by Georgie Ampudia
Thanks to German Inventor Karl von Drais’ first ever model of the bike – wooden wheels, a no-pedal push technique, and all – the originally named “swiftwalker” served as a catalyst for the development of modern bicycles, transforming transportation and shaping the way we move.
Early 1800’s “swiftwalker”.
The evolution of the bike since the 1800’s has adapted to fit our rapidly advancing standards of performance, comfort, design, and efficiency, through features like gears, brakes, lights, and seats. These advancements have revolutionized transportation and the way we navigate our world.
Now, as the looming issue of climate change is increasing in severity, the standards for bicycles have further evolved in response to address the urgent need for sustainable transportation. Advancing production and design of e-bikes prioritize eco-friendly transportation – meaning clean energy, reduced air pollution, energy-efficiency, sustainable materials, and more.
What are E-Bikes?
Electric bikes, or more popularly referred to as e-bikes, are bicycles equipped with an integrated electric motor and rechargeable battery system, offering various levels of assistance through pedaling.
E-Bike Benefits
When solar power is used to charge the electric bike’s batteries, the emissions are significantly reduced to almost zero, as pollutants are not emitted when in use. Users can also charge their bikes using solar panels directly, eliminating the dependency on an electrical grid (which relies on fossil fuels to furnish energy).
They also benefit our own personal health. Biking improves blood circulation, reduces cardiovascular issues, strengthens muscles, and contributes to a healthy body mass index. With cycling being a gentle-on-the-joint low-impact exercise, it caters to nearly all fitness levels and ages. Alongside physical benefits, biking is an effective way to improve mental health through reducing stress, as the exercise releases endorphins to boost mood and lower levels of anxiety.
E-Bikes in the Modern World
In our rapidly changing world, modern urban planning and infrastructure development are increasing networks of bike lanes to accommodate the growing number of cyclists.
According to a 2021 New York Times article, “adding bike lanes to urban streets can increase the number of cyclists across an entire city, not just on the streets with new bike lanes”, as concluded in a new study. A 2021 study found “in cities where bike infrastructure was added, cycling had increased up to 48 percent more than in cities that did not add bike lanes”, concluding that adding bike lanes encourages more people to commute by bike, especially in highly populated, denser areas. With e-bike’s potential to transform urban transit, integrated bike lanes and bicycle-friendly infrastructure have become integral parts of sustainable urban planning, promoting safer and more convenient cycling experiences.
How Will teamMADE Implement E-Bikes Into the Project?
A highly anticipated solar-powered e-bike shed will be implemented as an addition to our teamMADE home. The shed will be completely unplugged and equipped with solar panels to generate clean and renewable energy.
Current stage of E-Bike construction as of May 2023.
Our team is currently working alongside outside partners to implement solar-powered electric bikes within our home. As we have freshly entered our construction stage, our solar bike shed’s steel skeleton has been almost completed, now awaiting stages of roof finalization and implementation of a patterned CNC cutout.