 pounds–unheard of to date for a full suspension E-bike.
Other goodies include a built-in Android smartphone app that serves as an electronic control system for the bike, not just monitoring battery and speed but a host of other useful functions, including the ability to toggle through five cycling modes: Pure, Pedelec, eGrip, Power Wheelie, and Balanced Wheelie. The bike also utilizes a torque sensor, which measures how much the rider is pedaling and can add power accordingly. Another sweet feature of this control system is a lock feature, which locks the rear wheel and sets off an alarm if someone tries to grab and dash your $2ok bike. All in all this is one of the most impressive efforts we have seen software-wise in an E-bike. In this picture you can see where an Android phone is attached to frame:
Audi, the company that brought you hybrid-diesel racecars, has an intriguing two-wheel concept vehicle: an ultra-light carbon fiber electric bicycle that has WiFi built in, can hit 50 mph, and even has a Segway-like mode that lets it run on just its back wheel (apparently clever computers and gyroscopes will keep you balanced).
Audi unveiled it at the 2012 Wörthersee Tour in Austria — and the e-bike itself is also called Wörthersee (which happens to be a beautiful lake in Austria). The carbon fiber frame weighs just 3.53 pounds (1.6kg) — but with a 2.3kW electric motor and lithium ion battery the bike’s total weight is 24lbs (11kg). It’s pegged as a high-performance bike for trick cycling, including the ability to ride on its back wheel alone in two of the five modes: Pure, Pedelec, eGrip, Power Wheelie, and Balanced Wheelie.
Audi says the e-bike travels up to 31 mph on the electric motor, and up to 51 mph when the rider pedals as well. The battery can be charged in 2.5 hours or quickly swapped. It’s also outfitted with WiFi and a smartphone that provides electronic controls for the bike as well as unlocking the bike — so someone else doesn’t use your bike to pop their wheelies. Price and availability? Be patient, says Audi, all in good time.
Many automakers also sell performance bikes as lifestyle accessories, but nothing like Audi’s e-bike. BMW i Ventures, the New York City-based venture fund for mobility related investments, is providing seed money for a more mainstream electric bicycle that would be light and foldable. Drive to the train station in the suburbs, carry the bike on board, get to your destination city, unfold the bike, and motor electrically to your office a mile or two away.
Audi has debuted an e-bike, complete with a smartphone-controlled immobilizer "bike lock" and a Segway-inspired "wheelie mode".
The Audi e-bike Wörthersee concept debuted on May 11 in Germany. The concept blurs the line between a "pedelec" - a bike that supplements the rider's own pedal power with an electrically-assisted "tail wind" - and a true e-bike, where the bike supplies all the power via an integrated electric motor.
In the case of the Wörthersee, the bike allows the rider to select whatever mode he or she would prefer, with up to five programs to choose from. Riders can also select the "Pure" mode and pedal normally.
In the electrically-assisted "Pedelec Mode," a top speed of up to 80 km/h (50 mph) can be reached, with a range of between 31 and 44 miles. The eGrip mode supplies all the power with the twist of a handlebar-mounted throttle control; that mode can take the rider to speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph).
The entire bike, made of ultralight carbon fiber, weighs just 46 pounds, while Audi said that the Wörthersee's frame weighs just 1,600 grams (3.53 lb), not including a 5 kg (11.02 lb), 530 Wh lithium-ion battery that supplies the power. Audi said that the battery can be recharged from a 230-volt supply in about 2.5 hours, or swapped out with a fully-charged replacement.
Audi described the Wörthersee as the most powerful e-bike in the market - if the e-bike were to be sold, that is. At the rear wheel, the maximum torque is 250 Nm or 184.39 lb-ft, with peak output reaching 2.3 kW. A nine-speed hydraulically actuated gear shift controls the power.
The electric motor is a permanent magnet synchronous machine located at the lowest point on the frame, and drives the bottom bracket shaft directly, Audi said. In total, the power to weight ratio is 19.84 pounds per kilowatt, or 15.43 pounds per horsepower.
While Audi designed the Wörthersee's drivetrain with efficiency in mind, the drive modes allow a bit of fun. In "Wheelie" mode, the bike itself provides power to allow the rider to focus on keeping the front wheel in the air; "Power Wheelie" can adjust the wheelie angle for less experienced riders, while "Balanced Wheelie" actually adjusts the speed of the bike, braking or speeding up to actually lift the bike's front wheel off of the ground as the rider shifts his or her weight. Leaning forward speeds up the bike, while leaning back slows it down. There's even a "training mode," Audi said.
Other features include a handlebar-mounted seat height control, even as the bike id being ridden, and a long, slash-styled headlight that goes the width of the handlebars.
And there's a trip computer, of course. That's built into the frame, with an integrated touchscreen that controls the riding mode selection, recording trick sequences and adjustment of various e-bike functions such as electric pedaling assistance and lighting. The display shows road speed, distance covered, state of battery charge, energy consumption and slope angle at any given moment, Audi said.
The Wörthersee even has Wi-Fi, which communicates with the rider's smartphone via an integrated antenna. The bike even records tricks and assigns "success points," which can be used to level up challenges or used to brag on Facebook.
Finally, there's the lock - instead of a chain, the smartphone is used to immobilize the bike. No, it won't prevent the bike itself from being lifted into the back of a truck, but no one will be able to surpass your stoppie record, either.
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