When you think of Acer, you probably think of PCs. Whether it’s cheap laptops and tablets, slightly better but budget ultrabooks and gaming laptops, or a weird swing-and-miss experiment. We announced something different – the ‘ebii’, a lightweight electric bike that has nothing to do with a PC or tablet, except for the accompanying smartphone app.
We’ve tested e-bikes with stylish designs and attractive curvatures, but the ebii looks decidedly purpose-built. The large “Ebi Box” in the middle houses the control box, battery pack, and headlights, and the seat and handlebars stick out from there. In honor of its history as a PC and tablet maker, ebii’s 460W battery can be removed and used as a portable charging station for USB-C devices. ebii is light at only 16 kg. The weight is partially reduced by using a cantilever fork on the front tire. Acer says it will fit most riders between 4.75 and 6 feet (145 to 185 cm). With a top speed of about 15 miles per hour and a range of 68 miles, it will never break any speed or distance records.
The bike is described as “AI controlled”. This says more about the current state of “AI” as an ubiquitous marketing term than it does about the bike’s capabilities. While it’s fair to call these capabilities “AI-driven,” they technically fall under the more accurate umbrella term of “machine learning.”
ebii also uses an app on your phone to lock and unlock based on proximity. Your bike has GPS tracking so you can find it even if it is stolen. Acer says the ebii has a “smart LED display” that shows battery level and remaining range, but it’s not included in the company’s photos. Some photos show a smartphone mounted between the handlebars. The ebii doesn’t have a built-in screen for displaying charge level or other features, but there are pictures showing the app displaying this information as well.
Acer has not disclosed the price or release date of ebii.
