Sanyo SPL Eneloop Hybrid Bike Hits The Streets

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Sanyo has released a new version of their hybrid-electric bicycle that stores the kinetic energy of cycling for short bursts of additional power when a cyclist needs them most.  The Sanyo SPL Eneloop Electric Hybrid Bicycle not only captures the kinetic energy of downhill motion and breaking, but stores small amounts of power from flat land riding for bursts of power as needed.

The Sanyo SPL Eneloop Electric Hybrid Bicycle is a “hybrid” in the more traditional automotive sense.  Original hybrid cars like the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius featured electronic assists, and not full service electric-only drivetrains.  The new Sanyo SPL Eneloop bike operates in a similar manner, in that a rider won’t use the electric motor to power a pedal-free ride, but to assist the rider on the hills and valleys of their ride.  The aim is to flatten out the land, to make riding easier, more comfortable and enjoyable throughout the rider’s daily commute.

Earlier models of the Sanyo Eneloop bicycle captured kinetic energy on downhill motion and through regenerative breaking.  The new Sanyo SPL Eneloop bike uses new technologies to capture energy on flat land as well.  The system senses the amount of energy a rider is putting in to a flat land ride, judging by the pressure on the pedals and other basic factors, then collects small amounts of energy to be re-used later.  Sanyo’s focus is not to add additional flat land strain to a rider, but to sip power in a fashion that isn’t noticeable when riding.  This energy is stored on a high-capacity 7.6 Ah lithium-ion battery, another upgrade over the original model.

The new Sanyo SPL Eneloop hybrid bike will begin shipping in late April for $1,800 each, with 1,000 a month being produced.