Canyon has introduced a concept urban e-bike equipped with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication technology, demonstrating how connected vehicle systems could be extended beyond cars to improve interaction between different road users.
The Roadlite:ON V2X concept, developed with support from Volkswagen, integrates automotive V2X communication standards into a production-ready e-bike. The company will showcase the concept at Eurobike as part of efforts to encourage wider adoption of connected mobility technologies.
The system enables the bicycle to exchange real-time wireless information with compatible vehicles and roadside infrastructure, allowing road users to detect one another even when visibility is restricted.
A V2X communication module integrated into the bike’s frame transmits its position to compatible vehicles, allowing drivers to receive alerts through in-vehicle displays. At the same time, riders receive haptic feedback through the handlebars when an equipped vehicle is approaching, helping them remain focused on the road. Visual notifications can also be displayed on connected devices such as smartphones, smartwatches or cycle computers.
The concept is also designed to communicate with compatible roadside infrastructure, supporting applications including traffic signal priority and coordinated “green wave” systems currently being trialled in parts of Germany and the Netherlands.
In addition to V2X connectivity, the e-bike features a radar system and dynamic braking light intended to improve communication between cyclists and following vehicles.
Dr Victor Casas Melo, Design Engineer at Canyon, said:Mobility is only as safe as the most vulnerable user. With the Roadlite:ON V2X, we approached V2X from the cyclist‘s perspective, tackling the challenges of achieving high positioning accuracy and reliable communication with components compact enough to fit on a bicycle frame.
With this technology bicycles can speak, and with it we are proactively contributing to cooperative mobility for the safety of all road users.
V2X technology is already being deployed across parts of the automotive sector, enabling communication between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users. Canyon said wider adoption of compatible systems by both bicycle and vehicle manufacturers would be needed for cyclist-focused V2X applications to become more widely available.
