Ford’s newest electric vehicle isn’t a C-Max, Focus, or Fiesta: it’s an electric bicycle, called the Ford E-Bike Concept, which recently debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Ford says the futuristic-looking, electric-powered bicycle was designed to commemorate Ford’s new automotive design language, and also show the how the latest advancements in automotive technology can be applied to the humble two-wheeler.
The frame, which is made from aluminum and carbon fiber, weighs just 5.5 pounds and provides on-board storage for a lithium-ion battery pack. Its two pedals drive a Shimano belt-drive 11-speed gear system and, in turn, the rear wheel. Up front, a hub-mounted electric motor sports a magnetostriction sensor, allowing it to cut power when it senses the rider is pedaling. As such, the motor’s operation is allegedly seamless and completely automatic. Ford also says the E-Bike can operate in multiple assist modes (i.e. economy, comfort, and sport), and has an electric range of 53 miles on a single charge.
This isn’t the first time Ford’s dabbled with electric-powered bicycles. During the company’s ownership of Think Nordic, the Think brand sold two types of EV bicycles under the Think nameplate. Those bicycles cost between $1000-$1200 a piece, and their electrified top speed was a mere 16 mph. A lead-acid battery provided up to 30 miles of electric assist.
Unlike those bikes, the E-Bike isn’t destined for production. Ford says the concept is simply part of a study of “other future mobility solutions.”
