Wike has been making bicycle trailers since the mid-1990s but what caught our eye recently was the electric, partially enclosed four-wheeled vehicle that the company is working on. More than an electric bike and less than a car, the Wike Electric Sun is a suitable alternative for people who belive that the important part of transportation is getting to your destination with the smallest possible impact on the environment. Specific details of the Electric Sun's powertrain are not available, but it's hard to imagine that this vehicle is anything but efficient as all get out.

Wike's first foray into electric cars was the Yike, an electric-powered recumbant bicycle with a 20-mile range. Wike financed the Yike with money won in a settlement over a bike trailer patent infringement. The Electric Sun is an evolved version of the Yike, sort of a DIY version of GM's PUMA, and is the only vehicle I can think of that can go 30 mph and fold up. Wike's vehicle mindset is as follows:

While cars can be useful for longer trips, the majority of people worldwide only drive a short distance. Something better than a large bulky car can be used for these short runs to work, the grocery store and around the neighbourhood.

Thanks to Andres C. for the tip! Andres writes, "To me as an E-bicycle fanatic, this design (that works) represents the future of personal transportation NOT the monster clunkers like the Volt and Tesla cars ... Just imagine a polished version of it." Your thoughts?

[Source: Wike]

Bicycles can be a great way to reduce fuel consumption. They are efficient, relatively inexpensive, easy to store and care for and are often a fun way to score a little exercise while also getting you where you need to go. Of course, it's not always practical to pedal, which is one big reason that electric bikes are gaining in popularity so quickly.

What if you've already got a good bike but would like to add a bit of electric assistance? Enter the Gruber Assist, a new retrofit ebike system that fits into any standard 31.6mm seatpost. A small electric motor slides into the seat tube and engages with a geared bottom bracket to add 200 Watts of assistance when needed.

The entire Gruber Assist system weighs just 900 grams including a nickel metal hydride battery pack with enough juice to provide up to 1.5 hours of assisted pedaling. An even lighter lithium ion pack is also available. The price may be a little steep at £1649 (about $2,473 in U.S. funds), but the technology is undeniably cool.

[Source: Gruber Assist via Gizmag]

Electric bicycles are becoming more and more common as people see a need to get themselves and little else from one place to another. Bicycles are an excellent way to travel in any case, and now that electric motors, controllers and batteries are becoming more widely available, cyclists are taking it upon themselves to create their own zero-emissions transportation solutions. Take, for example, this Instructable, which shows how to take a beach cruiser-style bicycle and transform it into an EV. There are kits available to convert normal bikes into electric machines, but this is a bit more complex than that. The result is something that resembles an old board track motorcycle that's capable of hitting speeds of 50 miles per hour for around a hour using 48-volts worth of batteries. We love the arrangement of the components on the frame, which make the machine appear as if it's powered by a V-Twin engine. See a video of the machine in action after the break.


[Source: Instructables]

Kwang Yang Motor Co, better known as Kymco, is one of the very best Taiwanese scooter and motorcycle manufacturers around. Most scooter enthusiasts place Kymco right on par with such longtime Japanese manufacturers as Honda. Plus, we often get a good chuckle from the Taiwanese manufacturer's odd choice of names, such as "Bet and Win," "Grand Dink" and "Hipster." We also love the slogan, "Better than the Best." We promise, we're not making any of those up.

This being the case, we're excited to hear that the manufacturer is entering the electric cycle market. The first ebike to leave the factory will be known as the SunnyBoy... seriously, we just assume that these names sound much better in Taiwan. In any case, the new ebike is sure to be a quality piece and is scheduled to go on sale in its home market early in '09. We expect that the machine will hit the export market sometime in 2010.

