eZee Quando - A Folding Electric Bike
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02. 7.06
A reader (Rich) commenting on our earlier post on the Aprilia Enjoy suggested checking out the eZee bikes. So we did. And amongst some very slick electric assisted bicycles, we settled on the Quando as an indication of their line-up. What sets this one aside is that it’s a folding bike, that’s said to take only 30 seconds (don’t they all say that?) to become 226 litres (8 cu ft) of metal origami. Fully expanded the Quando weighs in at 25.7 kg (57 lb), including the NiMH 36V 9Ah battery. And it can manage a range of 32 km (20 miles) with a cruising speed of 25 kph (15 mph). AtoB Magazine in the UK is quoted as rating it: "A guaranteed winner... the best hill climber we've seen... would suit a commuter in a hilly city, storming up gradients that would leave conventional cyclists puffing and blowing." Elsewhere, the same magazine suggest a sister bike, the eZee Torq “goes like stink”. The Torq is slightly lighter at 24.7 kg (54.4 lbs) and has an increased ranged of 48 km (30 miles). All the bikes can be pedalled like a normal bike. See the full eZee range at ::50 Cycles
A hill climber, eh?
If its true, I could use something like that in-between downtown Salt Lake City and the University.
Two more fanatasic hill climbers have just been launched in the UK 4 years after the Quando from Ezee.
F-SERIES ELECTRIC BIKES STAMP OUT CARBON FOOTPRINTS
50cycles.com is in the race to stamp out travellers Carbon footprints by introducing a new, forward-thinking style of electric bike. Aimed at the next generation of pioneering cyclists who seek the most efficient, viable way to make it cool to save fuel and beat the rush hour traffic, the new F-series electric bikes boast an impressive range of 30 miles with traffic-beating power all the way.
This bike is so powerful it has been limited to 15mph for legal road use but this can be derestricted for off-road use to achieve a cracking pace of 22 mph. The F-series are also fully loaded with high-end components that mark a new level of style and function in this growing sector. Looking very much like cool conventional bikes, they pack a hidden punch and have moved the market into a new era, bringing style and character where once were clunky dinosaurs with unwieldy lead acid batteries. Tim Snaith, director of 50cycles Ltd, says “In my experience, a high performance electric bike is the quickest way to get around London.”
The launch comes less than a fortnight before the secret army of electric bike converts are set to gather in the charming border village of Presteigne, Powys, to strategise and test the the latest technology the electric bike underground has hatched. The event, on May 13th 2007 will include a race to decide the year’s best performing electric bike on the market. Experts would tip 50cycles to pull a win out of the bag again. But, who knows? A new world-beating contraption may roll out of some innovator’s shed and take the prize.
50cycles will unveil two new F-Series electric bikes, the Forza (pictured above) and Forte, at the event and free test rides will be available to anyone who dares to try their power for themselves.