Multi-use E-bikes for a post pandemic era

Abstract

The graduation project is commissioned by Bayck, a small E-bike start-up which focuses on designing affordable and simple e-bikes. The company is looking for new market opportunities and perceives the Corona outbreak as a potential trigger for behaviour change towards mobility and e-bikes. To find a relevant design direction for Bayck, information is gathered in four steps; First, the pre-pandemic mobility is discussed, then how it is affected by the pandemic. E-bike users are interviewed to understand the new use needs. Finally, future visions from different perspectives are discussed to find a relevant context in which Bayck can design a new product. From the analysis, it is concluded that the new Bayck product needs to be personal, enable multi-usage and invite the user to relax while going from A to B. The conclusions of the analysis are put together in a design brief. An ideation is performed to come up with a design direction fitting the design brief. To conclude the ideation phase, it is decided to design an e-bike that operates on a removable battery(-ies), also usable as a personal power-bank. A storyboard is drawn to depict the ideal use situation. The current Bayck model is taken apart to understand how an e-bike works and what should be integrated in the new design. The concept is toned down to a level of feasibility: Two batteries of 18V are required to enable the user to charge its devices, but also use the 36V e-bike motor. The challenge is made to simplify the e-bike as much as possible and separate the electronics as much as possible from the frame. The whole electronic system will be moved to the front of the bike to be as close as possible to the motor. This also enables the design to be mounted on the bike without modifying the frame. The concept is taken from idea to materialized product through a fish trap process. During the materialisation, a functional prototype is build to test the set up with two 18V batteries and the working of a new lock system. The fish trap process results in a material concept, in which the different components and their assembly are established.