Sony Steps in E-Bike Market

TOKYO, Japan (20 November) - During the Japan International Cycle Show 2000, which was held last week in Tokyo, electronics giant Sony celebrated a bicycle show debut. The one and only star on stage was a foldable pedelec being presented under the name "New Entertainment Vehicle". It has a unique futuristic design and it works with a motor/generator powered/tapped by Sony batteries. "We want to show that our batteries are not only for video cameras and other portable electronics. They can be used in many other categories too," Kazuo Sasaki, manager of the Sony New Business Energy Company P&C Dept. said to Bike Europe. According to Sasaki, the batteries are good for a 100 km ride and recharge themselves while riding downhill. The New Entertainment Vehicle shown in Tokyo is a prototype made by Sony, bicycle part included. For mass production Sony might cooperate with a partner from the bicycle industry. According to industry observers it might be Bridgestone. Sony itself isn't actually giving any comments on this. "We showed up here with our first bicycle prototype and we were hoping for a first response. All I can say by now is that it was really, really positive", says Michio Nakai, general manager of the Sony New Business Energy Company P&C Dept. (JB)