Four High Tech e-Bikes and an e-Scooter

Do you realize it’s already 2010? While it’s not quite the utopia envisioned in the movies, there are thousands of hybrid vehicles already on the road, with affordable, all-electric cars just on the horizon. This proliferation of electric propulsion got us wondering: What other new forms of transport has this electric renaissance ushered in? We went looking and found a ton of high-tech bikes and scooters out there making your daily commute a bit easier, and a heck of a lot more fun. Here’s a list of our favorites; unfortunately, a few of them are a bit on the pricey side, but hey, you can always dream about them.

Grace ($8,000) This is the future of the electric bike. Equal parts motorcycle, bicycle, and fighter jet, this electric bike is perhaps our favorite of the bunch. GRACE is built by hand in Berlin using the same techniques and principles seen in airplane design and Formula 1 racing. Aside from integrated Lithium-ion batteries and lights, the CNC machined aluminum frame is mated to a scary 45 kmph drive motor. Stiff, fast, and as stylish as a Bond flick, the GRACE is forever on our list of must-haves. We love its burly-yet-sleek looks and wonder if “style” or “attitude” could be just as fitting monikers.

Schwinn Continental ($2,499) Instead of a messy and trouble-prone chain, the Continental uses a shaft-drive system to turn the rear wheel, like a car. The shaft drive ensures cleaner, more reliable operation with less maintenance and worry. The bike also features a powerful adjustable-speed motor capable of light assistance and full hill-climbing duty. The bike is available in standard and step-through styles and comes fully decked-out with a rack, fenders, and a bell – perfect for commuting.

Go-Ped Hoverboard ($1,446) The Go-Ped Hoverboard is an urban transport vehicle through and through. This pricey scooter features full-suspension, 2 power modes - normal and “turbo”, high-tech Lithium-ion batteries (for a price), and a honking 24v motor. Just to up the ante, the scooter can be folded to save space or accessorized with a seat, luggage rack, and rear brake. Couple all those features with a range of up to 28 miles and a top speed of 20 mph, and it becomes very clear that this scooter is not to be toyed with.

IF Reach DC ($2,450) The folding IF Reach features a 250W brushless electric motor, decent looks (for a folder), and full-suspension – unheard of on an electric folding bike. The low power output of the brushless motor won’t help you power up any San Francisco inclines, but then again it’s not meant to be as robust as something like the Continental. We like the fact that this bike has full-suspension, as we all know 9 hours on a bruised bum is a real pain... We’d recommend this bike if you have a slightly longer, bumpier, or more strenuous commute and need the space savings for storage or public transit.

Currie – Izip Bikes ($499 and up) You can’t really get any more mainstream than Best Buy, which now carries the full line of 9 Currie Izip bikes online, and in select west coast stores for anywhere from $499 to $1899. Currie has long been a mainstay of electric scooters, and these new bikes are a real homerun. Coming in folding, cruising, and mountain bike variants each with different speed and range capabilities, Currie makes an Izip for nearly any rider and style.