http://news.boldride.com/2015/09/88909/88909/ SPA Builds the Perfect Electric Commuter Bike, But Is It Worth The Price? 04 September 2015 by George Kennedy
[images http://news.cdn.boldride.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/03131233/00-spa.jpg http://news.cdn.boldride.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/03131235/01-spa.jpg http://news.cdn.boldride.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/03131235/02-spa.jpg ] You’ve probably never heard of Societa Piemontese Automobili, or SPA. It was an Italian company that built cars between 1906 and 1926, and fell into the obscurity of history. But now SPA is back and they are building something far different than the pre-and-post-WWI cars. The rebooted Italian firm is building and electric bike. Back in 2014, Alessandro Camorali and Julianto Imprescia took on the challenge of bringing SPA back from the dead. The stated goal was to build hybrid and electric vehicles, and their first product is called Bicicletto. It is an electric bicycle that carries a striking design and the price to match. Like the high performance road bikes of today, the Bicicletto uses a carbon fiber frame, keeping the overall weight down to 53 pounds. Powering this stylish bike is a 500-watt electric motor, located in the hub of the rear wheel. It can be used as either full electric, or provide assistance when pedaling, and will deliver a top speed of 28 mph. In full-electric mode, it has a 31-mile range, but if you do some of the work, the pedal assistance mode has a much better 74-mile range. We agree with Autoevolution that the five-hour charging time seems a bit long, but as a commuter bike, the charge times and range both feel manageable. So what’s this going to cost? Prices range between 8,000 and 10,000. Paying more than $11,000 seems pretty steep for a bicycle. But you get the carbon fiber frame, 26-inch wheels, and eye-catching LED light. If you live in a populated area, this could be the ideal commuter vehicle, perhaps justifying the steep price. The Bicicletto brings the SPA name back into significance. It was a brand that built cars for just twenty years, and was eventually absorbed by Fiat to built military vehicles and engines. We’re glad to see the new SPA has far more benign and eco-friendly intentions. [© boldride.com] [dated video] http://m.autoevolution.com/spa-bicicletto-electric-bike-looks-amazing-but-the-price-is-painful-video-photo-gallery-93695.html SPA Bicicletto Electric Bike Looks Amazing, but the Price Is Painful - Video, Photo Gallery By Florin Tibu | 2015-03-25 ... [video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5484kGWavA NEW 2015 | SALON MILAN EICMA | SPA BICICLETTO MOTOR LIVE Nov 7, 2014 ... SPA (Societa Piemontese Automobili) a présenté son Bicicletto lors de l'Eicma à Milan. Ce vélo est capable de parcourir environ 120 km en mode assistance électrique et 50 km en tout électrique. Ses batteries se rechargent en à peine 5 heures. Grâce à l'emploi de carbone, il ne pèse que 24 kilos. Le prix oscillera entre 8000 et 10000 euros en fonction des finitions choisies. ] ... All-carbon frame for a light weight and slender shape If anything, we could say that no authentic Italian design ever came dirt-cheap, so SPA’s offer is only consistent with what we knew about the peninsular high-end industry. However the Bicicletto does come with an all-carbon fiber frame and fork, helping with the flowing shapes and the lightweight build. The SPA Bicicletto tips the scales at 24 kg (53 kb) and is equipped with a 500W hub motor installed in the rear wheel. It can be set to operate in full-electric mode, and will provide a range of 50 km (31 miles), while using it only for pedal assistance will yield a 120 km (74 miles) range. The 36V battery packs 25 amps and the SPA Bicicletto will be able to reach a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). Honestly, a 5-hour charging time using a common wall socket is a tad too long for your preferences. Bicicletto comes with 26” city wheels, a removable LED headlight with a cool angel eye design, LED turn signals, brake and hazard lights and Formula T1 brakes. The faux tank is not a battery compartment as you might think but a convenient storage space. The battery is loaded inside the frame ... [© autoevolution.com] For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://rbth.com/business/2015/09/03/china_wins_online_sales_in_russia_48913.html JD.com CEO&founder Richard Liu rides electric tricycle as he leaves a delivery station to deliver goods for customers to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the company, in Beijing / Reuters http://nl.media.rbth.ru/web/en-rbth/images/2015-09/big/JD_com_russia_RTR3UEU7_468.jpg http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/National-Mall-Gets-Two-Electric-Car-Charging-Stations-323992841.html Two $2hr L2 EVSE @National Mall WashDC http://wtop.com/dc/2015/09/two-electric-car-charging-stations-open-on-the-national-mall/ + EVLN: UPS Adds 125 AMP pih Step Vans r:60mi ts:65mph c:~9hr@L2-6kW {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-11k-10k-SPA-Bicicletto-e-bicycle-r-31mi-ts-28mph-m-500W-v-tp4677552.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
