Panasonic Cycle Technology Co has begun accepting orders on its website for a high-end electric bicycle, with prices beginning from 585,000 yen ($5450) per unit. The titanium bicycle can go for about 150 kilometers on a single charge. The electric motor allows its rider to cover 10 km in about 30 minutes, with a top speed of 24 kph. Panasonic has included its SLIM (Smart Lithium-Ion Integrated Management) system with the titanium-framed bike, a small computer that keeps the rider informed of the battery level and the distance that can be traveled before the next recharge is due.
Panasonic expects to produce 500 units of the luxurious electric bicycle. Panasonic Cycle Technology Co has co-developed the titanium bicycle with Matsushita Network Marketing Co., another Matsushita group company.
