Monday, July 7, 2008

Panasonic Vivi RX-10S Electric Bike


Panasonic is going to launch in Japan next month the new Vivi RX-10S electric bike that features hybrid car-style regenerative braking system. The bicycle comes with an Automatic Mode which automatically switches between four levels of peddle assistance using a built-in torque sensor. For instance, the assistance force increases when the bicycle is going uphill and deactivates when it detects a downhill ride. By utilizing a regenerative braking system on downward slopes, etc, the assisted travel range is significantly extended compared with systems that don't use regenerated energy. The assisted travel range was reportedly extended to approximately 125km with the use of the regenerative braking system, whereas the assisted travel range is only about 90km without using the system. The expected retail price of the bicycle is ¥150,000 (~ $1,395).

Specs:

Wheel size: 26"
Motor: DC brushless 250W
Battery: Lithium-ion 26V-10Ah
Weight: 25.7kg

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