Conspicuous with its wheels of different sizes, the velocipede was
the first pedal-powered cycle in history. DING3000 and the chemical
company BASF have now rebuilt the 19th century bike as a modern e-bike.
But why?
With the "Concept 1865", we are taking a trip back to the year 1865,
when BASF was founded. This was also the point in time when
Karl Drais’ wooden "Dandy horse" was given its first pedals, which
launched the bicycle on the road to global success. As a tribute to this
era of enthusiasm for technology and invention, DING3000 and BASF
have embarked on an unparalleled thought experiment and asked:
How would the first pedal cycle have looked if the pioneers of the
bike had had today’s advanced materials to work with?
In cooperation with BASF, DING3000 has developed the
E-Velocipede “Concept 1865”. It is a ready-to-ride prototype with
an electric drive and 24 polymer applications, some of which are highly
innovative like the bearingless all-plastic pedals made of Ultrason®
or the light and punctureproof tires made of Infinergy®.
By implementing this design study DING3000 obviously does not intend
to reinvent the bicycle, let alone the wheel. Under the slogan
»Rethinking Materials«, the unusual e-bike is in fact an invitation
to customers to join the company in developing new applications
and product ideas utilizing advanced plastics. It is an invitation
to question the status quo and create something new - just as
the pioneers of cycling did in their time.
tis. 29 okt 2013, 11:34