Schwinn, with corporate headquarters and factory now located in Madison Wisconsin, showcased their electric bikes at CES.    A Toshiba battery about a foot long is located on the back of the bike and is chargeable both from pedalling or via a plug.    The “Electric Assist” can be turned on and off and powers the front wheel at the rider’s command.

At $3000+ for this  Tailwind model and $2000 for the least expensive Schwinn’s these electric bike may have some price point challenges before hitting the broad cycling market although this may prove a very appealing device to commuters or cyclists who want a sort of personal “hybrid” transport vehicle.

For do-it-yourself conversion kits and some lower cost electric bikes check out this Electric Bike website - they appear to have a very comprehensive selection and some electric bikes at $1000 which I’d suggest is a key price point as people upgrade their regular bikes and start considering regular, non-electric bikes in that range.

There is some good coverage and video of the Schwinn over at Treehugger

Schwinn’s company site is here

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