INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
General Motors said it plans to bring two new electric bikes to market next year — one folding and one compact — as the automaker makes
a broader push into electrification and other ideas that try to move beyond its traditional business model of producing and selling
gas-power vehicles.
The automaker didn&t have a lot of information to share about the e-bikes or its ultimate plans
For instance,Hannah Parish, director of General Motors Urban Mobility Solutions, wouldn&t say if GM plans to launch a bike-sharing service
as a result of these two new products
&I can&t say anything is on or off the table at this point,& she added.
Here what is on the menu
The bikes will be &smart& and &connected& and somehow inspired by GM OnStar, the company subscription-based communications, in-vehicle
security and emergency services feature found in cars
Parish wouldn&t elaborate what that might look like
We&ll have to wait until next year.
The bikes are also equipped with safety features including rechargeable front and rear LED lights
And the electric propulsion on the bikes were designed by GM engineers who created a proprietary drive system.
&We know that people who live
in urban areas, like myself in downtown Toronto need different opportunities to use different types of transportation when they going and
We know that congestion in cities is a problem and the e-bikes feed right into our efforts,& Parish, director of General Motors Urban
Mobility Solutions told TechCrunch.
GM revealed two eBikes & one folding and one compact.
For now, GM is focused on naming the e-bikes
And it turning to the public to help
The company launched a brand-naming campaign Friday as part of its broader e-bike announcement
Folks who want to name the e-bikes can go towww.eBikeBrandChallenge.com
The participant with the winning selection will receive $10,000
Nine other runners-up will each receive $1,000.
Entries will be accepted until November 26
The winning submissions will be announced January 31, 2019.
