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histoire des premiers vélos électriques par ExtraEnergy France (pedelec, e-bike, moto électrique)

 

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1888

John Boyd Dunlop : l'inventeur du pneumatique - copyright Hulton Getty

John Boyd Dunlop (1840-1921), scottish vet and engineer, replaced the solid tyres with thin rubber strips. A revolution in comfort and performance started for the bicycle.

early 1880 : bicycle chain invented...

1888 : bicycle tyre invented... great improvement for confort and safety that increase people interest...

1895 : one of the first electric 2 wheelers based on a draisine with a hub electric motor in the rear wheel.

1897 : one of the first electric bicycle using crank motor and connecting rod transmission !

1899 : one of the first electric bicycle using friction drive motor unit.

Bicycles with electric motor outfitted are finally not recent concepts.

In the early time, the electric motor worked alone or with the help of the cyclist for small rises or uphills. But it has had its days of glory as long as the gasoline engine spit out as much oil as it was consuming. This did not fit well with the clothing of the period, especially not for the women from the turn of the century, who were particularly interested in the new mobility.

However the electric vehicles were eclipsed quickly due to the development of the gasoline engine.

But even if it emerge from the shadow in every big political or economic crisis, it couldn't get the breakthrough. Similarly, little series and high production costs prevented the commercialization of the products.

In 1929 to 1980 period, a lot of small scale productions emerged.  But as the products fitted to customer needs, high production costs limited the commercial results.

Significant progress on electric motor, power electronics and above all energy storage (rechargeable batteries) entirely changed the two-wheelers concept in the new millenium.

As available products was still limited on few models, the market entrance of big names like Yamaha in 1993, established a new era with technolgy approach in consumers' needs.

Every producer developped his own technical and aesthetic sales arguments to give a true identity to its products.

Still for a long time the distribution of electric bicycles was more of a demonstration of know-how for bicycle manufacturers or industrials.

A lot of electric motor, batteries, electronnics goods manufacturers designed conceptual products, presented only during technology exhibitions.

All new technologies are expensive, as long as it is not distributed enough. All the more the product evolution has to satisfy the expections of the consumer.

As a well-known expression, "one evolution is enough for one product, as too many is a revolution and revolution fear the consumer..."

Imagine what the electric bicycles could have been by now !!!

 

1895

one of the first electric 2 wheelers (draisine) with hub rear electric motor.

1897

one of the first electric bicycle using crank motor and connecting rod transmission !

1899

one of the first electric bicycle using friction drive motor unit.

1932

EMI/Philips 1932/37 (Simplex system)

This model was sold under different licenced brands.

1947

1929 > 1950 period were in favour of electric two wheelers

1989

 

Birth of "electric pedal assist" concept

That's why the first bicycle with a lithium-battery only appeared in 2003 in Europe and even in 2009 few electric bicycles have a carbon frame...

Simple, economic, silent and environmental-friendly : the perfect place for the bicycle with electric pedal assistance is the modern city.

No matter what clothes you are wearing, the electric bikes are comfortable and easy to handle on small rises and uphills.

Since 2008, more and more pedelecs are produced for leisure activities. Performances improvement and manufacturers wishes for better highlights are contributive factors of market fields developpement. 

All new technologies have to keep the 2 main promisses of electric vehicles for long term acceptance by final users : cheap to run and sustainable.

Find more details about models that influence the evolution of electric two-wheelers since the beginning on our mobile exhibition.

1993

Yamaha PAS 1993

First serial pedelec - equipped with drive shaft transmission

1994

Hercules Electra 1994

First serial pedal assist bicycle  with NiCad battery

2003

Prima Powerbikes YellowDream 2003

First serial pedal assist bicycle  with carbon frame - Panasonic motor unit - NimH battery

2003

Flyer Cseries 2003

First serial lithium-ion battery powered pedelec (Panasonic motor unit)

 

Relive the last 20 years of electric bicycles history

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