Mercedes Too Expensive? Get This One
At the Frankfurt Motor Show (13 – 25 September 2011), Daimler will show a bicycle. A lot of manufacturers have shown two-wheeled design studies at shows. This one will go on sale. In Frankfurt, you will see a “near-series version of the smart ebike,” as Daimler’s press release says. The ebike will be launched in the first half of 2012 and will initially be marketed by dealers in Europe and North America.
The lady on the bicycle doesn’t come with the bicycle. She is Daimler’s smart CEO Dr. Annette Winkler. The bike will be sold under the smart brand. According to Frau Dr. Winkler,
“The smart ebike is a true smart – but on two wheels. It’s not just an extremely well designed bicycle that is sure to draw admiring glances in the city – it’s also really practical and child’s play to ride. Anyone can zip through town on it with or without exerting themselves – depending on their fitness level and as the mood takes them. And it’s even easier to find a parking space than with the smart fortwo.”
Strictly speaking, the bike is a hybrid vehicle – in a way: the electric motor switches on as soon as the rider provides muscle power and starts pedaling as with a normal bicycle. The rider decides how much power he wants to send from the 400 Wh the lithium-ion battery to the 250 watts electric motor. Like a good EV, the bike will re-gen brake energy.
Range? “Depending on the power level selected and the manner of cycling a battery charge can last for more than 100 kilometers” (62 miles) says the press release.
It even comes with built-in biker’s distraction! A USB interface is a standard feature. An iPhone app is in the works.
Price? Says Annette Winkler: “The smart ebike is a real high-tech product and its price of less than €2,900 in Germany will make it a very attractive option.” That’s $4,169.91 at the current rate.
Oh dear.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Would probably sell better if for the PR photos she pulled her hair back, and dressed like the classy-MILF she probably is, and not in a pant-suit with a hair-do that reminds me of the permanent wave my 75-something mother wears (or that together remind me of Hillary Clinton.) Oh, would probably also help if it were a heck of a lot less expensive. Typical Smart, too expensive for something Toyota will beat you at a few years after you launch it.... (I've got nothing against Smart, I happily drive one, but I recognize I'm in the minority.)
It's great to see the good doctor is doing well for herself. I really enjoyed watching her father as the Fonz. :)