Electrobike
It’s a traditional pedal pusher, a motor-driven bike and an art piece. You can ride it as long as your legs and lungs hold out. Or just nudge the throttle with your thumb and let the 36-volt pack of nickel metal hydride batteries do the heavy breathing. -- Sue Carpenter (Photo by: Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)
Electrobike calls it the world’s fastest hair dryer, but its Pi electric bicycle isn’t even in the same league. It has half the wattage of a Conair -- just 750 watts, or about 1 horsepower. -- Sue Carpenter (Photo by: Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)
The transmission integrates the motor and pedals into a single driveline so it can easily pull itself up a hill, while the flywheel not only produces electric energy but also regenerates it when braking, so the energy’s released again when it’s spinning. -- Sue Carpenter (Photo by: Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)
Pi’s maximum speed is 20 mph stock, but with a little after-market hot rodding, i.e., a larger chain ring and gears, the bike is capable of about 46 mph. -- Sue Carpenter (Photo by: Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)
