Telefunken's prototype e-bike

[flecc]

Yes, another famous German electronics company dipping their toe in the water to see if it's warm enough. Choosing an e-bike will get ever more difficult with this rate of newcomers:

Telefunken e-bike prototype shown
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[HittheroadJ]

The picture raises the question: Are they recycled washing machines?

 

[JuicyBike]

We're thinking of launching a range of Intercontinental ballistic missiles...

 

[flecc]

I remember them mainly for their very high quality reel to reel tape recorders from the 1950s to 1970s, those and Ferrograph being the main ones to aspire to.

That sort of quality in e-bikes would be very welcome.

Amazing how the exchange rates and increased costs in China have turned things around, making Germany and Holland very serious competitors to China now.
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[Scimitar]

The picture raises the question: Are they recycled washing machines?

Certainly looks like they've found a use for old washing machine drum spiders on the wheels.
I can imagine the design brief - 'a bicycle that doesn't look like everyone else's.' They've succeeded there. It looks dead strange.

 

[HittheroadJ]

The design brief probably included a line like "For years we saw bikes only as a niche for freaks. We recently discovered that 25% of turnover has started going to eBikes.. MAKE US AN EBIKE QUUUUIIIIICK. We do not care where you get the parts from......."

 

[carpetbagger]

ah,but if the bike did 100 miles off a battery and took you up any hill at 15mph everyone would love it...sometimes it is not what it looks like but what it actually does that is the deciding factor,besides it just looks like a 21century brompton.

 

[CeeGee]

I remember them mainly for their very high quality reel to reel tape recorders from the 1950s to 1970s, those and Ferrograph being the main ones to aspire to.

Which explains why the wheels look like old tape reels, sized up. I hope the bikes are lighter, size for size than the late 50's, early 60's amplifiers that they made. I had one that I "rescued" from a recording studio along with a Ferrograph recorder in the mid sixties and the Telefunken amp weighed a ton.

Colin

 

[Straylight]

We're thinking of launching a range of Intercontinental ballistic missiles...

LOL Maybe they'll make a bike for the next Bond film

 

[tillson]

Where are the British? Oh, nearly forgot, we have the Grinning Bearded Electric Pedal man representing us. I bet the Germans are crapping themselves!

 

[flecc]

Where are the British? Oh, nearly forgot, we have the Grinning Bearded Electric Pedal man representing us. I bet the Germans are crapping themselves!

Exactly, the laugh is on us.

Remember everyone that this is a prototype, and the text revealed that there were two models at that exhibition. Of course the media would only show the unconventional one, it's what they do.
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[JuicyBike]

Just watch them faint when we roll out our electric stilts!

 

[HittheroadJ]

Are we not being a bit hard on Raleigh, Alien, Brompton and others?

 

[CeeGee]

Are we not being a bit hard on Raleigh, Alien, Brompton and others?

Do they use a British made and designed power system for their ebikes?
I think not - apart from rider power.

Colin

 

[flecc]

Are we not being a bit hard on Raleigh, Alien, Brompton and others?

In fact the Raleigh e-bike is German designed and constructed by Derby Cycles, using the Raleigh gmbh name to which they own the rights since separation from Raleigfh UK a few years ago. Brompton don't as yet have an e-bike of their own, though one is planned shortly.
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[jac]

dont forget gocycle which is a really well designed bike and has already built up a large dealer network right across europe. so it is possible to design and build something in uk

 

[flecc]

dont forget gocycle which is a really well designed bike and has already built up a large dealer network right across europe. so it is possible to design and build something in uk

Indeed, although I don't like it personally, it is expertly designed and cleverly marketed. Britain was in at the start of e-biking in the 1980s as we've so often been in other areas, but as ever, we failed to capitalise on early advantage and ingenuity.
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[Tim]

Gocycle aren't too happy about this Telefunken machine - it apparently uses parts and patented designs, so they Gocycle boss was on a plane to Berlin as soon as he saw it. They're not selling them yet though, so no breach as such.

 

[flecc]

Gocycle aren't too happy about this Telefunken machine - it apparently uses parts and patented designs, so they Gocycle boss was on a plane to Berlin as soon as he saw it. They're not selling them yet though, so no breach as such.

Interesting Tim, I thought I noticed some similarity in the front wheel motor arrangement when I first looked at the photo. I'd be surprised if Telefunken fell into such an elementary trap though, probably only intended for prototype use to sound out the e-bike market before spending lots of development money on their own version.
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[Tim]

probably only intended for prototype use to sound out the e-bike market before spending lots of development money on their own version.
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Yes, exactly that.

Of all the e-bikes that bobbed up to the surface in time for eurobike, I think this is the most impressive

Conway E-Rider kicks out 2,000 watts

The muscular design is backed up by 2kW of power. Yet more evidence that all the serious electric bike development is happening around the middle motor configuration now.