A Transport Revolution?

ANCHOR:
An interesting invention by a German man. A special bike has been built that runs up to 50 miles an hour and could lead to a transportation revolution.

STORY:
It's certainly a head-turner. Whizzing around the streets of Berlin - this is the "ErockIT". Half-bicycle, half-motorbike, Stefan Gulas has been working on his invention for the past four years:

[Stefan Gulas, ErockIT Inventor]:
"It's a motorbike and in a certain sense it's also a bicycle, because the motorbike works as a bicycle. So you have to pedal in order to travel forwards. The pedals act as a type of accelerator. So you don't have an accelerator on the handlebars but you have to pedal. And the quicker you pedal the faster the motor goes."

And this pedaling also charges up the bike's battery. Gulas is convinced the ErockIT - which can travel up to 80 kilometers, or almost 50 miles an hour, is a transport revolution.

[Stefan Gulas, ErockIT Inventor]:
"The thing I'm most proud of is that we've managed to make a cool electric vehicle. There are lots of vehicles with petrol engines that are cool - you just need to go and take a look at them, Ducatis or cars like Porsches and Ferraris. They're cool vehicles, but they all have petrol engines."

The bike may have the looks. But it seems people don't quite know what to make of it.

[Martin Alridge, Likes ErockIT]:
"From the speed, I'd say it's a motorbike, but he pedals it, so it's a push bike. So it's a bicycle. But an amazing thing, absolutely amazing. I want one."

The others who want one should be prepared to dig deep into their pockets.

An "ErockIT" costs 30-thousand euros - or around 44-thousand U.S. dollars - and customers have to put down 25 000 euros when they place an order.

For his part - Gulas says he expects the bike will appeal to creative, successful, people.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ntd
• germany
• Transport
• Revolution
• bike
• ErockIT
• Stefan
• Gulas

[tyroy57]

someone will snap it up and make it cheaper

[mesmerizeme]

GOD BLESS GERMANY

[AlfredMoi]

There are dozens of electrical bikes like this in The Netherlands and very popular. Their price is reasonably low but an electric engine that lasts for years is very hard to find. I had an electrical scooter and it was not strong enough either. Their speed is 15,5 ml/hr (faster then this at the pedals) and you do not need insurance or a helmet. The rider on this bike needs a motorbike helmet, ski helmets are illegal. This is a no-go and can't do. Will this be a good motorbike is another thought.

[KOGR11]

The price will make sure this thing never becomes a main stream product, except may be in europe. if you are going to make a sustanability centred product whats the point of making it so hard to afford? Thats my opinion as an engineer.

[SuperBengates]

My opinion.......This bike is just a simple engineering, it is a low speed generator (taken from homebuilt wind turbine design) chained to a modified brushless motor ( say permanent magnet brushless motor) and there you goes.....i believe there is nothing new or spectacular on this..... this should not be that expensive..... i think i can build one myself....or anybody can build this one also.......just browse the net and you have all the things you needed. Peace!

[paszkarobert]

Its a good bike, but with that money i can buy like 7 bikes that reach 400km/h

[islandmusic670]

assholes this is amazing this means no fucking global warming this is brilliant i bet its gonna cast a fortune....

[ratrodralphy]

@mesmerizeme  shit i wouldant go that far ,,

[axelasdf]

Sooooooooo, you have to petal, but it doesn't have to be designed that way?

[Psolian]

I can see so many people pedaling into corners at 80kph in these things, clipping the pedals and killing themselves.

[Zooni2]

For 9000 USD you can buy a full functioning electric motorbike and save the peddling.

[zemen51]

dude this german inventor can speak english fluently! And when he does, he's got the funniest character! No is not his accent! he's just damn funny!