Electric Bicycle

Design
Industrial Design
Final Project Work
Carlos Tovar
2008-09

Index

Urban transport
The electric bicycle
Can the electric bicycle solve the problem of the urban transport?
Brief
The Swedish design
Bikes research in Jnkping
Target: the Swedish working population

3
4
5
6
7
10
20

Creative session
First creative session

Concept 1

Concept 2

Concept 3 (Selected)

22
25
27

Second creative session

Concept 4

Concept 5

Concept 6 (Selected)

29
31
32

Product development

Component description

Cables distribution

Standard components

35
43
44

Product description

Using the battery

Looking for a manufacturer

Eco friendly vehicle logotype

Different versions

47
50
51
52

Urban transport
Actual situation in the EU.
At present, the European cities are living each day an accumulation of
excessive traffic and noise. Approximately one quarter of the population of the UE
live within 500 m from a road with more than three million vehicles annually.
Although the 50 % of the journeys by car doesnt reach the 5 Km and the 30 %
dont even reach 3 Km, the 75% of the mobility in the European cities are done by
car.
Other aspects that are being seriously harmed by the city traffic are the air quality
and the health. The traffic is the main source of many air pollutants such as carbon
monoxide and suspended particulates. In addition, the air pollution is the main
cause of environmental disease in Europe. Because of this air pollution, the citizens
have many possibilities to suffer some cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
The most important reasons of this air pollution are the traffic increase, also the
increase of cars with diesel engines that are more pollutant than cars with gasoline
engine. Another reason that explains the air pollution in the cities is the fact that
vehicles pollute more in urban environments because of the traffic.
Adding to the list of problems suffered by the European cities and therefore by the
citizens is the noise caused by the traffic. There are 210 million Europeans exposed
to noise levels potentially hazardous to health. This problem is more and more
increasing because of the traffic. According to a German study, 4000 heart attacks
annually are due to traffic noise (UBA, 2006). Other possible consequences are the
lack of sleep, discomfort, and mental effects.
Finally, and no less important, the climate change is quickly growing because of the
air pollution in the cities. Urban traffic accounts for more than 40% of CO2
emissions generated by vehicles and 10% of total CO2 emissions in the EU.
To improve this situation, it is necessary to change the culture and the costumes for
urban mobility. Institutions and citizens must make an effort and try to solve this
problem as soon as possible. The following are some aims that would help to solve
the problem:
Reconciling the economic development in cities with the quality of life and
environmental protection.
Developing lifestyles less dependent on cars.
Developing new clean an efficient ways of transport.
Minimize the environmental and health damage.
Reduce the energy use and the economic and social cost.
Ensuring access for all the citizens.
3

The electric bicycle

The future of the urban transport.
The e-bike is a human electric hybrid vehicle. Basically, these bikes are for people
who want an alternative to a car, get exercise, go fast without increased effort, and
get you where you want to be. The e-bike is made not to leave the rider
completely idle but to assist in the movement over hills as well as flat ground.
Peddling on the part of the rider can be used both to move the bicycle and to
recharge the batteries. Its an amazing, fast and efficient vehicle that respects the
environment. With this vehicle, it is possible to enjoy a leisurely and relaxing cruise
and arrive at destinations (such as work) at the same time.
Amazingly, the price of a e-bike is the same as a standard one. This means that
acquiring this vehicle, the purchaser get the regular bike functions plus the
additional power from the battery to propel him faster than he could by himself
for a longer period of time. The electricity of the bike is not to increase the speed
or move without effort, it is to assist to the rider to ride at a regular safe speed on
or off road.
In addition, this vehicle is regarded by the same as a traditional bicycle by the law.
That is to say that riding an electric bicycle does not requires having a license to
the user.
The e-bikes are becoming the best way of transport in urban environments.
Bicycles are more agile and fast than cars because they are more maneuverable
and can easily bypass obstacles that would greatly slow down cars. Bicycles are
also easier to park because they are so portable. It is possible to park them almost
anywhere. To top it all off, most electric bikes have sufficient range to handle dayto-day life in a city. Most traditional electric bikes still include the pedal assembly
as well as the electrical one, so you can simply turn off your throttle if you want to
ride for a while on your own power.

Can the electric bicycle solve the problem

of the urban traffic?

