The Copenhagen Wheel Is What's Next

The genius here is that you do not have to buy a new bike -- just one wheel.

Inside the bike's back wheel hub is a motor, a 3-speed internal hub gear, batteries, a torque sensor, a GPS, and a smart phone connection. There is no external wiring or battery packs.

The Copenhagen Wheel isn't intended to power the rider through the entire ride, just to provide a boost when that is needed, such as going up a big hill.

By pairing itself with smart phone technology, the Copenhagen Wheel enables such innovation as "green credits," traffic monitoring, and the computer-assisted suggestion of alternative routes.

Bottom line: Brilliant.

I am actually quite glad to be alive in this "age of crisis" just to see what marvels we develop to get ourselves out of it.

Want to read more? Check out this site from the smarties at MIT.

As for price and availability this is what the press release says: "It is expected that the wheel will go into production next year, with a tag price competitive with that of a standard electric bike."

I think that means we will all be able to afford the new, improved, and affordable Chinese knockoffs of this idea in about three years time.
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