This time, it requires a little more effort from the driver. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The bicycle industry is in some ways like the auto industry in the context of electrification.

On the one hand, there are the traditional human-powered bicycles, which are analogous to vehicles with internal combustion engine.

On the other, there are electric bikes, just as there are electric cars.

In both bikes and autos the traditional dominates by a considerable amount.

And in both there is growth in the sales of electrified versions.

But what seems to be a bit of a difference is that electric bikes are still moving upwards on the sales charts while in autos there is a considerable moderation.

Audi EVs in Q1

Audi, like any good European luxury brand, has a full suite of EVs.

Audi of America announced that its Q1 2024 sales were down 16% year over year, but its EV sales were up 29%.

However, the combined sales of the e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron, Q8 e-tron, and Q8 Sportback e-tron is 5,714 vehicles.

While sales of the Q5 were down 33% year-over-year, it still sold 11,473 of them, considerably more than the five EV models.

Two-Wheelin’

Audi has added a new model to its lineup: the Audi eMTB.

It is an electric mountain bike.

Audi worked with Italian motorcycle and e-bike manufacturer Fantic on the bike, which features an aluminum frame, full suspension (Öhlins shocks in the back and fork up front), off-road tires, Sunstar Braking’s F.I.R.S.T. calipers and S3 Batfly rotors, and other elements.

There is a 720-Wh, 36-volt lithium-ion battery pack that powers a Brose S-MAG 250-watt motor, which delivers up to 90 Nm of torque.

The electrical setup provides four levels of assistance at speeds up to 20 mph.

The battery range is between 12 and 90 miles. Yes, quite a spread there, but how far one will go depends on such things as the terrain, amount of assistance used and rider weight.

Like an Audi with four tires, the engineering comes at a price: MSRP for the eMTB is $9,795.

The bike is being sold through Audi Genuine Accessories.

Maybe if the EVs aren’t moving at the dealership the eMTB will.