In this page I will compare the aims proposed before to solve the problem with the
features and benefits of the electric bicycle.
These were the aims proposed:
1. Reconciling the economic development in cities with the quality of life
and environmental protection.
2. Developing lifestyles less dependent on cars.
3. Developing new clean an efficient ways of transport.
4. Minimize the environmental and health damage.
5. Reduce the energy use and the economic and social cost.
6. Ensuring access for all the citizens.
We can see that introducing the use of the electric bike in the urban environment
of the Swedish cities is possible to achieve all these aims.
The electric bike does not harm the environment, minimize the energy usage
because it is a human electric hybrid vehicle. Riding a bike is healthy and fun at the
same time. Bikes are so much cheaper than cars, this means that is easier to
purchase and maintain an electric bike than a car. Bicycles are more agile and fast
than cars because they are more maneuverable and can easily bypass obstacles
that would greatly slow down cars. Bicycles are also easier to park because they are
so portable. It is possible to park them almost anywhere.
All of these features make the electric bicycle a very interesting vehicle that could
become the most important way of transport in the Swedish cities in a few years,
and later in all Europe.

Brief

The electric bike aspires to be the most seen vehicle in the Swedish cities, and later also in
the European cities.

The main function of the electric bike is to reduce or even remove the fatigue from riding a
conventional bike. This objective must be met without changing the concept and the
message that the bike transmits to the people.

These are the features that the electric bike should have:

The e-bike must have a Swedish look.

The main target of this bike are workers. It is necessary to think about the profile and the
habits of this group of people.

The electric bike is an eco-product and this feature should be visible to purchasers and
users.

The maintenance and the starting of the electric bike should be fast and easy, reducing the
necessity of tools. The insertion and removing of the battery must be easy and fast. One of
the key considerations during the design of the bike will be the study of the possible places
to keep the battery and how to insert and extract the battery in the bike as well.

The electric bike must have lights to see and to be seen in the darkness.

The bike will contain as much standard parts as possible.

The price of the e-bike should be between a bike and a motorcycle price.

The autonomy of the battery should be between 30 and 50 Km.

The time necessary to charge de battery shouldnt be more than 5 or 6 hours.

The electric engine must work only if the user is pedaling.

The e-bike should give to the user the possibility to choose the engine help level.

The effort realized when riding the bike shouldnt depend on the inclination of the
ground.

The e-bike should be produced in Sweden.

The Swedish design

1.

Functionalism

2.

Simplicity

3.

Beauty as a function

4.

Search for ergonomics

5.

Noble and technological materials use

6.

Rational conception of the daily life

7.

Nordic light

8.

Pop culture and art

9.

Rustic objects

10.

Natural Shapes

11.

Pale colors

12.

Plain textures

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

With this research we discovered which kind of bicycle is the most used in
Jnkping and so in the Swedish cities. With this information we will be
able to know what does the Swedish population want in a bicycle.
These are all the kind of bikes used in Jnkping:
1 Classic lady bike

4 Utility bike

8 Lady mountain bike

2-

5 Beach
cruiser bike

3-

6 Racing
bike

9 Hybrid bike

7 Mountain bike

10 Suspension
mountain bike

10

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Area 1 Train Station

KIND

QUANTITY

5
6

10
TOTAL

34

11

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Area 2 Train Station

KIND

QUANTITY

5
6
7

10

TOTAL

26

12

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Area 3 Train Station

KIND

QUANTITY

5
6
7

10

TOTAL

31

13

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Small groups

KIND

QUANTITY

14

4
5

10

TOTAL

34

14

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Private Parking

KIND

QUANTITY

11

5
6
7
8

10

TOTAL

24

15

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Juneporten

KIND

QUANTIT
Y

10

TOTAL

21

16

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Cinema

KIND

QUANTITY

5
6
7

8
9
10
TOTAL

16

17

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Small groups

KIND

QUANTITY

1 Classic lady bike

57

30,5

10

5,5

16

18,75

4 Utility bike

24

13

5 Beach cruiser

6 Racing bike

7 Mountain bike

19

10,25

8 Lady mountain
bike

11

9 Hybrid bike

18

9,5

10 Suspension
mountain bike

4,5

TOTAL

186

100

18

Bikes Research in Jnkping (Sweden)

Place: Small groups

Conclusion
Between all the kind of bicycles, the most popular are the city bikes because the
majority of the displacements occur within the cities. The lady city bike (kind of
bike 1,2,3) is the most popular bike in the Swedish cities. Studying the features of
all these kind of bicycles we realized that this three bikes are the best prepared for
this kind of displacement. This means that our bike should have similar technical
and ergonomic benefits to make it appropriate for the urban displacement.

19

Target: the Swedish working population

Swedish citizen profile:

Age and gender: The average city worker is 35 years old.

Marital status: About the 45 % (women and men) are married.

Hour of working: 8 hours a day

Education: They are educated people with a career or some other professional
degree.

Occupation: business, education, engineering,

Income: around 28000 SEK per month

Way of transport: At the moment, the 90 % of the population use the car to go to
work. The rest of the people use the public transport, the bike or walk.
Conclusions: For this group of people, the electric bike is the best way of transport.
With this vehicle they will be able to go faster and moreover, they will do some exercise
that will improve their health. Using the electric bike they wont have to do any extra
effort and they will get to arrive at their jobs in a shorter period of time.
Moreover, they will spend less money and they will help to save the environment.
We are convinced that they will love this fantastic vehicle.

