Cool Design: Wireless Electric Bike

According to its developer, Daymak Inc., the Shadow Ebike — purportedly the world’s first wireless electric bicycle — will be available for purchase on April 30, 2011.

The Ebike uses the frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology (ISM wireless frequency) to connect several applications on the bike, such as braking and throttling. The bike also has an integrated battery and motor powered by Daymak’s proprietary drive technology.

With world-wide problems such as automobile traffic congestion and related greenhouse gas emissions, Daymak believes that bicycle demand will continue to see a high level of growth.  Daymak claims that the market for ebikes is growing rapidly, with current global production at about 27 million units and which is expected to grow to 40 million units in 2011.

“This product is ‘green’ and, as gas prices continue to rise, it makes for a great affordable alternative to gas driven vehicles,” said Yeg Baiocchi, Daymak’s president and CEO.

What I find interesting is how the power and device connections on consumer products seem to increasingly follow the lead of automation infrastructure design. The ability to deploy common platforms and similar devices for a multitude of purposes across numerous applications could spark a renaissance of sorts in system and product design. After all, with so many different types of engineers and designers now using similar tools, the potential for a grand cross-pollination of ideas seems to be a real possibility that is now very much in reach. All that’s needed is the spark of a good idea to set the right minds in action. The Shadow Ebike is merely an early entry that demonstrates what’s possible with a fairly simple idea.

You can learn more about the bike in my video blog below…