Hybrid bike unveiled

Sanyo have unveiled a new hybrid bike that can double the rider’s pedal power to make hill climbing a breeze…

Sanyo have unveiled a new hybrid bike that can double the rider’s pedal power to make hill climbing a breeze…

The bike dubbed the eneloop (a cross between a regular bicycle and an electric moped) is equipped with a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The bike’s system harnesses energy from braking when it goes downhill, and can boost the rider’s pedal force for going uphill. It is said to travel at a speed 1.8 times faster than a conventional bicycle.

The demand for power-assisted bicycles, has almost doubled over the past eight years to hit about 283,000 last year. The eneloop is available for sale in Japan from February 2009 for the princely sum of Y136,290 ($2,189).