Alongside the
exciting line-up of new vehicle and technology
introductions on its stand at Frankfurt Motor
Show, Ford is also unveiling a rather surprising
addition to its range - an E-Bike.
Designed to show
how the company's design language can translate
to a bicycle, the Ford E-Bike Concept also
demonstrates the spectrum of Ford's electric
mobility competence. Ford has no plans to
produce the E-Bike but will continue studying
the concept along with other future mobility
solutions.
"The E-Bike
market is growing very, very rapidly, with some
30 million units sold globally last year," said
Axel Wilke, director, vehicle personalisation,
Ford Customer Service Division Europe. "We see
E-Bikes as an important element of urban
electric mobility. More and more people are
using E?Bikes for short distance commuting and
they are becoming comfortable with the concept
of electric mobility."
Cross-Gender
Design
Developed by a Ford Design team led by Executive
Design Director Martin Smith, in partnership
with cyber-Wear, the German brand behind Ford's
popular Lifestyle Collection products, the Ford
E-Bike Concept has been created from the ground
up to appeal to both men and women.
At the heart of
the design is a trapezoidal frame profile.
Constructed from aluminium and carbon, the frame
combines outstanding strength with a weight of
just 2.5kg. The wheels, with a six-spoke
V-design, appear to float around the frame,
while the drive system is hidden from view,
creating a clean, minimalist appearance.
Cutting-Edge
Technology
Providing the power is a drive system consisting
of a motor in the front wheel hub, a lithium-ion
battery concealed in the frame, promising a
range of up to 85km on a full charge, an
integrated controller and patented
magnetostriction sensor technology from the
world of Formula One.
Magneotostrictive materials are used to convert
magnetic energy into kinetic energy, and vice
versa. In Formula One, these sensors help handle
high engine revolutions in combination with
intense thermal strains. They need no physical
contact with other parts of the engine, are
temperature-independent and are completely
maintenance-free.
In the Ford
E-Bike, the first application of this technology
in the bicycle industry, the sensors read the
revolutions in the inner bearing and relay this
information to the control unit within a
hundredth of a second. The control unit then
instantly activates or deactivates the electric
motor, providing a seamless integration of the
power of the legs with the power of the motor.
A
handlebar-mounted display provides trip
information and allows the rider to select from
three support modes - Economy, Comfort and
Sport.
Technical
Specifications
Drive Unit: Front wheel hub motor
Max. nominal power: 350W
Electricity: 36V - 250W
Supports up to 25km/h (to EN 15194)
Clutch with freewheel function
Gearbox: Planet gears
Integral sensor technology
Battery:
Cell type: Lithium-ion accumulator
Electricity: 340Wh, 36V, 9.3Ah
Charging cycles: 1000 cycles at 80% residual
capacity
BMS (Battery Management System): protects
against deep discharge and self-discharge Charge
times: 80% after 2 hours, 100% after 3-4 hours
(at room temperature)
Range: Up to 85km (depending on drive power and
support mode selected)
Temperature range: -20°C to +60°C
Extremely small
unit to connect battery (remains on bike) to
normal mains network.
Intelligent electronics to prevent overcharging,
undervolting, overheating and shortcircuit; in
particular, sleep function prevents deep
charging and necessity for recalibration with
charger connected.
