BMW i Vision AMBY: high-speed pedelec for urbanists!

With the BMW i Vision AMBY, the first high-speed pedelec for urbanists, the BMW Group presents a visionary two-wheel solution for the urban mobility of tomorrow. Outwardly, the BMW i Vision AMBY resembles an e-bike, but offers significantly more options. It is one of five different concept vehicles with which the BMW Group is showing its vision of individual mobility in and around the city at the IAA Mobility. Under the common umbrella of electromobility, digitality and sustainability, the five pioneering concepts form a versatile and sustainable mobility mix on two and four wheels that comprehensively addresses a wide variety of mobility needs.

i Vision AMBY & Motorcycle Vision AMBY

AMBY stands as a neologism for "Adaptive Mobility". The two vision vehicles BMW i Vision AMBY and BMW Motorrad Vision AMBY interpret the basic idea of ​​adaptive urban mobility on two wheels in different facets. Both vehicles have an electric drive with three speed levels for different types of roads. The drive enables up to 25 km / h for use on cycle paths, up to 45 km / h on inner-city roads and a top speed of up to 60 km / h on multi-lane roads and out of town. For the higher speeds, however, an insurance license plate and a corresponding driving license are required. While the BMW i Vision AMBY, a high-speed pedelec, requires constant pedaling in order to receive the support of the electric drive, the BMW Motorrad Vision AMBY accelerates with a throttle / throttle lever and, typical of a motorcycle, has footrests instead of pedals .

Which modes are available to the driver is stored in an app on the smartphone that connects to the respective "AMBY" vision vehicle. A manual selection of the speed level is just as conceivable as the automatic detection of position and road type using geofencing technology and the associated automatic adjustment of the maximum speed. Since the legal framework for such a vehicle with a modular speed concept does not yet exist, the “AMBY” vision vehicles want to be an impetus for the legislature in order to stimulate such possibilities. With this, the BMW Group is showing that it would like to continue to be part of the mobility offer in large cities in the future, even if automobiles there should be given less and less space in the future.

Outside of any category.

“Apparently fixed categories are breaking out everywhere - and that's good. In the future, classifications such as 'car', 'bicycle' and 'motorcycle' should not determine what we think, develop and offer. Rather, this paradigm shift gives us the opportunity to align products with people's lifestyle. As with the high-speed pedelec BMW i Vision AMBY. Located between bicycle and light motorbike, our customers can decide for themselves which roads or paths they want to use in the metropolitan area. You have the greatest possible flexibility, at the same time you pedal and keep fit. The modes and the clever route selection mean that there are unlikely to be any faster options in the city, ”explains Werner Haumayr, Head of BMW Group Design Concept.

The BMW Group sees the BMW i Vision AMBY as an attractive means of transport in larger cities in the future. As a second vehicle in the family or as an entry into the world of pedal-driven, electrified single-track vehicles, the BMW i Vision AMBY offers a wide range of possible uses. It expands the range of action of a conventional e-bike enormously through clever technologies with the three riding modes.

The design: more than an e-bike.

The design of the BMW i Vision AMBY is characterized by visual lightness and powerful athleticism. At the same time, every detail speaks that it can do more than an ordinary e-bike. The frame structure is already larger, everything looks stronger and more stable. The modern frame geometry looks like a mixture of racing bike and sporty e-bike. The upper frame tube is sculpturally made of four aluminum profiles and is not only an expressive and modern statement. His slightly rising gestures underline the dynamic statement. The space between the profiles also offers storage space for a backpack or a laptop bag. Shortly in front of the handlebars there is the area for smartphone integration, which holds the end device in place with a magnet, clearly visible and securely.

The energy storage is located in the center of the frame. With its 2.000 Wh, it enables a range of up to 300 kilometers, depending on the driving mode. Thanks to fast charging technology, it is recharged after just three hours. In the area of ​​the pedals, also in black, is the drive unit, which, however, only provides support when the pedals are pedaled. A low-maintenance toothed belt takes care of the power transmission; the gear is integrated in the drive. A high-quality single-sided swing arm, otherwise only known from BMW Motorrad, connects the rear wheel with the frame. 120 millimeters of front and rear suspension travel are ideal for all applications in and around the city up to 60 km / h. The 27,5-inch rims have larger and wider tires than usual to ensure maximum comfort and safety even at higher speeds.

High quality integrated details and easy transport.

The representation of the handlebar stem as part of the frame looks very technical and of high quality. The light is integrated into the wide handlebar as a narrow, horizontal LED strip and underlines the modern, technical look of this frame section. Fully integrated brakes and internal lines complete the modern, technical look of the handlebar area. The rear light is embedded in the seat post as a vertical LED element. Underneath, an e-ink display shows the driving mode used.