20

Creative session

Concept 1

22

Concept 1

23

Concept 1

24

Concept 2

25

Concept 2

26

Concept 3

27

Concept 3

28

Second creative session

Concept 4

This model is basically the initial idea that was developed in the first creative
session. In this design, the battery is located inside two special profiles that join
the front and the back part of the bicycle.
It is characterized by the use of the straight line. Its esthetic and style is totally
functional.

Special profiles
Battery

29

Second creative session

Concept 4

The top and the bottom face of these special profiles are
hidden with four embellisher components that make the bike
more esthetic.

In this picture we can see how is the inside of the special

profiles.

30

Second creative session

Concept 5

This concept is quite similar to the first one, but we have changed the style of the
top stay of the frame and the special profiles. Now, the top stay is completely
curved and is joined to the seat tube in the same point as the top special profile.
The special profiles have changed from a continuous and smooth shape to a new
shape with more stress and personality.

Seat tube

Top stay
Battery place

Special profiles

31

Second creative session

Concept 6 (Selected)

The third concept is the most innovative one. Its aerodynamic shape make it more
modern and elegant. All the joins between the different elements of the frame
are smoothed and rounded so all the frame is continuous and uniform.
Now, the place for the battery is done by a cut in the frame.

32

Second creative session

Concept 6 (Selected)

Now the battery is placed inside a plastic box assembled

directly to the frame.

Plastic Box

Battery

33

Product Development

Component description
Frame
The frame is the most important component in our electric bicycle. Its innovative
geometry is different from the actual bicycle frames because we locate the battery
inside it, just between the seat and the fork tube, thus avoiding the need for extra
support to accommodate the battery, such as e-bicycles today do.
The hole which houses the battery is formed by a cross cut that passes through
the Top and Down Tubes. During the development of the frame, we realized that this
hole could make the frame weaker. To solve this strength problem, we designed a
special profile (number of the picture) reinforced with two walls that divided it into
three sections. This special profile allow us to make the hole of the battery assuring the
strength of the bike.
To develop this frame we also considered the question of style. We wanted this
bike to be Swedish-styled, innovate and unique. This aim was achieved with the
combination of two kind of profiles (circular and elliptic), that makes the frame more
aerodynamic and esthetic. Also a noteworthy point is the special use of the curve that
makes the frame more continuous and uniform.

Top Tube
Seat Tube

Fork Tube

Down Tube

Top Stay

Bottom Bracket
Chain Stay

35

Component description
Frame

36

Component description
Frame

Material: Aluminum profile

Colors:
Pantone Black
Pantone Cool Gray 3
Surface finish: Anodizing

Top and Down Tube profile

480

Seat and Fork Tube profile

1100

37

Component description
Fork
The fork is the component that joins the front wheel and the handlebar with the
rest of the bicycle. For the design of this component the aim was to maintain the main
character and aesthetics achieved with the frame. We want to emphasize the use of the
curve and the combination of circular and elliptical profiles as we did before with the
frame.
Putting the fork and the frame together, it can be seen that the two form a
uniform set, with the same esthetic design and style.
Technically, as the frame, the fork is manufactured with aluminum profile, colored
with Pantone Black and finished by anodizing.

38

Component description
Battery

25

168

The kind of battery selected for this bike is a lithium-ion battery. We changed the
dimensions and shape of the original one to make it easier to carry, insert/extract and
recharge.
This battery has a saddle that can be hidden inside it to make the bicycle more
esthetic.
Because it is not a standard battery, it is necessary to find a Li-ion Battery
manufacturer that help us to find the way to be able to manufacture this battery
design.
The next pictures show the main dimensions and the appearance of our battery.

300

The handle makes the battery

easier to carry

In this side of the battery are

placed all connectors and the
indicator Led
39

Component description
Battery Support
This component serves to attach the battery to the bike and to connect the
battery to the electrical circuit.
With this battery support, the process of connecting the battery to the bike is
considerably reduced because the user doesnt have to connect cables. All the
connectors between the battery and the bike are located in this component.
As the pictures below show, the battery support is assembled to the bike just with two
screws .

40

Component description
Handlebar
The handlebar is made by steel circular profile with a 18 mm diameter. To make it more
ergonomic and to continue with the style and appearance of the bicycle we decided to
bend the extremes like the pictures below show.
The innovative support of the handlebar has been also bent in such a way to give the
bicycle a more unique look.

Handlebar

Support of the
handlebar

41

Component description
Fenders
1
Back wheel fender
Material: Chrome plated steel.
Installation:
1. Screw the fender to the hub of the
Frame (2).
2. Screw the fender to the Frame (3).

