Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing
Chinese bike-sharing company Mobike has partnered with Dutch design studio Springtime to create an electric version of its signature orange bicycle.
Mobike — whose "dockless" share bikes can be parked in almost any public space, rather than just traditional docking stations — has launched the electric bicycles in China, and plans to introduce them to international markets.
![Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/08/mobike-electric-bike-dockless-sharing-transport-technology_dezeen_sq-852x852.jpg)
The new bicycles are designed to enable longer journeys and attract new users who might not be comfortable cycling. As well as pedal assistance, the bikes offer a full-electric mode that lets riders stop pedalling altogether and use the vehicle more like a moped.
They have a top speed of 20 kilometres per hour — as Mobike points out, just five kilometres below the average speed of a car driving through a city.
![Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/08/mobike-electric-bike-dockless-sharing-transport-technology_dezeen_2364_col_6-852x1278.jpg)
To aid sharing and urban commutes, the designers incorporated a secure phone holder below the handlebars so riders can easily navigate and a seat that can be height-adjusted with one hand.
All electric and mechanical systems are concealed from the rider, and the inner frame is protected with a softer grey lining. Springtime describes its design for the bike as "clean-looking" and "lightweight".
![Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/08/mobike-electric-bike-dockless-sharing-transport-technology_dezeen_2364_col_8-852x568.jpg)
Electric power is triggered by pedalling three times, while full-electric drive comes on at the push of a button on the handlebars. The bike has a range of 70 kilometres using hybrid power, and 30 kilometres in electric-only mode.
![Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/08/mobike-electric-bike-dockless-sharing-transport-technology_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x682.jpg)
Mobike is the world's largest bicycle hire company by number of vehicles, and one of the first to offer an electric option. Jump — which was acquired by Uber earlier this year — and Ford GoBike both have e-bikes on the streets of San Francisco.
"Electric vehicles offer both efficiency and environmental benefits, and the demand for e-bikes is growing both here in China and internationally," said Mobike founder and president Weiwei Hu.
"We believe that e-bikes will complement our original bikes and will further improve city life for both our users and cities themselves by reducing the reliance on cars," she continued.
![Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/08/mobike-electric-bike-dockless-sharing-transport-technology_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x682.jpg)
The fact that Mobike's offering is dockless and optionally fully electric so far differentiates its from competitors.
The vehicles will operate alongside the company's existing fleet of pedal-powered bikes, of which Mobike says there are nine million in more than 200 cities around the world.
![Mobike launches electric bike for dockless sharing](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/08/mobike-electric-bike-dockless-sharing-transport-technology_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x479.jpg)
Springtime was founded in 1995 and has a long history of working in urban mobility and transport. Other recent projects include the Volta electric bike for Pure Cycles and the Edorado 7S electric speedboat for Edorado Marine.