Luxury car maker Porsche AG will make and sell two pedal electric bicycles (ebikes) whose indecently high prices do justice to the cachet associated with the Porsche marque.
The world renowned maker of high-performance sports cars, SUVs and sedans on Thursday launched two fancy ebike models named the "Porsche eBike Sport" (a road bike) and the "Porsche eBike Cross" (an off-roader).
Both Porsche e-bikes were announced along with the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, a four-door electric sports car with an 800-volt architecture and a driving range of 500 kilometers (311 miles).
The breathtaking prices for the ebikes stand at $10,700 for the Sport and $8,549 for the Cross. Breathtaking because the most common e-bikes in the market today retail from $400 to $2,000. On the other hand, high-end ebikes such as the "Specialized Turbo Vado SL Equipped" can sell for up to $4,500 at bike stores in the United States.
The most expensive ebike, however, is the Blacktrail Bt-01, a limited edition bike from pg-bikes priced at $80,000 back in 2010.
Both Porsche ebikes are technically classified in the European Union as pedelecs (pedal electric cycles). Pedelecs are pedal-assist e-bikes with a low-power electric motor and a decent top speed below 25 km/h. Pedelecs hew to the EN15194 standard and are legally classed in the EU as bicycles and not low-powered motorcycles or mopeds.
Pedelec electric motors produce a maximum continuous rated power of not more than 250 watts. Powering the two Porsche ebikes is Shimano's latest mid-drive electric motor system, the Shimano EP8.
The lightweight 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) magnesium-cased motor was unveiled in late 2020. The ultra-compact Shimano EP8 on both bikes is smaller than previous models.
Porsche said its Sport ebike is a road bike for everyday use. The Sport, which weighs 48 pounds, also features a full-suspension carbon fiber frame and integrated front and rear lights.
On the Sport, an electronic shifting Shimano transmission is paired with high-end Magura MT hydraulic disc brakes. Brake levers are integrated into the handlebars to hide all wiring and cables. The rear shock is integrated into the top tube so as not to deface the bike's streamlined lines.
The off-roading Cross sports a Shimano mid-drive, Magura-MT Trail hydraulic disc brakes that are extra-large and heat resistant. It weighs 48.7 pounds. Cross also has a hydraulically operated Crankbrothers dropper post that allows riders to dynamically adjust seat height while on the run.
