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Volkswagen licensed e-bike introduces automotive-inspired safety tech.
Rear camera and radar system means riders don’t need to turn heads.
Smart glasses and helmet create fully connected safety ecosystem.
Modern cars can watch blind spots , monitor traffic, flash warning lights and even call for help after a crash. Now Volkswagen wants your bicycle to do much of the same thing.
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Working with premium e-bike specialist n+, Volkswagen has unveiled a new range of licensed electric bicycles loaded with technology usually associated with passenger vehicles. Instead of chasing bigger batteries or more power, the focus here is making riders more aware of their surroundings while helping drivers better understand what cyclists are about to do.
Related: VW Cargo E-Bike Punches Above Its Weight With 463-Pound Payload
The headline feature is called Smart View. The system combines a rear-facing camera with radar sensors that monitor approaching traffic. A display integrated into the handlebar lets riders see what’s happening behind them without needing to turn around, while radar alerts warn when vehicles are closing in from the rear.
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It’s tech borrowed directly from the automotive world, where radar and camera-based visibility systems have become increasingly common. Bringing similar functionality to an e-bike makes a lot of sense, especially in crowded urban environments where cyclists and motorists are constantly sharing limited space.
DRLs For Bicycles
Volkswagen and n+ have also given the bike its own take on automotive lighting technology. A full-length LED strip integrated into the frame serves as a running light during the day. More importantly, it changes behavior depending on what the rider is doing. When braking, the lighting glows red. When turning, it flashes amber to indicate direction. The goal is to give other road users clearer visual cues about a cyclist’s intentions before they make a move.
Use Your Head
The safety push isn’t limited to the bike itself. A connected helmet synchronizes with the lighting system and includes its own illuminated elements. It also features crash detection technology capable of notifying emergency contacts if an accident occurs.
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Joining the helmet is a set of smart glasses. Working alongside the bike’s camera and radar systems, they project navigation instructions, traffic alerts and ride information into the rider’s field of view. The technology was reportedly developed by engineers with experience creating helmet-mounted displays for military pilots.
Some purist cyclists might not want a fighter-jet-inspired digital ecosystem, in the same way that a dwindling number of passionate drivers prefer manual-transmission cars . But riding a bike on the road is a dangerous business and anything that keeps cyclists safer has to be a good thing.
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VW
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