Bicycles

Peugeot's electric bike folds in a snap

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Peugeot says the eF01 is a quick and easy way to cover the last mile from public transport to work
Peugeot Design Lab is marketing the eF01 as a last mile solution
The bike is designed to fold in less than ten seconds 
Peugeot says the eF01 is a quick and easy way to cover the last mile from public transport to work
Both 16-inch wheels are stopped by disc brakes 
A reminder about who makes the bike
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Peugeot might be known as a car manufacturer nowadays, but it's been through plenty of different iterations along the way. It started life making coffee mills, before jumping into bikes in 1830. Although it's found a niche in the automotive world since, occasionally someone in Sochaux decides it's time to dabble in the two-wheeled game, as evidenced by the eF01, a folding eBike aimed at making last mile transport a sweat-free enterprise.

Launched alongside the handsome new 5008 SUV, the eF01 is yet another take on covering the last mile. Rather than forcing commuters to work up a sweat with a folding/unfolding technique to rival the worst Ikea can offer, the team at Peugeot Design Labs have developed a three-step process taking less than 10 seconds.

Both 16-inch wheels are stopped by disc brakes 

As well as the usual riding or fully folded positions, the bike can be put into a third walking position that sees the wheels aligned to allow the bike to be walked with the handle built into the frame – which might come in handy considering the 17-kg (37.5-lb) eF01 is too heavy to be carried for an extended period.

The bike can give riders a boost up to 20 km/h (12.4 mph), with a maximum range of 30 km (18.6 mph) from the lithium-ion battery. There are disc brakes attached to the 16-inch wheels, and riders can track their journey through a smartphone app. Charging is handled by a regular wall socket, and there's also an in-car docking station available.

Peugeot will show the eF01 off at the Paris Motor Show, where New Atlas will be on the ground covering all the action. Sales will start in early 2017.

Source: Peugeot Design Lab

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4 comments
Augure
Is there any full frame foldable e-bike? I'm struggling to find one. It's obvious that given the price of e-bikes (which is still overpriced for regular market), I want something that I can transport anywhere, but I have trouble finding a regular full-frame foldable bike.
Shohreh
Scott Collie >making last mile transport a _sweat_-free enterprise. […] Rather than forcing commuters to work up a _sweat_ with a folding/unfolding technique
I ride a bike every day to move around the city, and never sweat.
Maybe you should see a doctor, or someone who knows about bicycles so you get a good one with the right gears.
And if you have the opportunity, go spend a few days in the Netherlands and/or Copenhagen.
Tom Lee Mullins
I like how small it folds.
JoeFrederick
For an affordable full-frame, foldable e-bike, look at the Dahon Espresso 21 for $700. It's a full-size folder to which you need only add an electric wheel kit (preferably the front wheel for simplicity) ... many kits available on Amazon and Ebay. These kits including batteries cost from $350 to $450 depending on motor and battery choices. It's a 30-minute mod, giving you what you want for only about $1,100. The cheapest folding, full-size e-bike I found costs $2,500.
The only negative on the Dahon is the lack of disc brakes. These can be retrofitted for about $150 (for the terrific Avid BB7 ... NOT the problematic BB5). So your total cost for a bike that can bomb down mountains safely yet cruise without pedaling on the boulevards is about $1,250 ... half the price of "ready made" ... and you can't beat that!