
Volkswagen unveiled a new concept bike at Auto China 2010. The Bik.e is designed to fold down to the size of a car's spare tire, making it easy to tote in your vehicle.
The idea is that folks who don't live in walkable or bikeable urban areas can take their car into town, then switch to the much more eco-friendly electric bike once they get there.
VW is already working to get the Bik.e on the market. It sounds like they're planning to offer it as an automobile accessory. There's no word yet on what the Bik.e will cost, but there is a video showcasing how it works! Tip: If you want to skip the awesome dancing and get right to the details on the bike, those start at around 1 minute in.
The Bik.e has a range of about 20km (about 12.5 miles) and you'll be able to recharge it using a regular electrical outlet or from your car.
Imagine the impact this could have on air quality, not to mention traffic problems, in urban centers! Two of the big reasons folks have for driving rather than riding a bike are the distance problem and that pedaling gets them too sweaty. Something like this that's designed as almost an extension to the car might really help get some people onto two wheels that might not have otherwise considered it.




Follow Becky Striepe on Twitter: 
















Pingback: Introducing The World's First Wireless Electric Bike | Crisp Green