Automotive-branded e-bikes aren't anything new, especially when they're tied into specific car launches. If anything, car companies that don't have their name slapped on an electric bike are outliers at this point. So making an e-bike that stands out from the rest can be a bit tricky. But Volkswagen wants to do so by giving its riders a ton of safety features, including a fighter pilot-style smart helmet.
The Volkswagen eBike is made by n+, the same company that makes Mercedes-AMG's F1 and Petronas-branded electric bicycles. But according to Volkswagen, its n+ e-bike focused more on safety than any of its competition, rather than speed or range. And having seen several e-bike crashes in my neighborhood, I actually appreciate that approach.
Photo by: Volkswagen
VW doesn't want you turning your head to see what's behind you, so its main safety feature is a rearview camera, whose display screen is front and center. The camera is mounted to the back of the rear fender, so it gives the rider a low, wide view of what's directly behind them. It displays on a screen mounted in the handlebars, so the rider barely even has to move their head to see it, so they'll always be aware of the traffic behind them. It has radar-activated blind-spot alerts, too, keeping the rider aware of any vehicles getting too close.
