Electric cars are not the only alternative to expensive gas guzzlers anymore. Other motorized vehicles are making an appearance, like electrically assisted bicycles that will surely be an attractive option for city commuters.
The E-Bike called Turbo from th company 'Specialized' helps the rider by providing extra torque from a 250 W rear hub motor. This extra kick can be set at 4 different speeds. The fastest will have you travelling at 28 mph. For those who do not know, the legal limit for an e-bike before it needs to become a licensed vehicle is 20 mph. This law is currently holding back the sales of this E-Bike in the states, but the bike will hit the streets of Europe this spring.
The bike features long lasting LED head and tail lights, Magura hydraulic brakes and a SRAM 1x10 drivetrain with a SRAM x0 derailleur and a trigger shifter. An integrated backlit display monitors battery charge, motor assistance level, speed, distance and time of travel. It includes a 342 Wh down-tube-mounted lithium ion battery that charges in 2 hours from a regular outlet and will provide full assistance for 25 miles. It also supports ANT+ wireless sensor devices to monitor vitals while riding. All of this for a total weight of 47 pounds.
As stated previously, this E-Bike has some bureaucratic hurdles to jump over before it can hit the streets in the U.S. but Specialized does not have plans to overcome these yet. It will sell in Europe for 5,500 euros or $7,200 USD.
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