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BETHEL, Conn., Sept 24, 2008 - PRNewswire via COMTEX — Schwinn Bicycles, America’s most recognized bicycle brand today announced a strategic collaboration with Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) that is expected to dramatically alter the electric bicycle landscape in the United States and around the world. Schwinn Bicycles is part of the Cannondale Sports Group Division of Dorel Industries (CA:DII.B) (CA:DII.A).

Schwinn has incorporated Toshiba’s new Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) technology into the Schwinn Tailwind, a brand new electric bike to be formally unveiled today in Las Vegas to bicycle dealers attending the annual Interbike International Bicycle Expo, the largest bicycle trade industry event in North America. The Tailwind will also be showcased tonight from 6 to 9:30 p.m. (EDT) at the ShowStoppers media-only reception being held at the Millennium Hotel on Times Square in New York City at 44th and Broadway.

Toshiba’s SCiB power technology will enable Tailwind owners to recharge their eBike in 30 minutes through a standard electrical outlet (or as little as five to seven minutes through a commercial charger). By comparison, it takes four hours or longer to fully recharge the battery of virtually any other eBike in use today through a standard electrical outlet, allowing riders to recharge their Tailwind eBike in one-eighth (1/8th) the time of other electric bikes.

In addition, Tailwind owners can expect to see an industry leading 2,000 recharge lifecycles with the eBike versus the industry standard of 1,000 charges before needing to replace the battery. Tailwind riders will find that they can ride 25 to 30 miles per charge (depending upon such factors as temperature, rider weight and terrain). The Tailwind also comes with a 20,000-mile or two-year limited warranty.
“We are very pleased to supply our first SCiB product to such a well-known and respected company as Schwinn Bicycles and its parent company, Dorel Industries,” said Shoshi Kawatsu, General Manager, Super Charge Battery Div. of Toshiba’s Transmission Distribution & Industrial System Company. “Schwinn is one of the most recognized bicycle brands in the world, and we are happy to provide Tailwind owners with our innovative SCiB technology.”

Read More at MarketWatch

Electric bikes have come a distance since they first turned up in the 1890s, just 30 years after the pedal powered bicycle was born in Paris. Now, with new technologies in electric bikes offering lighter batteries, superior storage density and conversion kits, electric motors are the most popular mode of propelling electric bikes. Depending on the type of electric bike, the functionality of the motor can range from taking a back seat to pedaling and used only when extra energy is required, like pedaling uphill, or it may be the primary source of energy, as it is with mopeds, where pedaling is only to be used during emergencies. Some newer models boast the ability to enable regenerative braking and charging while pedaling or rolling downhill, and fuel cells are on the horizon for alternative methods of powering electric bikes.

Read More at Tim and Tony…

CDT/Mark Johnston

PSU Police Detective Bill Wagner test drives one of the department’s new Vectrix electric police bikes on the campus Friday, Sept 19, 2008. CDT/Mark Johnston

Penn State police this weekend will become the first university law enforcement agency in the nation and the first police department in the state to deploy “green,” battery-operated Vectrix motorcycles for patrolling, said Police Chief Steve Shelow.

Its also the departments first motorcycle patrol. Intended to allow police to move easily through crowds, it will be used for the first time before the football game against Temple, Shelow said.

“It’s fairly difficult at times to get a traditional police vehicle around the tailgating lots,” Shelow said. “We’ve found our police bicycles are very effective. The motorcycles will add more of a capability for quicker response.”

Each motorcycle cost $9,000, Shelow said.

Read more at Centre Daily Local News

After his workday at Denver Wastewater, John McLinden rides his electric bike 6 miles to his home in northwest Denver. Watch »

At the beginning of the summer, John McLinden had a problem. Actually, make that two or three problems.

The 59-year-old Denver resident wanted to get some exercise.

He was annoyed at high gas prices.

He was also committed to finding a greener way to commute six miles to work as a plumbing-inspection supervisor at Denver Wastewater.

However, the obvious solution - riding a bicycle - was out of the question.

“I’ve got problems in both knees. Pedaling a regular bike was too painful,” McLinden said.

He discovered the answer online: a power-assisted bicycle, or “e-bike.”

An e-bike is not a motorcycle, a moped, a scooter or a Vespa. It’s a hybrid electric vehicle that looks very much like a standard bicycle.

Read more at Rocky Mountain News