Students of Novosibirsk State Technical University (NETI) are working on the creation of an electric bike with an increased power reserve that is comfortable for long-distance travel. The project is being implemented on the basis of the Center for Student Project Activities of NST-NETI in cooperation with the Novosibirsk State University of Architecture, Design and Arts named after A.D. Kryachkov.
"I am involved in a project to improve the electric bike. In particular, we are upgrading the design and increasing the power reserve to expand tourist opportunities. Using a capacious battery will allow you to travel long distances: on such a bike, you can go to Tomsk and back on a single charge, which is enough for 500 km. Our prototype has 26-inch wheels. Thanks to this solution, using a fork and a frame designed for 27.5 inches, we lift the body of the bike, which will avoid unnecessary bumps with the battery pack on curbs or roots with stumps. It is planned to install a battery that provides protection from cold and shock in the lower block of the electric bike. In the middle zone, there is an on—board computer, where there will be all the chips and controllers that provide data on battery charge, travel speed, and mileage. In the upper block, there is a screen and a small pouch for necessary items. We are working on improvements—we want to make a comfortable trunk and a front wing that embodies the concept of a tent: a rigid structure and bags on the sides where you can put things for travel, for expeditions," said Ilya Terentyev, one of the developers and, a student of the Faculty of Physics and Technology of NSTU- NETI.
"In this seemingly simple and understandable object, it was necessary to arrange the components of the product not only according to the logic of operation, but also based on ergonomics, distances and sizes. The girths of the handlebars, the distance from the seat to the steering wheel, and many other important positions that improve the comfort of sitting and moving a person. Additional elements and functions, such as a water bottle and a rear seat, became a special task. It was necessary not only to calculate and design the main part of the bike so that it harmoniously accepts additional functionality (mounting elements), but also to avoid blocking the execution of basic scenarios with additional functions and design these elements so that they fit well with the main product, complement it, and improve the overall appearance. The design of the casings was also an important point. In such products, it is important to consider the biomechanics of human movement so that the object does not injure a person and does not contribute to the development of parasitic (harmful to the body) behaviors. The consumer will see the frame with the casing 99% of the time; therefore, it was necessary to provide for the overall esthetics. The team's decision was to use references to Soviet design and to consider the latest fashion trends in design. The tasks of shaping included, thus, not only the search for the conceptual placement of components inside the casings, but also the stylization of the shape, the search for the right lines, bends, and angles, so that the overall appearance approached the desired prototypes of the image and inspired users with a confident, reliable appearance," comments a participant in the joint project, a student of the direction "industrial design" NGUADI named after A.D. Kryachkov Alexey Matveev.
Almost all electric bicycles on the market are created on the basis of foreign projects and components and are either fully manufactured in foreign countries, or assembled from kits imported from those countries. As a result, the presented models do not meet the full range of climatic and functional needs of Russian consumers.
"We are assembling a domestic electric bike, which, we really hope, will not "stall" in the cold, will reach where it is not necessary, will not break. We focus on domestic production. When developing the design, we relied on the domestic school of technical esthetics and, looked at the works of Soviet—era motorcycles," Ilya Terentyev notes.
According to the developer, thanks to the modular design, the user can choose the configuration (model) of his bike himself—for the city, long-distance trip, and travel. The design provides for creating a cargo variant. The reworking process is as follows: the fork is removed, the bicycle base is extended with the help of complete parts, and a new steering gear is designed to maintain the cyclist's position without forcing him to bend. This format makes it possible to transport goods and is suitable for research expeditions. The modular design of the electric bike allows you to flexibly adjust the design and characteristics of the vehicle to meet the requirements of the end user.
The plans include work on the trunk and wing, which will be convenient for cyclists, and continued work on the design and electronic components.