Photo: Skoda
When Skoda started doing business more than a century ago, its main products were bicycles. Any time they get the chance, the Czech still remember this and show more or less exciting bike models that very rarely get into production.
This week, at the Eurobike event in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Skoda brought along a nod to its founding fathers and historic products, the Klement electric bicycle.
Developed together with BFO Mobility, the Klement was shown for the first time in March in Geneva and is a “new kind of vehicle” that blends “elements of a pedelec and scooter.”
Built with an aluminum frame, the bike is fitted with single-sided swing arms for suspension, a wheel hub motor on the rear wheel and has no visible levers or cables. There are no throttles wither on the handlebars, which are occupied solely by buttons for the lights, horn, and indicators.
The motor of this weird bicycle has a power output of 5 hp and can spin the wheels at speeds of up to 45 kph (28 mph). The two lithium-ion batteries that supply the motor with power are good for up to 62 km (38 miles).
Charging the batteries requires no cable being stuck into the bike. They are fully detachable, and they weigh just a fraction of the Klement’s total 25 kg.
The most exciting thing about this bike, however, is the way one can control it. The rider’s feet rest on fixed pedals located in the same space where regular e-bikes have the bottom bracket.
These pedals can be used to accelerate or slow the bike down with simple movements: tilt them forward, and the bike’s motor accelerates, tilt them back and the bike’s hydraulic disc brake fitted in the front wheel kicks in and slows it down.
The bike shown by Skoda in Germany is only a concept, and so far no announcement was made about a possible production run.
Developed together with BFO Mobility, the Klement was shown for the first time in March in Geneva and is a “new kind of vehicle” that blends “elements of a pedelec and scooter.”
Built with an aluminum frame, the bike is fitted with single-sided swing arms for suspension, a wheel hub motor on the rear wheel and has no visible levers or cables. There are no throttles wither on the handlebars, which are occupied solely by buttons for the lights, horn, and indicators.
The motor of this weird bicycle has a power output of 5 hp and can spin the wheels at speeds of up to 45 kph (28 mph). The two lithium-ion batteries that supply the motor with power are good for up to 62 km (38 miles).
Charging the batteries requires no cable being stuck into the bike. They are fully detachable, and they weigh just a fraction of the Klement’s total 25 kg.
The most exciting thing about this bike, however, is the way one can control it. The rider’s feet rest on fixed pedals located in the same space where regular e-bikes have the bottom bracket.
These pedals can be used to accelerate or slow the bike down with simple movements: tilt them forward, and the bike’s motor accelerates, tilt them back and the bike’s hydraulic disc brake fitted in the front wheel kicks in and slows it down.
The bike shown by Skoda in Germany is only a concept, and so far no announcement was made about a possible production run.
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