Hybrid bike...innovation or overkill?

A hybrid bike is most probably the latter - feature overkill. Anyway this article is interesting nonetheless.

These hybrid bikes harness wind energy, solar energy, shock energy and muscle power, only to be used at those tough climbs or just user laziness. The spoiler of this bike is covered with solar panels and is fixed below the handles of the bike to produce lifting force for lightening the weight of the bike.

There are 4 areas that assist in harnessing the energy to stock it up in the rechargeable battery. They are: the adjustable solar energy plane, the Spoiler, the Two front forks and the front and back wheels.

Innovative Features??

The adjustable solar energy plane:

The adjustable solar energy plane is put below the main pipe of the bike; it can absorb solar energy at ordinary times, while riding in a long way, solar energy plane can be pull to expand to absorb more solar energy directly.

Spoiler:

Spoiler is a combination of Solar-cell Coating and Wind-power electricity generator; it is affixed below the handle of the bike. The Spoiler can produce the electric energy through wind-force and solar energy; through under the function of the air current. This makes the Spoiler to produce the driving up force and lighten weight of the bike. The front of the spoiler has a headlight, it can be removed to function as a flashlight.

Two front forks:

There is a coil and magnet set up at the two front forks, the gravity of rider will cause shaking force, which make the magnetic field to cut the coil, so that it will generate electric energy.

Front and back wheel:

A motor and electricity coils setting is designed at the Front and back wheel. It can produce electric energy while rotating at ordinary times. When the Winsolar is climbing a slope and the biker too tired to pedal, he can switch over to the automatic motor, to make the ascend.









Designer: Chen Chun Tung

Installation of Bixi Bike Sharing System (Montreal)

Copenhagen Share System Concept

Very cool and funky concept for a bike share system in copenhagen - talk about blending into the urban vernacular!

Initial Concepts - Team Force

Esquisse 3 - Alternate Materials

This esquisse looks at research into new and innovative materials that would have merit if applied to the design of the bike sharing system for Melbourne. They would improve not only the product quality of the system, but also provide support to manufacturing operations.

Reclining bike anyone?

Here's a cool bike design idea: a variable frame that adjusts into different modes for seamless, sustained riding. For the city, you've got your standard upright mode--but once you're clear of the urban zone, recline into country mode and pedal on with ease. More pics and mock-up video after the jump.

The bike is up, then the bike is down. You sit on the bike upright in the city, then set it down to cruise in the suburbs. It’s intuitive. It’s wild. It’s a thesis project. It’s got a video to go with it. It’s already mocked up. The final version will have a battery and hubmotor for a little kick in the pants. Environmentally friendly city and country transportation in one bike.

The bike is up, then the bike is down. You sit on the bike upright in the city, then set it down to cruise in the suburbs. It’s intuitive. It’s wild. It’s a thesis project. It’s got a video to go with it. It’s already mocked up. The final version will have a battery and hubmotor for a little kick in the pants. Environmentally friendly city and country transportation in one bike.

This is the proof of concept mockup for a commuter bike with variable frame as part of the diploma thesis of the product-designers daniel knüpfer and stefan wallmann at anhalt university, dessau in mai 2008. In the concept, the frame can be locked by a lever on the handlebar, that feature is missing in the mockup. Also, the springs that help bringing the rider in an upright position need to be adjusted to the riders weight to balance the frame (making it possible to switch positions while leaning back or forth). these springs are too weak in this prototype, therefore the riders in the video need to push the backrest a little bit. only a very lightweight rider managed to bring himself up by simply leaning forward.

ubicycle - Public Bicycle Service System

The Ubicycle service is composed of three primary elements. First, is an easy access key card that can be charged with funds for any kind of public transportation, including trains and buses. Smart chips not only identify the user of the bike, but also allows unlocking of the rack and bicycle.

1. The cards will employ RFID technology, adding greater convenience by speeding up checkout and authentication processes.

2. The modular racking station allows easy installation and efficient use of space. 14 bicycles racked on these stations occupy the same amount of space as a parking space for one car.

3. Solar power will help run these stations on a day-to-day basis, providing energy for the key reader and locking mechanisms.