Motorola to roll out cellphone-charging bicycle in "emerging markets"

Here's one we weren't exactly counting on seeing. Motorola's cheif executive Ed Zander rolled into a packed room here at CES on a bright yellow bicycle, topped off by having Queen's "Bicycle Race" cranked in the background. Yes, oddly enough, Motorola is coming out with a self-branded bike for "emerging markets," which translates into countries where energy sources are scarce. While the company has seen declines here in America due to a very saturated handset market, nearly 5 million folks per month are going mobile in China, thus the need to penetrate those potentially lucrative third world areas. The vehicle will sport a cellphone charging system to provide a way to energize those handsets so intently desired all around the globe. As expected, a cradle on the handlebars would house the mobile, while the motion of the pedals would generate electricity to recharge its battery pack. While this might not sound convenient or even worthwhile in a place like America, "more than 500 million Chinese people rely on bicycles as their primary mode of transportation," which could also mean that half a billion folks in China will soon be cruising the streets while doubling as an AC adapter.

[Via Textually]

[Robert Preseau @ Jan 9th 2007 5:10PM]

As long as they make the tech available sans yellow bike, people will buy.

[mark hoekstra @ Jan 9th 2007 5:25PM]

Thanks for linking this to my bicycle ipod-charger :-) Now if only Apple would send me a sample of the iPhone(as if...) I'm sure I can charge that too with my bike *^_^*

[Redpill @ Jan 9th 2007 5:25PM]

I wonder if you can charge the iphone with it??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160072361165&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D160072361165%26fvi%3D1

[Redpill @ Jan 9th 2007 5:27PM]

wow mark hoekstra jinks!

make a wish :)

[Chris @ Jan 9th 2007 6:40PM]

Wow, Apple is out revolutionizing the cell phone, and Motorola is on stage showing off a freaking accessory that charges a Razr while riding a bike?

Um, isn't this like 1960's technology? I would have hoped Moto would show off some real state of the art stuff to get their investor's excited...

Shows what a disconnect Moto's board and execs have with the real world.

[SPtheALIEN @ Jan 9th 2007 6:49PM]

Is it weird that the first thing I thought about after seeing that picture is Pee Wee Herman?

[Jonk @ Jan 9th 2007 8:43PM]

This is actually interesting for developed nations as well with the price of fuel bouncing around the place.

In Australia in 2006, push bike sales overtook car sales for the first time in decades. Maybe I should put this on my site (http://www.jonksbargains.com) But I'm not sure if this will come out in Australia?

[Juaquin @ Jan 9th 2007 9:23PM]

Wow. What a horrible idea. Power doesn't cost that much, and if you live in an area that gets cellphone coverage, you can probably find an outlet to charge it.

[tekdroid @ Jan 10th 2007 1:32AM]

I think it's a great idea. When power goes out, too...most people are left stranded and have no options. Makes perfect sense for a market like China with so many bikes, and I suspect limited success in some other parts of the world (Netherlands, etc), too.

Especially with rising fuel prices and obesity issues today.

I think the bike looks great and the phone holder should be standard on many bikes (along with the fenders/mudguards). Bikes aren't just for recreation, and more people in the western world are waking up to the practicalities of actually doing daily travel with a bike (and getting fit in the process!).

[Mike @ Jan 10th 2007 9:46AM]

Why would they make the pedal movement charge the bike and not the wheel movement. Then it won't charge if you are costing and might charge slower when in a higher gear.

I know I had a bike light about 20+ years ago that had a mini generator on it that was in contact with the wheel and when I was moving, the light was on. Was kind of neat.

[Trickyny @ Jan 10th 2007 2:54PM]

This is a excellent idea with poor execution. In developing nations cell phones could be very useful where infrastructure has not kept up with the rapdly expanding market. However, why Motorola chose to create a branded bike rather than a just an attachment (like the way most bike lights and spedometers are designed) is beyond me. Logically, people would much more readly buy something to use with the bike they already owned, rather than buying a whole new bike.

[Lee Gibson @ Jan 10th 2007 4:26PM]

I think I saw that bike in the basement of the Alamo, only the guy riding it looked like less of a tool than the one in the picture above.

[AMcA @ Jan 13th 2007 12:00AM]

No, this is sheer genius.

Total understanding of the customer, building a life-long relationship with somebody who can afford a bike now, and who will aspire to Motorola phones the rest of his or her days.

Sheer genius.

[marco @ Jan 13th 2007 1:05AM]

It looks to me like the Motorola Developement Team should have got it together to use a longer wire from the top tube to the cradle, before the initial rollout.

[Nicholas Kidd @ Feb 20th 2007 7:19PM]

We launched our mobile phone charger from bicycle power (PedalPower+) at the Intlbike and fitness show in Guangzhou China in early December 2006.
A far mor verstatile unit than the Motorola item and it fits all phones. Not only can the PedalPower+ charge your mobile phone from bicycle power it also has a built in Solar Energy system, so if you are not riding your bicycle you can still charge your phone. Not only great for developing countries with electrical supply problems, but also good for developed countries where leisure and sporting activities such as camping, hiking, touring take you away from readily availble power.
The PedalPower+ can be used not only for charging mobile phones but can also be used to charge digital cameras, iPod, PDA, MP3 and even Bluetooth.
Check our webiste at www.copycatsolar.com for full details