MIT makes Copenhagen Wheel. Makes you faster

Link to MIT article: Linky

Now I know a lot of you are sort of anti-e-bike or are at least not enthused by the whole concept, but this system proves to be the money-est form of delivery of e-bike benefits without the actual e-bike rig. There's no throttle, no gigantic battery pack, and it doesn't detract from the looks or styling of your bike. What you get is a cool looking rear wheel, a potentially amazing braking system (at least it could theoretically be way better than standard friction brakes), and a boost of speed for flying down all of those bike lanes.

I think it's awesome and could definitely see myself paying for something like this as opposed to the standard issue e-bikes that are currently on the market.

What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on December 16, 2009 at 5:21am
It appears a fine example of a solution in search of a problem. (Do I really need to know pollution levels of individual roads I travel on? Do my friends really care being updated on my position every 60 seconds?)

Also, and I may have missed it, but nothing was said about the price. Unless some manufacturer starts (mass)-producing this is likely to remain some high-priced, limited-appeal item.

Oh, and the average bicyclist in Chicago blows thru every intersection without braking, so how is thing ever going to be charged? ;)
Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on December 16, 2009 at 6:07am
I would say those statistics are good for the city itself to know.

It will all come down to the price on it.

Duppie said:
It appears a fine example of a solution in search of a problem. (Do I really need to know pollution levels of individual roads I travel on? Do my friends really care being updated on my position every 60 seconds?)

Also, and I may have missed it, but nothing was said about the price. Unless some manufacturer starts (mass)-producing this is likely to remain some high-priced, limited-appeal item.

Oh, and the average bicyclist in Chicago blows thru every intersection without braking, so how is thing ever going to be charged? ;)
Permalink Reply by Ryan on December 16, 2009 at 6:36am
I guess my point wasn't for the "social networking" aspect of the device because that isn't really what attracted me to it. Bluetoothing my rear wheel to my phone does nothing for me, but the simple integration of braking and power storage systems really is quite novel and I feel the design is quite striking. A hub motor is going to run in the $300-400 range alone, batteries probably another $100, controller and housing another $100, and then the wheel itself could be who-knows-what. I could see myself paying $1000 for this sans info-tech gimmicky stuff.
Permalink Reply by igz on December 16, 2009 at 7:14am
"Though the prototypes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars each because of all the research involved, their analysis shows that a regular production model can be “competitive with existing electric bicycles,” he says."

Duppie said:
It appears a fine example of a solution in search of a problem. (Do I really need to know pollution levels of individual roads I travel on? Do my friends really care being updated on my position every 60 seconds?)

Also, and I may have missed it, but nothing was said about the price. Unless some manufacturer starts (mass)-producing this is likely to remain some high-priced, limited-appeal item.

Oh, and the average bicyclist in Chicago blows thru every intersection without braking, so how is thing ever going to be charged? ;)
Permalink Reply by Duppie on December 16, 2009 at 7:59am
I was right! I did miss it!
Thanks.

So what does that mean for the price? A quick check on Trek's website shows that the price difference between an electric bike and it's non-electric brother is nearly $1800 (7200+ v. 7200). If the price of that new wheel is comparable to the difference I doubt it will gain much traction in the market.

iggi said:
"Though the prototypes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars each because of all the research involved, their analysis shows that a regular production model can be “competitive with existing electric bicycles,” he says."

Duppie said:
It appears a fine example of a solution in search of a problem. (Do I really need to know pollution levels of individual roads I travel on? Do my friends really care being updated on my position every 60 seconds?)

Also, and I may have missed it, but nothing was said about the price. Unless some manufacturer starts (mass)-producing this is likely to remain some high-priced, limited-appeal item.

Oh, and the average bicyclist in Chicago blows thru every intersection without braking, so how is thing ever going to be charged? ;)
Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on December 16, 2009 at 8:03am
Cool. I can see this being integrated into the public bike sharing schemes popping up all over the world.
Permalink Reply by Arrak Thumrs on December 16, 2009 at 2:19pm
I do like seeing technology research on bicycles. I sorta agree, though, that it is a solution in search of a problem unless you're biking in San Francisco. Otherwise, who needs a bike with "nitro boost"!? haha
Permalink Reply by Wild Bill on December 18, 2009 at 3:55pm
Very interesting.

I'm already happy with my road bike with GPS, but it is neat to see what can be created with inspiration and perspiration.
Permalink Reply by EvanDynamic on December 18, 2009 at 8:15pm
I think municipal pollution mass data-gathering and consumer ebike comparison shopping are two different things. Obviously another bike that tried to fill two needs with one design are hybrids. We all know of disappointed hybrid owners who concluded they had a bike that was okay at everything and good at nothing.

With that in mind, I think it's a damn neat design. But with a four-figure price tag I wonder if it is a wheel that's okay at being an ebike and okay at being an IT device but great at neither.

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