Ford turns its attention to two-wheels  

The SMH has an article on an electric bike concept being displayed by Ford -Ford turns its attention to two-wheels.

The Blue Oval brand has revealed its new E-Bike concept pushbike that it says “could be an innovative solution for urban mobility". The E-Bike concept is part plug-in and part pushy, with a conventional cog set at the rear wheel and a front wheel-mounted electronic hub that can also be used to propel the bike.

"The e-bike market is growing very, very rapidly, with some 30 million units sold globally last year," says Axel Wilke, director of vehicle personalisation from Ford’s European service division.
"We see e-bikes as an important element of urban electric mobility. More and more people are using e bikes for short distance commuting and they are becoming comfortable with the concept of electric mobility."

Ford says it has taken inspiration from technology used in formula one in the form of “magnetostrictive" materials, which “are used to convert magnetic energy into kinetic energy, and vice versa", with sensors able to provide “a seamless integration of the power of the legs with the power of the motor" by switching between or blending the two power sources “within a hundredth of a second".

The trapezoidal frame is constructed of lightweight aluminium and carbon fibre, tipping the scales at just 2.5kg. The frame houses the integrated lithium-ion battery which is good for 85 kilometres on a full charge, and takes just two hours to charge to 80 per cent or four hours for a full fill.

Despite Ford admitting that bikes like this are important for the future of transport, the US-based company says it isn’t planning on bringing the E-Bike to production.