- Volkswagen and n+ present a new premium eBike range
- It features a rearview camera and radar-based blind spot warnings.
- Smart glasses and connected helmet complete the safety ecosystem
Volkswagen has taken some of the most advanced safety features from its passenger cars and incorporated them into an electric bike, introducing what is said to be the world’s first electric bike with an integrated rear-view camera and dashboard display.
Developed in partnership with premium e-bike manufacturer n+, the new Volkswagen-licensed e-bikes are designed with the same “safety first” philosophy that has informed the German manufacturer’s road cars for decades.
Rather than focusing solely on larger batteries and more powerful motors, Volkswagen says the new range is designed to make cyclists more visible to drivers and more aware of their surroundings.
At the heart of the system is Smart View, which combines an integrated high-definition rear-view camera with radar-assisted traffic monitoring.
Seamlessly integrated into the handlebars, the display receives real-time information from a high-definition camera mounted on the rear fender, allowing riders to see what’s happening behind them without having to turn their head. At the same time, radar sensors, similar to those offered by Garmin, can also warn of approaching vehicles in a cyclist’s blind spot.
The technology resembles the camera mirror systems increasingly found in modern passenger vehicles, and the company says it could represent one of the most significant safety advancements to hit the e-bike market in recent years.
Volkswagen and n+ have also developed a full-length illuminated LED strip that runs along the top tube of the bike. The system acts like a car’s daytime running light, but can also illuminate red when braking and amber when turning, indicating the driver’s intentions to other road users.
An optional smart helmet can sync with the eBike via Bluetooth, reflecting the bike’s lighting signals and incorporating a built-in accelerometer that can detect crashes and automatically send text messages to loved ones in the event of an emergency.
Then there are Smart Glasses, which are perhaps the most futuristic of all. Inspired by automotive head-up displays and developed by engineers who previously worked on helmet displays for fighter pilots, the glasses can project navigation instructions, blind spot warnings and driving information directly into the driver’s field of vision.
Peter Jost, managing director of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle and Licensing, said technologies like these are “more commonly known in the automotive world” and that seeing them come to an eBike demonstrates how safety systems can “evolve and adapt significantly.”
Despite the wealth of new technology on board, the innovative e-bikes are priced to rival premium competitors, with sporty models starting at £3,999 in the UK (around $5,300 / AU$7,700), which includes the Smart View rear-view monitor. The smart helmet and smart glasses cost an additional £499 (around $670AU$960) each.
Analysis: Are car safety systems the next big thing in e-bikes?
As cities become increasingly congested and more people turn to e-bikes as an alternative to driving, safety is quickly becoming one of micromobility’s biggest battlegrounds.
While innovations in recent years have largely focused on extending range and increasing power, relatively little attention has been paid to helping cyclists avoid accidents in the first place.
Many companies that specialize in bicycle accessories have come up with safety solutions that help increase visibility and awareness of other vehicles, but this often requires cyclists to use uncomfortable pieces of technology.
Having it seamlessly integrated into the bike seems like a logical solution, and as commuters look for increasingly cheaper ways to get from A to B, these could very well be the kind of innovations that persuade motorists to ditch their cars in favor of something more efficient and green.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
