Electric Bike
Electric Carbon Bike
Electric Carbon Bike was a design competition held by the university. The winner of the competition had the chance to work in collaboration with the engineering students to create a full working prototype.
WINNER : FRANCESCO GALIMBERTI
After developing many different design directions (see one below), I decided to go for a different approach and imagine the simplest frame that could be built, making the most of carbon fibre incredible qualities.
Compared to a common bicycle the design that I had in mind created one single line from the front to the back creating a solid structure and a clear and unmistakable design language.
THIS SIMPLICITY ON THE DESIGN LANGUAGE AND ON THE FEASIBILITY ALLOWED ME TO WIN THE CONTEST AND START WORKING WITH THE ENGINEERING CLASS TO DEVELOP A FULL 1:1 SCALE PROTOTYPE.
During the refinement of the design, I experimented different solutions for the rear of the bike. Although the first design direction was more suitable for the insertion of an electric motor at the back the bicycle, the second one was much smoother and the overall quality perception was highly improved.
ANOTHER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO DESIGNS IS THE PRESENCE OF SMALL IRON TUBES IN THE FIRST ONE, AIMED TO IMPROVE THE SOLIDITY OF THE STRUCTURE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE ENGINEERING CLASS THAT THEY WERE UNNECESSARY AND I REMOVED THEM IN THE SECOND ONE.
One of the big challenges was to find the correct compromise of space to fit the electric motor in the back. Too thin and the motor wouldn't fit, too wide and the bike would look too funky and definitely not gracious.
THE BATTERY ON THE OTHER HAND, AFTER RECEIVING THE DIMENSIONS, IT WAS VERY EASY TO FIT INTO THE UPPER BAR OF THE BICYCLE.
The bicycle is equipped with one big light at the front and two lights at the back, one for each seat stay.
THIS LIGHTING SYSTEM ALLOW THE RIDER TO USE THE REAR LIGHTS AS TURNING SIGNALS BY MEAN OF BUTTONS APPLIED ON THE HANDLE BAR.
Below you can see the chassis developed from the engineering class based on my models, there are still some modifications to do and thickness to add in some places but it looks good.
From this model, the next step is to create a mould to create the carbon fibre chassis.
THE BICYCLE IS TAKING SHAPE BUT UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO AMMINISTRATIVE REASONS, IT CANNOT BE COMPLETED. MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL BE ABLE TO FINISH IT BY MY OWN BUT FOR NOW THE PROJECT REMAINS IN STAND-BY.
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