MERCEDES e-bikes fit for the city
We’ve seen car makers dip a toe into bikes and electric bikes before now, but excluding a Smartbranded bike released more than five years ago, a new trio of e-bikes is a first for Mercedes, and they’re surprisingly affordable too…
Designed and developed for the Mercedes-amg Petronas Formula 1 team based in Brackley, England, aficionados of the luxury German auto brand can now likewise enjoy feeling the wind blowing in their hair without needing to take the top down.
Motoring marques have dabbled often in bikes over the years, but the trend of late is to see the electric bike as a serious alternative to inner city driving, rather than something extra to decorate the showroom. Leave the car at the outskirts and cycle in and you’ll beat the traffic in style.
A trio of Mercedes electric bikes at surprisingly affordable prices have come to the fore. These start at £1,720 for the singlespeed EQ Formula E Team City Racer; advance to £2,820 for the standard spec EQ Formula E Team and top out at £3,960 for the all- singing Silver Arrows spec, which offers up addition range thanks to the dual battery setup on offer.
Each is built around a 6061 Aluminium chassis and other spec sheet shares include Tektro’s hydraulic disc brakes, a clean and quiet Gates CDX Belt Drive, Kenda Puncture resistant tyres and a two-year comprehensive warranty.
As it’s Mercedes, let’s take a closer look at the premium product. The Silver Arrows e- bike’s eye- catching hand polished, brushed aluminium finish is immediately desirable, but it’s the e- bike’s practical use that elevates its quality. Built with a dual- battery system, Mercedes have this iteration of their e- bike pushing 100km of range (albeit subjective to the rider’s weight and local topography). Dual 36V/ 7Ah cells feature, supplying power to an enhanced torque rear motor capable of giving a 75Nm kick, which will feel confidence- inspiring if you’re regularly trying to get ahead at the lights. Thanks to pedal assist sensors, the feedback is matched appropriately to your own pedal
power, delivering a gust of tailwind when you apply heavier force and easing off as you slow the cadence on the flats.
A full recharge is possible inside three and a half hours, meaning if you plug in after a long commute you’ll be back to full charge by lunchtime, if not sooner. The charging is convenient too: you simply add or remove the battery via the quick release clamp on the seat. There is also an integrated charging point, if preferred, meaning that the battery can remain in the e- bike’s seat tube at all times.
It’s worth mentioning that, despite the addition of a battery and motor, these commuter bikes are not only agile to ride, but tip the scales at between 18kg and 20kg, depending on whether yours is a single- or double- battery build. That’s impressively light, and most of us would be none the wiser that this is a pedal-assist bike on first glance.
Their impressive overall performance is achieved without sacrificing many of the big perks and that’s the beauty of the new Mercedes EQ Formula E Team bikes – they’re even able to be financed directly on the nplusbikes.co.uk portal where you’ll find the range for sale.
Coming with a slightly lower- slung
“Their impressive overall performance is achieved without sacrificing many of the big perks and that’s the beauty of the new Mercedes EQ Formula E Team bikes”
top tube, the City Racer may well be preferable if you struggle to sling a leg high and would prefer something a little more relaxed to ride. With this build you’re still getting an estimated 45km range per charge, which should be enough for a few days of commute in most cities. The spec too is impressive for the entry- level price you’re paying and the simplicity of the belt drive means you needn’t worry quite so often about maintenance or an oily trouser leg.
Considering this is Mercedes’ first proper own- brand foray into electric bikes, we’re impressed.