Industrial designer Fabian Breës has come up with an e-bike concept which would allow for different drive wheels and batteries to be employed at different times. He also said that he wanted his Pelikan design to show off the electronic elements of the bike instead of concealing them, as is the current trend.
“As technology grows smaller and smaller, it seems that e-bikes are trying very hard to hide the fact that they are electric,” writes Breës on Behance. “New and clever ways are devised to integrate batteries and motors into the tubing, making the e-bike seem like a regular bicycle.
“The aim of this project is not to criticise that movement, but I had to explore the exact opposite direction. E-bikes are their own vehicle category. They might as well look unique.
“That sentiment was the basis for this project: a unique bicycle with a sculpted body somewhere between motorcycle and bicycle. Instead of hiding all electronic elements I wanted to use the battery and the motor as visual centrepieces for the bike.”
As with all these concept bikes, the Pelikan frame eschews conventional form. In this case the bulk of it is a curving piece running from the head tube into the chainstays. Breës says he allowed himself to use tubes of different sizes so he could emphasise different elements.
The bike would support two types of battery: a smaller, “elegant” pack for commuters, and a larger one for covering longer distances.
The no-expense-spared philosophy extends to the rear wheel motor too, where the standard 25km/h rear wheel can be taken off and replaced with the ‘Speedelec Drive Wheel’ – a heavier hub drive with its own additional internal battery that would be intended for speeds of up to 60km/h.
Breës is now exploring whether his design could be converted into a mountain bike by swapping out the rear triangle with suspension.
