Eco Factor: Renewable energy generating bicycle design.
Bikes are the greenest way to commute from one place to another. Being zero-emission and a healthy way to commute won’t be the only characteristics of biking in the future, when designers like Ben Lai are there to get more from the innocent two-wheelers. Ben is the designer of the most futuristic and green bike that we’ve seen so far. E.H.I.T.S, or Energy Harvesting Intermode Transport System, is what he likes to call his bike, which by all means is no less than a portable powerhouse.
The high-tech bike comes with features like an integrated RFID card reader to activate the bicycle lock and embedded GPS for better security. But what makes this bike the greenest is its ability to generate renewable electricity in not one but two forms. The hub-less wheels of the bike carry an incorporated wind turbine, that generates green electricity not only when the bike is moving, but also when it’s stationary.
Apart from wind energy, the bike’s body is embedded with solar panels, which too like the wind turbine work all through the day. All the energy generated is stored in a battery pack installed near the pedals of the bike.
The Dark Side:
With all those tech-innovations in place, the bike is set to cost much more than your normal green ride. Moreover, the addition of all those features will make the bike heavy, something which you don’t want during a long ride.