[Source: Scootering USA]

We've seen electric dirtbikes before, but they've all been from small start-up manufacturers. You know that the technology is rapidly approaching mainstream when a huge company like KTM starts working on their own ebike. Using lithium ion batteries and an electric motor that produces 29.5 lb-ft of torque, the Austrian firm believes it can eke out about 40 minutes of hard riding under race conditions from its new electric machine. KTM is reportedly looking to introduce its Zero Emissions Motorcycle in as little as 24 months. The draw for electric off-road machines comes in part from their lack of emissions and sound, which conspire to keep many riders from enjoying their bikes close to home. What's more, an electric motorcycle can be recharged anywhere an outlet is available, meaning zero petroleum usage. For this reason, the Austrian government is helping to fund the development. KTM expects that its electric bike would cost just a bit more than its current race-ready enduro bikes.


[Source: Hell For Leather]

For those of you who had been hoping to get your hands on a new 2008 Zero X electric motorcycle, we have some bad news. They are all sold out. Now, the good news is that a new revised-for-'09 model will be making its first appearance at the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica, California, on September 26-27. Of course, we'll be there, on the lookout for all the coolest greenery at the show. We'll need to wait until then to find out what changes have been made, but the press release after the break makes it sound like a thorough upgrade with changes to the frame, suspension, brakes and electric drivetrain. Specs indicate 23-horsepower and just 145-pounds to move around, plus rider. That should get things going pretty briskly. Want one? Don't worry, the new bike is scheduled to begin shipping next month, so the wait shouldn't be too terribly long.


[Source: Zero Motorcycles]

A few months ago, we spoke about the Government of Cantabria, Spain, and its BioBike project to promote the use of electric bikes. The program just got an additional boost when that Government supplied 16 electric bikes to the main media of the region to promote its use and visibility. During six months, reporters will be able to use the bikes for free and report about the benefits of electric motoring. Additionally, the City Hall of Santander, the capital city of Cantabria, got 8 additional units for the local patrol and traffic sections. Other institutions such as other Region's police squads have gotten additional motorbikes as well.

[Source: Piquio]

Click above for more images of the Bricycle Concept

A man by the name of Brian has taken an interesting approach to designing an eco-friendly vehicle to replace some of the single-passengers cars driving all over the roads in America, and he calls it the Bricycle. Using three wheels -- one up front and two in the rear -- the Bricycle allows human power in the form of pedaling along with forty-eight volts of electric assist at the front. The rider/driver sits in a reclined position inside a canopy of composite bodywork. Brian's design also features twenty-one different gearing choices for the operator.

While a vehicle such as this will likely never see mass-market appeal, it would serve to eliminate a certain amount of traffic and allow those who would choose to ride to work anyway an opportunity to do so with some weather protection. Additionally, the concept shouldn't be too expensive to recreate after the initial design work is complete. We like it.


[Source: Bricycles.com via Engadget]

We've gazed at OHM's line of electric bikes already this year, and now we find a review by an automotive writer for The Wall Street Journal. David Patton tested the entry-level machine from the company, known as the XU450. The 450 stands for Watts, which the electric motor is able to deliver for short bursts. The rear hub-mounted motor can sustain a constant 250 Watts and the lithium battery is good for up to seventy miles, depending on how much pedaling the rider is willing to endure. Interestingly, the motor won't power the bike unless the rider pedals, so there are no free rides. Still, the top setting allows the motor to provide 200% more power than the rider is offering.

While we like the idea of electric bikes, the costs are going to have to come down before mainstream acceptance is likely. The XU450, for example, retails for a heady $2,195. Higher-specification models cost even more. Plus, its fifty pounds are quite a bit to lug around, as can be seen when you watch the video pasted after the break.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Click above for more images of the electric bike train

Recently, while searching the net for the most interesting forward-thinking ideas around, we stumbled across a design for an electric bicycle which works sort of like a train. Sure, that sounds confusing, but a quick glance at the pictures below will likely make the concept easier to understand. While we in no way believe that a device such as this would make any real dent in global emissions or congestion, we do think that the idea has some merit for cyclists. Consider, for example, how expensive tandem bicycles are. With a vehicle such as this, a single rider can go his merry way alone or attach extra helpers bikes as needed. Additionally, the electric machine is collapsible, which should make it easier to store when not needed. Pretty cool stuff from designer Jiang Qian in China. A quick glance at his accomplishments makes us believe we're not the only ones impressed by his work.


[Source: Coroflot.com]