Izhar Gafni, an Israeli engineer had a dream to create a vehicle that could provide cheap, fuel efficient transport to millions of people around the world. His search led him to develop a bicycle made from recycled cardboard.
The bike uses just $9 worth of recycled materials, it is strengthened by multiple folds to the cardboard to the point that it can bear the weight of a 220kg person, and is coated with a resin which provides resistance to water and fire.
ERB, the financial company in charge of the commercial development of the bike, has predicted the retail price of the unit to be around $60-90. They are currently in discussions with private investors to try and bring three models to market by next year. The three models will include a 9kg adult's bike, a smaller kid's version weighing just 3.5kg, and then a balance bike for learners.
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The lifespan of each bike has not officially been stated, but Gafni believes that they will survive at least two rainy winters.
Shigeru Tanaka, the Director of Engineering at the product design and development firm Speck Design, has suggested that the genius of the cardboard bike is not the fact that it could provide green transport to millions around the world, but rather in the thought process and creativity behind the idea, which could now be transferred to other industries for future innovation.
Tanaka said that, "Gafni embarked on his own journey to create his cardboard product, challenging conventional ideas around materials, transportation and engineering."
By. Joao Peixe of Oilprice.com
Joao is a writer for Oilprice.com More