The current prototype is an e-bike, though future models may not include pedal assist, since swapping out batteries could be a logistical nightmare for maintenance crews.

ENGADGET: NTT DoCoMo Shared Bicycle Initiative hands-on (video)

The new lithium batteries for e-bike transportation might not stand much chance against such overwhelming statistics, unless all those new generations of coming vehicles are to be sustainably-produced, e.g.

FORBES: One Week on Earth

Despite getting caught in a downpour during my test (with the e-bike working fine in the rain), I was impressed by the experience and plan to rent an e-bike from Hertz again soon.

BBC: Rent an electric bike in London

Hunting for an e-bike, I ended up at a string of shops near the Tsinghua campus, where each storefront offered a competing range of prices and styles to a clientele dominated by students and young families.

NEWYORKER: Green Giant

This week we talked about the growing reach and influence of Chinese soft power around the world, and the advent of the e-bike on Beijing streets (Kuo and Osnos both worship at the temple of the e-bike, and never resist an opportunity to proselytize).

FORBES: New China Podcast: Soft Power And E-Bikes

In fact, because a lot of my work is in e-course development and writing, I mostly work from home or take a short bike ride to downtown Portland.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down