Kona will be launching three new electric bicycles in May, the Ticket, Token (both $1,799) and the Electric Ute ($2,299). Based on their Commuter and Asphalt models, the new e-bikes will offer power-assisted pedaling in both 700c road wheel and 26″ mountain bike wheel varieties.
The Ticket and Token will be aimed at the commuter and casual riding segment, while the new Electric Ute should boost the opportunities for doing some serious grocery getting and errand running by bike.
More from the press release after the jump…
Both the Ticket and Token are 700C trekking bicycle types that use a 24-volt, 250W battery assisted Pedelec motor. The riding is very smooth due to the application of a patented Dutch design TMM torque sensor that is mounted on the dropout. Through a precise digital processor, the power assist from the front wheel drive motor can be delivered in proportion with the exact power output of the rider.
The system’s battery capacity is 24V with 10Ah (Amp Hour), delivering a long lifecycle of more than 700 rides. Both bikes feature a brushless geared 250W motor that is widely used in Europe. In power mode, the system can assist riding for up to 30km. In normal mode, power assist lasts up to 57km, while in economy mode, the battery has a huge 100km range (all range tests were conducted using a 85kg rider in a mild headwind condition). Kona uses Samsung 18650 Li-Ion cells, and a very sophisticated battery management system to detect cell performance and balance, with an incredibly accurate charge indicator.
The Ticket is designed specifically for men, while the Token is for women riders, featuring an easy to mount step through toptube and smaller sizes.
The Electric Ute is a battery-assisted version of our very popular Ute, a long wheel base bicycle designed to carry loads of up to 100kg-perfect for transporting goods in the urban environment. The motor system used on the Electric Ute is the same featured on the Ticket and the Token. However, the battery capacity calls for 24V x 13Ah-more power for carrying heavier loads.
All three bikes feature an efficiently designed battery system that is clean and out of the way, easy to insert and remove from the rear rack, and lock protected for battery security. The Ticket and Token are equipped with K-mark Dynamo lights (front and rear). They also come with Kona bells so you can safely let those without E-bikes know that you’re about to effortlessly pass them.
Because Kona is all about quality, all three bikes are among the first E-bikes on the market to pass the stringent CEN 15194 standard for Pedelec bikes in Europe.
Simplify the urban lifestyle on one of Kona’s new E-bikes. Available in USA & Canada in May 2010.
