Transport Thursday 15 November 2012 - Electric Bicycle

The present and the future of the electric bicycle

Ir. Sa7sh Kumar Beella

15 November 2012

I would like to talk about

•  What electric bicycle brings to the table? – Challenges –  Innova7on – Sustainability!

•  How electric bicycle can/will change the way we use the bicycle? –  Industrial Design Engineering ac7vi7es – Challenges for Research/(design) agenda

What is electric bicycle?

•  It’s an bicycle with electric motor and rechargeable baPery

•  There are two types – Pedal assist – Power on demand (ThroPle)

•  The augmented power is around 200-‐ 500WaPs depending on the country and regula7ons

NL status •  The Netherlands has a fleet of 18+ million bicycles. •  Electric bicycles have reached a market share of 13.6% by 2010,

as e-‐bikes sales quadrupled from 40,000 units to 166,000 between 2006 and 2010, and the electric-‐powered models represented 25% of the total bicycle sales revenue in that year

•  By early 2011 one in every seven bicycles sold in the country is electric-‐powered despite the fact that on average an e-‐bike is three 7mes more expensive than a regular bicycle.

NL status (2)

•  A 2008* market survey showed that the average distance traveled in the Netherlands by commuters on a standard bicycle is 6.3 km, while with an electric bike this distance increases to 9.8 km

•  E-‐bike ownership is par7cularly popular among people aged 65 and over, but limited among commuters.

•  The electric bicycle is used in par7cular for recrea7onal bicycle trips, shopping and errands.

*Ref: Ingrid Hendriksen et. al (2008). Elektrisch Fietsen, Marktonderzoek en verkenning toekomstmogelijkheden, TNO Kwaliteit van Leven

NL status (3)

•  81% of all E-‐bikes are sold** to consumers older than 50

•  42,5% of the E-‐bikes are sold to people older than 64

•  8% of all E-‐bikes are sold to consumers younger than 40

**Ref: GfK(2011). GfK jaargids 2012 : inzichten en marktontwikkelingen in de Benelux

NL status (4)

Courtesy: Kay van Mourik

Why people buy an e-‐bike?

•  Normal cycling is too heavy •  To beat the head wind more easily •  To cycle longer distances •  To beat the hills more easily •  I am not that sporty, but I do want to start with light exercise

•  To travel quicker, save 7me. •  To be more environmental friendly •  Because I do not want to arrive at work all sweaty

Ref: Ingrid Hendriksen et. al (2008). Elektrisch Fietsen, Marktonderzoek en verkenning toekomstmogelijkheden, TNO Kwaliteit van Leven

How it works?

BaPery pack 10x3,6-‐4,2 V

Courtesy: Kay van Mourik

Is it sustainable?

•  A simple LCA shows it consumes more resources at produc7on, use and as well recycling!

•  Its not environment friendly!

•  But the func7on it fulfills is more than a bicycle •  It could be sustainable –  If it replaces a motor vehicle (such as a scooter/moped or even an automobile)

–  Brings in a added value to a bicycle in terms of added func7on

–  Present market segment (80% of it) want to use E-‐bike for comfort reasons, which is very jus7fied!

E-‐bike with an added func7on (1)

Challenges for future

•  Traffic safety •  Synergy among the slow traffic and on the bicycle lane

•  Conserva7on of the tradi7onal and most sustainable form of the bicycle

•  Bicycle + electric motor= new behavior

•  new behavior ànew product system à new urban environment

Thank you [email protected]

Transport Thursday 15 November 2012 - Electric Bicycle

Technology

Transcript of Transport Thursday 15 November 2012 - Electric Bicycle