A number of automakers are exploring alternative
means of transportation and auto supplier Schaeffler is following suit by
announcing plans to introduce a near production version of their Bio-Hybrid at
CES next month. Created by the company’s new subsidiary called Bio-Hybrid GmbH, the
vehicle is being billed as a “new form of personal urban mobility and means of
transportation.”
Set to be offered in both passenger and cargo
configurations, the Bio-Hybrid is a four-wheeled vehicle that rides on a
modular platform which has been designed to deliver high levels of comfort
while also meeting “maximum safety standards.” The vehicles look relatively
simplistic, but they come equipped with a windshield and roof that allows them
to be used in inclimate weather. However, the lack of doors means you might not
want to give up your car just yet.
Schaeffler was tight-lipped on specifications, but
said the Bio-Hybrid is barely wider than a normal bicycle and can be operated
on bicycle paths. The model can also been driven without a license in most
countries. As the bike references suggest, the model is pedal-powered. However,
the Bio-Hybrid comes with an electric motor that provides power assist at
speeds up to 25 km/h.
The passenger version “comfortably” seats two
people, while the cargo variant eschews the rear seat for a truck bed.
Schaeffler says the flexibility of the latter model means it could be used for
everything from a mobile coffee shop to a refrigeration vehicle.
Despite the Bio-Hybrid’s simplistic appearance, it’s
surprisingly high-tech as it features Bluetooth, 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity as
well as GPS technology. These aren’t strange additions as Schaeffler’s Senior
Vice President of Technology Strategy and Innovation, Prof. Tim Hosenfeldt,
said the company wants the Bio-Hybrid to be the “iPhone in the field of
pedelecs.” Following its unveiling at CES, Schaeffler will begin testing the
Bio-Hybrid in mid-2019. If everything goes according to plan, the production
model will be launched in 2020.
