For something that took years to arrive, Madrid’s public bicycles sure get off to a fast start. Pedal once and the 36-volt, 10-ampere, electric motors will give you a sudden boost. Going up one of Madrid’s many hills, it is a welcome aid. Downhill, the burst jars. But riders can disable the boost by not pedaling, and moderate it with electric controls on the handlebars. With a little practice, the bikes begin to feel like underpowered motor scooters. “Our major goal is to move journeys that are now done by car to the bicycles,” says Elisa Barahona, Madrid’s director of sustainability and environment.
Category Archives: IEEE Spectrum
Top 10 Suppliers of Car MEMS Sensors
Bosch leads the list, I write for IEEE Spectrum: http://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/sensors/top-10-suppliers-of-car-mems-sensors
Algorithms Outperform Diabetics at Blood Sugar Control
Nokia Bets $100 Million on Smart Car Tech
Nokia’s venture fund will support connected car companies, I write in IEEE Spectrum’s new transportation blog: http://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/advanced-cars/nokia-bets-100-million-on-smart-car-tech