The Smart ebike is available to order in the UK now, from £2,495. The first electric bicycles are due to arrive in showrooms by late May.

For their money customers get a 26kg bike with an aluminium frame, disc brakes and belt drive. A 200-Watt electric motor is mounted in the hub of the rear wheel to provide assistance when the rider works the pedals - four levels of help can be selected from.

The motor also acts as a generator to help recharge the lithium-ion battery pack, which can also be removed from the bike and recharged from a domestic plug socket. According to Smart, up to 62 miles can be covered on a single charge.

An onboard USB socket allows mobile devices to be charged while the ebike is being ridden. A smartphone cradle is optional, allowing the phone to be used for navigation - assuming you have the right app.

The Smart ebike is available in two colour schemes - crystal white/energy green and dark grey matt/flame orange - and comes with a two-year warranty.

John Lambert - 8 May 2012