Today, we get a sneak peek at the pre-production Volkswagen Sport eBike – a bike/car collaboration that doesn’t look terrible. On the landing page for the bike, Volkswagen states that “This bicycle is currently still in development as a pre-production model, and delivery will take place “once manufacturing is complete and the bike has been successfully certified in accordance with applicable EU regulations.”
So, I guess we’ll see what happens.
If the Volkswagen Sport eBike does come to fruition, it looks like it will have some cool gizmos, bells, and whistles. Plus, there’s a whole Sport eBike ecosystem that will be available as well. Everything from a rear-facing camera that appears on a built-in handlebar screen to a smart helmet and some glasses.
Volkswagen claims that because it can bring the best automotive innovation to two wheels, the Sport eBike is “The world’s first Smart eBike”. That seems a bit dubious, but there are some cool features.
Radar-Activated Rear Radar Camera
Again, with the claim as the “world’s first”, the Volkswagen Sport eBike comes equipped with a Smart View Rear Radar Camera. The rear-view camera is automatically activated via a rear-facing radar. It is designed to alert the rider to upcoming traffic and risks. This seems like a smart evolution to the radar taillights that many riders are already using.
Volkswagen Smart Helmet
This helmet is equipped with both front and rear lights. Having the lights at the highest point means the rider will be making a big light footprint that will be highly visible from 360 degrees.
It also uses Smart Lighting. That means that turn signals, front and rear lights, and brake lights will be broadcast from the bike and the helmet simultaneously. It appears that the entire top tube will be a light on both sides, with one side lighting up as a turn signal, or both sides lighting up while riding in a straight line. The helmet even displays a front daytime running light and has crash detection technology built in.
Smart Glasses
These fancy glasses are loaded with cool tech that was originally developed for fighter pilots. Like, radar-activated eBike blind spot alerts that project onto the heads-up display. It can also use your phone’s Bluetooth connection to display navigation directions on the heads-up display, as well. That’s pretty cool.
While wearing the glasses, you can activate and deactivate the heads-up display by simply moving your eyes to look to the top right of the glasses. All of this, and it only weighs as much as a golf ball.
Yamaha Mid-Drive Motor
The equipped Yamaha PW-X3 motor that is spec’d on the Volkswagen Sport eBike delivers 85Nm of torque. It only weighs 2.75kg (6lbs), so it’s lighter and smaller while still delivering more torque than before.
Plus, the PW-X3’s exclusively tuned Automatic Support Mode delivers optimal assistance by choosing from the Sport eBike’s three settings: Eco, Standard, and High. The system is designed to reduce assist on level roads, while increasing assist when the situation gets steeper.
Built-in Smart security is another cool feature of the Volkswagen Sport eBike. The bike utilizes a loud (85dB) alarm that is activated by an integrated motion sensor. And on top of that, it uses Apple Find My to help keep track of your bike’s whereabouts, or to locate a bike that may’ve been taken.
All in all, it looks like a pretty cool bike. And at €3,999 ($4,547), it’s not horribly expensive. It will be available in a step-through frame as well, you know, when it’s actually available. Check the link below for more details.
