The Ebike of the Future in 2050 Is the Speed Pedelec

Have you ever thought about what future ebikes will look like and what functions they might feature? Not yet? Then visit the website speedpedelec-evolution.info and let yourself be inspired. Under the title ‘Speedpedelec Outlook 2050’, Dutchman Jos Aerts has published a vision of how he imagines the speed pedelec will look in 2050. His idea picks up on designs reminiscent of motorbikes from film classics such as ‘Tron: Legacy’ and ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Rises’. Aerts dreams of them being powered by two motors and sweeping along the road at 60 kilometres per hour. Once they arrive at their destination, they autonomously find their own parking space. And that’s not all.

1. What types of bicycles will there be in the future?
2. What will the speed pedelec of the future look like?
3. What will riding a speed pedelec be like in the year 2050?
4. Where will the energy for the electric drive come from?
5. How will the navigation work?
6. How and where will the future speed pedelec park?
7. Who came up with this vision?
8. What has to happen for speed pedelecs to develop in the outlined direction?

1. What types of bicycles will there be in the future?

In 2050, the bicycle powered only by muscle power will have finally had its day. Even ordinary pedelecs will be a thing of the past. The speed pedelec will be the only bicycle on the road. It will choose the appropriate speed depending on the traffic situation. When overtaking slower vehicles, it will automatically reduce speed. If the road is clear, it will accelerate to a maximum speed of 60 km/h.

2. What will the speed pedelec of the future look like?

Mid-step frames, diamond frames, low-step frames – the speed pedelec has bid farewell to all of these designs. Instead, a single tube is enough to connect the front and rear wheel. It is set so low that you can easily step over it. Once you have taken a seat on the bike, your seating position changes depending on the speed. The faster the speed pedelec goes, the more stretched the position of the upper body. When the speed decreases, the seat post and stem automatically move closer together so that you sit more upright.

The 10-centimetre-wide tyres, with a special foam filling the entire interior, ensure a comfortable ride. This foam seals any holes that objects lying on the road could cause. So, say goodbye to punctures. You can wear your favourite street shoes for cycling. However, these are no ordinary street shoes. There are magnets in the soles. As soon as you cycle faster than ten kilometres per hour, the magnetic pedals activate and provide a safe connection to the bike.

When looking for your favourite bike, the colour is no longer important. That’s because a changeable rainbow paint is now applied to every frame. It can take on any pattern, any colour tone, any gradient. You can choose what it will be based on the density of traffic, your current speed or even your current mood.

3. What will riding a speed pedelec be like in the year 2050?

If this sounds crazy to you, you don’t know how you’ll unlock the speed pedelec. This is done by a chip implanted in your body. This sends a signal that turns the bike on.

You still have to pedal to actually ride the bike. As soon as you start pedalling, a centre stand on the bike retracts and the motors start up. That’s right, the motors. This is because both the front and rear wheels are each driven by a motor. The mechanical energy generated by your pedalling flows into a generator, which converts it into electrical energy. The drive train completely dispenses with components such as a chain or belt.

You control the power of the motors with a combined braking system. This means that each brake lever is connected to both motors. As a result, a lot of energy is generated during braking. This is enough to eliminate the need for brake discs and the associated hydraulics on the speed pedelec. Additional safety is provided by an ABS and traction control – for both wheels.

4. Where will the energy for the electric drive come from?

The speed pedelec of the future will not lack a battery. However, its volume has shrunk to one-tenth of what is considered typical for an ebike battery today. Of course, it also weighs considerably less. This means it fits effortlessly into any bicycle frame.

The battery draws its energy in three different ways. The charging process via an antenna integrated into the bike stand is the one that most closely resembles today’s charging. Charging plates are embedded in the streets. When the speed pedelec is placed on one of these plates or rides over them, the antenna connects to the plate, and charging begins.

The solar coating on the frame serves as a second charging option. The bike absorbs solar energy through this and stores it as electrical energy in the battery. The third option has already been mentioned. This is pedalling. If, for example, excess energy is generated while riding in a very sporty riding mode, this is also absorbed by the battery.

5. How will the navigation work?

You only need to plan your route if you want to go off-road. Otherwise, you simply enter your destination on the colour display on the handlebars. This has increased to tablet size, at ten centimetres by 20 centimetres. The planning shows you the most efficient route, taking into account current roadworks. Directional arrows appear on the display for orientation. If you prefer, you can receive voice commands via your bicycle helmet.

6. How and where will the future speed pedelec park?

Once you have arrived at your destination and stepped off the bike, the speed pedelec switches to autopilot mode. It then rides autonomously to the nearest available parking space, sends you the new location and locks itself. From that moment on, thieves no longer stand a chance. All hardware is locked and the bottom bracket rotates in a vacuum. The current colour scheme automatically changes to an off-white so that your bike does not suffer from heatstroke in the sun.

7. Who came up with this vision?

The author of this idea is a private individual, Jos Aerts. By his own account, he has been enthusiastic about ebikes in general since 2010 and about speed pedelecs in particular since 2012 at the latest. Since then, he has visited numerous trade shows and test-ridden as many bikes as possible. In 2020, he created a website on this topic in Dutch. In 2023, this was followed by the current presence speedpedelec-evolution.info.

8. What has to happen for speed pedelecs to develop in the outlined direction?

First of all, more speed pedelecs are needed. Jos Aerts believes that the necessary potential is available. He estimates that there are currently around 250,000 speed pedelecs in use in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Germany. In theory, the potential for these five countries alone is 2.3 million units. Aerts believes that a total of around 60 million units would be possible for the whole of Europe.

However, this will only be possible if five key challenges that are currently holding back the development of speed pedelecs can be overcome:

1. Pricing: average price of a speed pedelec coming down from 7,658 euros in 2023
2. Support from legislators: various regulations needed, for example, legalising cycle paths for speed pedelecs, fewer restrictions on technical approval, higher permissible motor power
3. Better infrastructure: cycle paths designed exclusively for speed pedelecs as fast links between each city, more and technically better equipped parking facilities
4. Technical development: smaller, lighter and cheaper batteries, right to repair, ABS, traction control, two-wheel drive, zero tolerance policy towards bicycle thieves, etc.
5. More safety: for example, more stable bicycle frames, riding training

If you want to find out more, it’s best to read Jos Aerts’ demands for yourself. And you can find his vision for speed pedelecs in 2050 here in the original.

Pictures: www.speedpedelec-evolution.info; Revolt Zycling AG; MyStromer AG; Twinner AG; Flyer AG