[Via Inhabitat]

Electric bicycles have been gaining a lot of traction recently, but for the most part introducing a dynamo, battery, motor, and gearbox into the design process tends to give them the appearance of a stripped-down space-age moped. Not quite as dorky as a Segway, but not much better. However for those that want to retain that classic town bike look while enjoying the benefits of a modern electric motor, there is now the Faraday bicycle. The Faraday is a collaboration between global design firm IDEO and Santa Cruz frame manufacturer Rock Lobster Cycles. In order to give the bike a clean aesthetic the team designed most of the electric components inside the frame of a traditional bicycle. There is a small green gear box located under the seat and a subtle hub-motor mounted on the front wheel, but other than that, there’s no way to tell it’s an electric.

The electric gear box is tucked underneath the seat.

Front utility rack allows you to attach anything from a basket to baby seat. The front prongs also house internal LED headlights for night riding.