The rear wheel can be easily loosened and removed with a central screw for optimal transport. The wheel in the front suspension fork can also be removed in the classic way with a screw. This results in a compact size, the battery can also be removed and stowed separately. This reduces the loading weight.

Focus on sustainability.

Thanks to its concept, a pedal-powered two-wheeler as a means of transport in metropolitan areas has many advantages in terms of zero emissions, access to traffic areas and energy efficiency. In addition, the BMW i Vision AMBY single-track vehicle is part of the communication on circular economy relating to the BMW i Vision Circular vision vehicle, which is also celebrating its premiere at the IAA 2021 Mobility. The frame is clearly recognizable from the same anodized secondary aluminum as the body of the BMW i Vision Circular.

In addition, parts of the handlebars and the energy storage cover are made of "floating gray polymers", a recycled plastic that is also used in the bumpers of the vision vehicle. These materials can more easily be returned to the BMW Group material cycle at the end of their product life. An oil obtained from rapeseed is used as the brake fluid. At the same time, the BMW Group made sure that the components of the BMW i Vision AMBY were produced locally in Germany and, with the supply chain in mind, had the shortest possible routes behind them.

More details on sustainability issues relating to the BMW Group's concept vehicles at IAA Mobility 2021 can be found on the BMW Circular Lab Microsite at bmw.com, in the BMW Circular Hub on Max-Joseph-Platz in downtown Munich and in connection with the Vision vehicle BMW i Vision Circular.

The smartphone as a key.

Using the specially developed app, the user can activate the BMW i Vision AMBY for driving, read in the driver's license classes stored and use the appropriate, necessary insurance cover on demand. Thus, the app takes on the classic key function and uses the usual identification options in smartphones such as. B. Face ID analogous to the "Digital Key" function, with which the BMW Group is the first automobile manufacturer to turn any compatible iPhone into a digital car key with which customers can conveniently and securely unlock, lock and of course their BMW can start. In addition, other basic functions and status queries (e.g. current and planned state of charge) similar to the BMW app are available.

The electrically adjustable seat post is biometrically optimized to match the profile stored in the app and adjusted on the basis of previously entered data such as the height and inside leg length of the person before the journey. Over-the-air updates provide customers with further developments and adjustments to the software at any time. The smartphone shown in the vision vehicle charges inductively on the magnetic holder in the lower field of vision. In addition, these connectivity options also offer theft protection and the freely programmable immobilizer as a basic function. The search function “Where is my BMW i Vision AMBY?” Is just a click away on the smartphone.

Geofencing as a key technology.

Instead of choosing the driving mode yourself, the geofencing technology in combination with the detailed HERE map service can create the relevant parameters for the automatic adjustment of the speed mode (25/45/60 km / h) and the corresponding insurance benefits. Thanks to geofencing technology, the vehicle recognizes the type of road it is currently driving on and automatically adjusts the maximum permitted speed. The BMW i Vision AMBY can transform itself from a pedelec to an S-Pedelec-like or even a motorcycle-like vehicle. A manual mode control is of course integrated in order to allow maximum freedom in the use of the routes. But always with intelligent protection of the traffic and safety rules.

The license plate required for this is implemented via the display with e-ink technology. The currently activated or selected mode can thus be easily recognized by other road users.

In addition, other technological functions are conceivable with the BMW i Vision AMBY: An ABS system optimized for bicycles could increase safety, as could an automatic high beam or brake light assistant as well as daytime running lights. A tire pressure monitoring system such as that used on motorcycles from the BMW Group is also conceivable. A distance radar with a range of up to 140 meters warns optically and acoustically in the app of vehicles approaching from behind and rounds off the possible safety features.

Performance data BMW i Vision AMBY

Of course, that wasn't the end of it. Our tuning magazine has countless other tuning reports for two-wheelers in stock. We regularly deal with the subject of e-bikes, pedelecs and ATV tuning. Do you want to see all articles on the subject of e-scooters, e-bikes, UTV, ATV / quad tuning? Just click HERE and look around. Or is a small extract enough? Then take a look at the following three articles.

BMW i Vision AMBY: high-speed pedelec for urbanists!

"Tuningblog.eu" - on the subject of e-scooters, e-bikes, UTV, ATV / quad tuning and of course car and motorcycle styling, we keep you up to date with our magazine and present you with new tuned vehicles every day Motorcycles from all over the world. It's best to subscribe to ours Feed and you will be automatically informed as soon as there is something new for this post and of course also to all other contributions.