The Volitude VI Electric Folding Bicycle

The Volitude fold-up pedal-assist electric bicycle (or pedelec) from Swiss company Volitude SA that first got our attention in concept form early last year has now entered production.

The body of the bike, which is now known as the Volitude V1, has received a slight redesign in shape but the bike still features the unique EasyFold mechanism that allows it to be folded or unfolded in just a second and has seen it dubbed the “Swiss Army Bike.”

The bike is powered by a 250 W electric motor with an integrated torque sensor that provides motor assistance up to an electronically-limited 25 km/h (16 mph) in keeping with EU regulations.

Volitude is selling the V1 for CHF4,990 (approx. US$5,465), with shipping expected to kick off at the end of March, 2013. Check out the pricing and online shop here.

The 11.6 Ah, 36 V lithium-ion battery should be good for a range of around 40 km (25 miles), depending on the terrain and amount of effort the rider is willing to exert.

The included 110/240 V external charger, which the Swiss company says is similar to a laptop charger, will recharge the battery to 80 percent capacity in four hours, with a full recharge taking six hours.