Monocle on Saturday, September 2, 2023: A look at the week’s news and culture with Georgina Godwin.
Also, we are joined by Charles Hecker for a look through the morning’s papers, Monocle’s Helsinki correspondent, Petri Burtsoff, investigates the growing popularity of e-bikes in Finland and we examine India’s space programme with Maya Sharma.
Sales of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, as they’re better known, are booming. At the same time, innovations in battery technology have extended the range that an e-bike can travel. The FT’s Harry Dempsey explores the impact they’re having on commuting, deliveries, and the cities we live in.
StudioMOM developed the LAVO bike, a compact modular transport concept powered by green hydrogen:
In 2021, living more sustainably and consciously should be a priority for all of us, – whether it’s making changes in our daily lives, consumption, or even our means of transportation. Our typical fossil-fuel-consuming means of transportation need to be replaced by greener and more environment-friendly alternatives, and Electric Bicycles are an appealing option!
As a conservation charity, we’ve been searching for alternative ways to get around the estates, gardens, and the places in our care, reducing our reliance on traditional diesel-powered vehicles. Thanks to a new collaboration with Raleigh, electric assisted bikes (e-bikes) are now helping us to meet our climate change objectives. Using e-bikes to travel from A to B will enable us to step towards a greener future, moving us closer to our goal of being carbon net zero by 2030. These Snowdonia Rangers tell us how the transition from four wheels to two has been going, and the benefits it’s having on their roles.
Snowdonia is a region in northwest Wales concentrated around the mountains and glacial landforms of massive Snowdonia National Park. The park’s historic Snowdon Mountain Railway climbs to the summit of Wales’s highest mountain, Mount Snowdon, offering views across the sea to Ireland. The park is also home to an extensive network of trails, over 100 lakes and craggy peaks like Cader Idris and Tryfan.
The saying goes that there are no new ideas out there. Every new invention is just a mashup of other things. But when it comes to E-bikes, who’s complaining? Extra juice to go with your pedal power? We’ll take it. And some serious breakthrough designs are coming in the industry, too. Let’s take a look at the contenders for the title of most innovative e-bike of 2021.
Top Ten Bike timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:37 10. STROMER ST5 ABS http://www.stromerbike.com 01:41 9. JUGGERNAUT HD DUO http://www.biktrix.com 02:44 8. SHUTTLE V2 http://www.pivotcycles.com 03:50 7. REEVO http://www.beno.io 04:45 6. CNC E-FANES 29/275 http://www.alutech-cycles.com 05:40 5. GRIZZLY – 52V DUAL MOTOR http://www.arielrider.com 06:26 4. VALEO SMART E-BIKE SYSTEM http://www.valeo.com 07:18 3. SUPERSTRATA E TIME WARP http://www.superstrata.bike 08:09 2. 2021 TYPHOON PRO 8.0 http://www.hpcbikes.com 09:04 1. SERIAL 1 E-BIKES http://www.serial1.com
Harley-Davidson’s new Serial 1 electric bikes are coming, and we got one of the first test rides. The bikes are gorgeous, with a clean, non cluttered design and an impressive spec sheet. And they are an absolute joy to ride. But are they worth $5,000? Learn more about the Harley-Davidson Serial 1: http://bit.ly/3gXZL5B
Urban-E, available in black or gray version, is built around the special aluminum frame, designed by the designers of the Ducati Style Center in collaboration with colleagues from the Industrial Design division of Italdesign, with an easy folding system that allows you to fold the e-bike in a few simple steps.
The foldable frame is made of lightweight aluminum and the battery is fully integrated into the frame. It was born from a totally custom development project with Ducati Style Center and Italdesign as protagonists. The LED lights and the display are integrated into the frame becoming a real design element, one of a kind.
The handlebar has a fully integrated LCD display in the stem that allows you to check all the assistance functions, check the remaining battery charge and turn the LED lights on and off. Designers and planners have worked to create an e-bike with a clean and linear style. The 378 Wh battery is integrated into the frame and itself becomes an element of style, recalling the motorcycle tanks in the typical Ducati red color and arched shape.
E-gravel is about escaping your routine. Getting off-grid and back again. Fast. With its powerful Bosch Performance Line CX Gen4 motor, the Grail:ON surges over any terrain, turning day-long outings into hour-long blasts. Take the fastest line to the highest point. Experience Electrified Escape. Experience the Grail:ON.
From a YankoDesign.com online review:
The e-bike surprisingly doesn’t look like one, especially given that the rear-wheel motor is concealed from view, and the Flit’s cylindrical battery was designed to beautifully slide into a hollow space inside the bike’s frame, hiding it from view. The bike has a unique way of also integrating suspension into it that allows the rear wheel to easily absorb any shock brought about by cycling on roads, pavements, or even rocky, gravel-y paths. Engineered to perfection by Dave Henderson, who’s background includes being an engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, the Flit-16 maximizes rigidity within a minimal design that further reduces down thanks to its three main hinges that allow you fold or unfold your e-bike in just 10 seconds.
Touted as a new generation of foldable e-bikes, and with enough awards to prove just how ground-breaking it is, the FLIT-16 is the good old electrically assisted bicycle in a brand new avatar. Designed to help you ‘flit’ across the city from A to B, the bike comes fitted with a 220W Bafang rear hub motor that boosts your ride for up to 50 kilometers (30 miles) on a single charge. When you’re not riding it, the bike folds down at two separate points to become small enough to store under your table, yet still retaining its ability to be wheeled around wherever you go.
Boomers Daily 