There were plenty of things to see at the grand opening of the first dealership dedicated to the BMW i sub-brand on London’s Park Lane today including a new foldable electric bicycle named the i Pedelec (from the words Pedal Electric Cycle).
The compact bicycle with the lightweight frame made from aluminium and carbon fibre was designed to complement the upcoming i3 hatchback with BMW claiming that once folded, two of them can fit in the boot of the electric supermini.
The i Pedelec is equipped with an electric motor featuring an electronic management system and a high-performance battery that assists the rider’s pedaling up to 25 km/h (16 mph), meaning that there’s no need for a license to use it nor does it have to be insured or registered.
BMW says that depending on the nature of the route, the rider’s weight and degree of motor assistance used, a full battery charge will give a range between 25 and 40 kilometers (16 to 25 miles).
Naturally, under braking and when riding downhill, the hub motor acts as a generator supplying the battery with energy.
According to the company, it takes four hours or 1.5 hours on a quick charge for an empty battery to be fully recharged, either from a domestic plug or inside the boot of the i3.
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