New BMW i Vision AMBY could be world’s best electric bicycle
The BMW i Vision AMBY promises to answer plenty of last-mile questions, with the just-revealed electric bicycle capable of travelling 300km between charges.
The futuristic electric bicycle is capable of a top speed of 60km/h, a driving range that will take you from Sydney to Canberra, and will even keep you fit while you’re doing it.
The only catch is it can’t do all of those things at the same time.
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Unveiled at the IAA Mobility show in Germany, the BMW i Vision AMBY is officially an electric bicycle, in that it will require you to use the pedals to power the motor, but it shares plenty (like its top speed and driving range) with a motorbike.
The i Vision AMBY has three speed settings, adjustable via a phone app, with the slowest being a 25km/h cap for use in cities. Sticking to these limits also unlocks the longest range from its 2000Wh (2kWh) battery.
Next is a 45km/h limit for use outside the city limits, and there’s a third, high-speed mode that will deliver speeds of up to 60km/h. The catch? Using the high-speed mode reduces your range to just 75km. Which would make it a very long ride to Canberra.
BMW is seemingly still trying to figure out exactly how licensing would work, but it would appear that most countries would require rego plates and a motorbike licence to unlock its more high-speed theatrics.
“Everywhere you look, apparently established categories are being blown apart. And that’s a good thing. In the future, classifications such as car, bicycle and motorcycle should not determine the nature of the products we think up, develop and offer,” says BMW Group Design Vice President, Werner Haumayr.
“This paradigm shift gives us the opportunity to tailor products to people’s lifestyles, as we can see with the BMW i Vision AMBY high-speed pedelec. This vehicle occupies the space between a bicycle and a light motorcycle.”
