Diesel scandals, particulate warnings, low-emission zones – our cities are at a crossroads. Often, existing infrastructure can no longer deal with the rapid changes of urban life. In the next few years, ebikes will play an increasingly important role and could be the key to sustainable mobility concepts.
The bike played an important role for mobility even before powered ebikes appeared. Then it was the domain of individualists, students and some stubborn and dedicated commuters. Now, ever since ebikes have become more widespread, their role in transportation has become more important. Many of the original issues and disadvantages of riding have vanished: sweaty climbs are no longer an obstacle, integrated lighting systems increase safety and even less-fit riders are able to get from A to B through hill towns.
Manufacturers have responded to the trend and are introducing more and more versatile concepts for everyday ebikes. For example, the Riese & Müller Superdelite GT has handling that can hardly be distinguised from a normal ebike, but offers an enormous range thanks to its twin 500 Wh batteries. This concept scores for everyday commuting just as much as it does on weekend adventures on moderate terrain. Transporting heavy shopping or taking kids to kindergarten is a real challenge for bike and biker without the additional support of a motor. Nowadays, the different E-cargo bike designs available can fulfil many of the functions of a small family car. With the Load 60, Riese & Müller have shown what a full suspension, off-road capable E-cargo bike is capable of. It’s a pickup in the form of a cargo bike!
As mentioned in the discussion of E-Mountainbike trends, there’s now a solution for almost any application, even amongst E-cargo bikes. If you want to safely transport your children to kindergarten, the Urban Arrow Family offers a concept tailored towards everyday family life and makes a car superfluous for most jobs. For a general overview on different cargo bike concepts, we recommend reading the latest cargo bike comparison in DOWNTOWN Magazine.
Commuters can also benefit from an increasingly versatile market – aesthetics, fun and integration have reached a whole new level. A prime example is the powerful Stromer ST5 S-Pedelec with its Smart-Lock system, intelligent integration, elegant design and sporty handling.
For anyone who uses public transport for part of their journey, there are now many great solutions for bikes that don’t take too much space in the train or bus. The ARῙV Merge is a folding ebike that can be stowed away in minimal amounts of time. If you want to scoot around on even smaller wheel, the YORKS s1-elite E-scooter stands out with great handling and clever details. The high-end spec and quality offers several advantages over many of the cheaper, somewhat controversial E-scooters on the market.
But it’s not just bikes that have continued to develop. Amongst both accessories and clothing there are innovative products that offer true added value to everyday urban life. The Lumos Matrix helmet integrates indicators, brake lights, head- and tail-lights for an unusual level of visibility helping keep you safe in traffic.
The connectivity of ebikes continues to develop and improves safety, theft security, efficiency and comfort as well as tying into a future comprising intelligent, networked mobility. Ebikes that are able to communicate with each other will contribute to helping solve some of the problems prevalent in urban infrastructure. With the RX-Chip, Riese & Müller present a concept that points to the future. The system keeps your ebike online letting its location be checked 24/7. An effective protection against thieves can be easily added with Riese & Müller.
You can find all the information on the awarded products here.
