Project Overview
Fold up and store your electric bike safely inside. Unclip the battery and charge at home, the office or on the go. Designed by world class engineers to fit all the technology and power needed into a small, lightweight and portable package; this is the new Brompton Electric Bike.
Organisation
Team
Brompton Bicycle Ltd
Williams Advanced Engineering
Project Brief
The first Brompton folding bike made waves when it was designed and built back in 1975 by company founder Andrew Ritchie. Fast forward to 2017, and the London-based brand has done it again with the first compact electric model. Aptly named Brompton Electric, the bicycle is not merely a sleek e-version of the popular folding bike, it was designed from the ground up to create an entirely new bicycle.
The Electric features an innovative motor that’s unlike anything else Brompton has produced before. To create the bespoke unit Williams Advanced Engineering of the Williams Group, owner of Williams Martini Racing Formula One team, was brought in to the project. And the result? A high-tech 250W front hub motor which integrates racing technology in its design to provide superior performance.
Project Innovation/Need
Weighing 16 kg, the e-bike comes with a removable 2.8 kg battery which you can easily stow away in a bag. On a full charge, the battery and motor provide assistance for up to 50 miles, and cyclists can also choose between three power assistance levels. Or select zero assistance. Lightweight and as easy to fold away as the original, the new Brompton Electric may just be the ideal companion on daily city commutes.
Design Challenge
The bike looks strikingly similar to the model many are familiar with: the low centre of gravity, the chunky, hand-welded tubes, the 16-inch wheels and long front stem assembly are all present and correct. It’s only when you take a closer look that you spot the tell-tale visual differences: a motor hub on the front wheel; extra cables protruding from the frame; and, of course, the battery: a two-kilo lump concealed in a stylish rucksack-style pack that’s latched above the front wheel where the luggage block usually sits.
Product Design - Sport - Active Life
This award celebrates creative and innovative design for either a component or overall product. Consideration given to aspects that relate to human usage, aesthetics, selection of components and materials, and the resolution of assembly, manufacturing and the overall function.
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