Opel Planning On Adding RAD e Bicycle To Product Line

In the densely populated regions of the world such as Tokyo, London, New York, Shanghai and other major cities, it’s not uncommon to find the sidewalks riddled with overflowing bicycle racks, as they are a vital means of personal transportation. In fact, bikes are the only means of transportation for many. But what if they could travel 90 miles at 25 miles per hour on pure electricity, its rider having to do nothing but enjoy the ride? Opel is betting on the appeal of such a product, showing off the Opel RAD e bicycle off at the Geneva Motor Show, which has reportedly been confirmed for production.

Electric bikes are especially popular in Asia, with as many as 120 million eBikes in use in China by the end of 2010, according to industry estimates. Better still, markets are growing for such machines in Europe and North America, as well. In fact, estimates have indicated that European eBike sales have leaped from 200,000 units back in 2007, to 700,000 at the end of 2010. Impressive.

How much would Opel sell its RAD e bike for? It’s too early to tell. But a quick online search shows that they can be as cheap as $350, and as much as $3,000 — depending on the brand and range that’s desired.