History
The Mercedes Benz Hybrid Bike was launched on the market in October 1998. The bike has three-speed hub gears and an electric motor from Sanyo, which is integrated into the rear wheel hub and is activated when the rider pedals. The bike has a torque sensor and when the inclines become more difficult, the motor assists more but not more than 50%. The amount of assistance provided by the motor cannot be adjusted. Up to approx. 20 km/h it is always 50%, then the motor provides less and less and from approx. 25 km/h there is no more assistance. The bike is equipped with a 24V 5Ah NiCd battery, which can be removed for charging and fully recharged in approx. 5.5 hours using a standard charger.
A display with 3 LEDs informs the owner of the battery charge status. The bike also has low-maintenance hydraulic Magura brakes and front and rear lights powered by the roller dynamo, which make the rider more visible at night.
The price of the hybrid bike at the time was DM 3250,- 
