Your average e-bike is just a regular bicycle fitted with an electric motor. When the battery dies, you can just revert to pedalling so you’re not stranded. The new Footloose from Mando, however, takes a different approach. There’s still a set of pedals, but they’re used to power an alternator which generates electricity keeping the motor running. It’s like the bicycle equivalent of the Chevy Volt. More »
While most electric bicycles opt for a pedal-assist mechanism that delivers extra power when a rider pedals, the Mando E-Bike adopts a totally different approach. It’s replaced the bottom bracket with a alternator, and directly converts pedal power to electricity, which, in turn, powers the rear wheel. Basically, instead of using mechanical advantage and a chain to power the back wheel, the Mando turns the rider into a human generator. That means that the chain is expendable, which leads to the rather radical industrial design. Because it doesn’t have a chain, and the motor and electronics are integrated into the frame, it folds up cleanly and neatly–there won’t be any chain grease on your pants if you carry it.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung Galaxy S2 used in Ford e-bike concept, Smart pedelec electric bike enters production,
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