Front wheel fender

Material: Chrome plated steel.
Installation:
1. Assemble the fender to the hub of
the fork. (5).
2. Screw the fender to the Fork (6).

42

Cables distribution
Thank to the new location of the battery, all the connections between the battery
and the rest of the electric circuit are placed inside the frame. The only cable that will
be seen is the one that goes from the engine to the battery support. As the picture
bellow shows, this cable goes out from the fork and gets into the frame through the
extreme of the Down Tube.
With regards to the mechanical cables, there are only two cables that will be seen.
One of these cables belong to the gear control and the other one belongs to the front
brake. As the picture below shows, the cable of the gear control goes into the frame
through the extreme of the Down Tube, and the cable of the front brake goes out from
the fork and is connected directly to the brake lever.

Brake lever
Gear controller
Front wheel brake cable
Gear control cable
Engine cable

43

Standard Components

Wheels: 47-622 black aluminum

Tires: Schwalbe
Basic -Road cruiser: The new profile offers good grip and quiet running.
700 x 40 (mm)

Seat: Selle Royal Look-in

Code: 5236HEC
Line: LOOKIN
Style: Relaxed
Price: 98 SEK
Length: 270
Width: 199
Structure: Elastomers
Weight: 755

Rear Hub: 7 Speed SRAM Spectro S7 with drum brake

optimal gear ratio for equalized steps between gears, smaller first gear for climbing
steeper hills with increased range (303%), better shifting performance into first gear.
Price: 600 SEK

44

Standard Components

Motor 36 V 10 A
EBM03(non-brush and non-gear)
Mini Motor Feature: Small, light, maintenance free.
Performance:
Voltage: 36V Rated Power: 150-500W
Rated Efficiency: 65%
Load Speed: 15-35km/h

Front Wheel Brake lever: Shimano BL-IM45 Brake Lever

Price: 200 SEK

45

Product Description

Using the battery

Inserting

1. Transport the battery to the bike,

handing it by its handle.

2. Position the battery perpendicularly to

the Top tube of the frame

3. Start inserting the battery maintaining

the perpendicular position to the frame

4. Continue inserting until the battery

touches the battery support.

5. Press until you hear a click. That

means that the battery is connected.

6. Hide the handle inside the battery.

47

Using the battery

Extracting

1. Press in the handle to extract it.

2. Grab the battery by the handle.

3. Start extracting the battery.

4. Extract the battery perpendicularly

to the frame.

5. Transport the battery handing it by

the handle.

48

Using the battery

Recharging
1.
2.
3.

Place the battery on a stable surface near an outlet.

Connect the cable provided to the battery as shown in the image.
Connect the cable to the outlet. After that, a red light will indicate that the
battery is charging. When the battery is full, the light will turn off. If the
battery is totally empty, the recharge of it will take around 5 hours.

49

Looking for a manufacturer

Taking a look at the brief (page 3) and analyzing the situation of the market, we conclude that
VOLVO would be interested in making our bike. These are some of the reasons that make us to
conclude this:

VOLVO is a Swedish brand that manufactures vehicles.

As we said in the brief, our bike must have a Swedish style and philosophy, like the
VOLVOs products have.

This brand could easily manufacture the bike because they have the technology and
resources to make it possible.

VOLVO is a brand interested in eco friendly vehicles and they are already manufacturing
some eco friendly cars, so producing this bike they will be seen as a brand that respect the
environment, improving their projected image to the customers.
The brand will be shown in the front of the bicycle as the picture below shows.

50

Eco Friendly Vehicle logotype

Ride
Volvo has recently developed eco friendly car models supported by the
logo Drive. These cars achieve emissions figures as low as 104g/km and
72mpg.
We have redesigned this logotype (Drive) that are used with the ecofriendly cars to be used on our electric bicycle. The new logo uses the
same typography and colors as the original, but uses the word Ride
instead of the word Drive. This logo will be seen in the front face of the
battery as the picture below shows.

51

Different versions
To expand the market of our e-bike, four different versions of the e-bike have been
developed. In this manner, potential customers may choose their favorite one.
Frame
Pantone 185
Direction Hub and Fork
Pantone Black

Saddle Support
Pantone Black

Fenders
Pantone Cool Gray 3

Frame
Pantone 185
Saddle Support
Pantone Black

Direction Hub and Fork

Pantone Black

Fenders
Pantone Cool Gray 3

52

Different versions
Frame
Pantone 185
Direction Hub and Fork
Pantone Black

Saddle Support
Pantone Black

Fenders
Pantone Cool Gray 3

Frame
Pantone 165
Saddle Support
Pantone Black

Direction Hub and Fork

Pantone Black

Fenders
Pantone Cool Gray 3
53