Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Sanyo surrounds Tokyo with Eneloop charging stations and bikes to match]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/sanyo-surrounds-tokyo-with-eneloop-charging-stations-and-bikes-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/sanyo-surrounds-tokyo-with-eneloop-charging-stations-and-bikes-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/16/sanyo-surrounds-tokyo-with-eneloop-charging-stations-and-bikes-t/#commentsSanyo surrounds Tokyo with Eneloop charging stations and bikes to match Renting a bike in most urban areas of the US is a difficult proposition. In Japan not only can you easily rent a bike, you can now rent an electric bike -- a solar powered electric bike to boot. Sanyo has dropped Eneloop stations on three locations around the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, each having 100 of the company's electric rides on offer for passers by to borrow (for a sadly undisclosed fee). When the bikes aren't being pedaled around town they'll sit in the station, being recharged by 46 square meters of solar panels that not only juice up batteries but also provide LED lighting for the station itself. While Sanyo does offer some solar stations for Eneloop owners, these look to be for renters only, meaning those who've bought their own will have to take themselves and their little baskets somewhere else.

Update: Commenter camcavers managed to find this article that lists the price for a 12 hour rental (7am until 7pm) is 300 yen, or about $3.50, plus a 3500 yen deposit. That's a good deal for borrowing any bike, never mind one as expensive as these!

Sanyo surrounds Tokyo with Eneloop charging stations and bikes to match originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicyclebikeelectric bicycleelectric bikeElectricBicycleElectricBikeeneloopeneloop bikeEneloopBikesanyosanyo bicyclesanyo bikeSanyoBicycleSanyoBikesetagayatokyoTue, 16 Mar 2010 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Sanyo's new SPL Eneloop hybrid bike charges on flats to pull you up hills]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/sanyos-new-spl-eneloop-hybrid-bike-charges-on-flats-to-pull-you/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/sanyos-new-spl-eneloop-hybrid-bike-charges-on-flats-to-pull-you/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/sanyos-new-spl-eneloop-hybrid-bike-charges-on-flats-to-pull-you/#commentsSanyo's new SPL Eneloop hybrid bike charges on flats to pull you up hills There comes a time in every bicyclist's life when you come to realize "I really don't want to pedal up that hill." For those riding a Sanyo Eneloop, they don't have to. The series of bikes has been getting more advanced over the years, and the new SPL models are the smartest yet. Whereas previous editions could only regeneratively charge themselves on downhills or when the brakes were applied, this new series can juice up while the rider is pedaling along on the flats. This presumably increases the rolling resistance somewhat but the new "Eco Charge Mode" is said to boost range by 53 percent. More importantly, a new chrome basket shows that this ride means business. It won't come cheap, though, shipping to Japanese pedalers on April 21 for ¥157,290, or about $1,800. For that kind of money we'll stick with our fleet of Huffy 10-speeds.

Gallery: Sanyo Eneloop SPL hybrid bicycle

Sanyo's new SPL Eneloop hybrid bike charges on flats to pull you up hills originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicyclebikecy-spl224cy-spl226sanyosanyo cy-spl224sanyo cy-spl226sanyo eneloopsanyo eneloop bicyclesanyo eneloop electric hybrid bicycleSanyoCy-spl224SanyoCy-spl226SanyoEneloopSanyoEneloopBicycleSanyoEneloopElectricHybridBicycleTue, 02 Mar 2010 08:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Sanyo's new eneloop bike gets carbon fiber frame, traction control brain]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/sanyos-new-eneloop-bike-gets-carbon-fiber-frame-traction-contr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/sanyos-new-eneloop-bike-gets-carbon-fiber-frame-traction-contr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/sanyos-new-eneloop-bike-gets-carbon-fiber-frame-traction-contr/#commentsSanyo's new eneloop bike gets carbon fiber frame, traction control brain
Carbon fiber, with its light weight and high strength, is the material upon which the modern motorsports world is built. Traction control, which decreases difficulty, threatens to destroy it. However, in the world of the urban commute, traction control is a great thing and carbon is generally unheard of. Not for Sanyo, which will soon introduce the CY-SPK227 eneloop bike with a frame made of the stuff, featuring two wheel drive and traction control. The rear wheel is powered by the chain, the front by an electric motor, and should the rider pedal more enthusiastically than slippery conditions allow the bike will compensate by adding more juice to the front. Total weight is about 43lbs, many times that of the composite wonders Lance straddled in France, but about 7lbs lighter than the company's last entrant. It has regenerative braking, an LED headlight, magnesium suspension, a ¥627,900 price tag (about $6,600), and it releases in Japan in October -- you know, right about when the skies start to threaten snow. A good test for that traction control, then.

[Via Fareastgizmos.com]

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Sanyo's new eneloop bike gets carbon fiber frame, traction control brain originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicyclebikeCY-SPK227electric bicycleelectric bikeElectricBicycleElectricBikeeneloopsanyosanyo CY-SPK227 eneloopsanyo eneloopSanyoCy-spk227EneloopSanyoEneloopMon, 27 Jul 2009 09:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Sanyo's eneloop hybrid bike has basket, will travel]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/01/sanyos-eneloop-hybrid-bike-has-basket-will-travel/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/01/sanyos-eneloop-hybrid-bike-has-basket-will-travel/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/01/sanyos-eneloop-hybrid-bike-has-basket-will-travel/#commentsSanyo's eneloop hybrid bike has basket, will travel
Looking for an electric bike that does the pedaling for you? You have plenty of choices, particularly if you're willing to drop over $2,000, but finding one that uses regenerative braking to extend the life of its meager on-board batteries isn't so easy. Panasonic's Vivi RX10S is about your only choice until February, when Sanyo's new eneloop-branded bike is set to start pulling weak (or just lazy) Japanese riders up up inclines before recharging itself on the way back down. On a hilly course a charge is said to last about 35 miles without braking, 46 by charging only when braking, and 62 miles in "auto" mode (charging on downhills, too). If you live in Japan it'll be yours for 136,290 yen, about $1,450 US -- but if you live around here we'd recommend not canceling your spinning class just yet, because while Sanyo pledges to ship this elsewhere in the world "at some point in the future," it could be awhile before this thing starts hitting the diamond lanes near you.

[Via PhysOrg.com]

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Sanyo's eneloop hybrid bike has basket, will travel originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicyclebikeeneloop hybrid bikeEneloopHybridBikehybrid bikeHybridBikeregenerative brakingRegenerativeBrakingsanyosanyo eneloopSanyoEneloopMon, 01 Dec 2008 11:25:00 EST