YAMAHA HAD A CO OP EFFORT TO BUILD THIS HYBRID WITH TREK BIKES. IT IS THE
P.A.S.S. SYSTEM. IT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN PEDALING WHEN ADDITIONAL TORQUE
IS DETECTED THROUGH THE PEDAL CRANK SYSTEM. IT WORKS REALLY WELL, VERY
SEAMLESS IN THE TRANSITION BETWEEN ASSISTANCE AND NOT. SINCE IT IS NOT MOTOR
DRIVEN ALL THE TIME, IT REQUIRES NO SPECIAL LICENSING LIKE A MOPED. IT IS
POPULAR IN JAPAN WHERE BICYCLES ARE A STAPLE OF TRANSPORTATION IN CROWDED
CITIES. SUSPICION IS THEY WILL BE COST PROHIBITIVE IN THE US, BECAUSE OUR
TARGET MARKET ON BICYCLES IS NOT PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION, IT IS RECREATION.
THERE MAY BE A NICHE MARKET, BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS, DOES IT SUBSTANTIATE
IMPORTING THEM IN BIG NUMBERS.
