eZIN Development of a future electrical bicycle for the ageing population CHRISTOS SAPLACHIDIS EMIL YXHAGE Master of Science Thesis in the Master Degree Program, Industrial Design Engineering SUPERVISOR : DAVID LAMM, MIKAEL SUNDGREN EXAMINER: ULRIKE RAHE CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Department of Product- and Production Development Gothenburg, Sweden 2015 Division of Design & Human Factors eZIN Development of a future electrical bicycle for the aging population Master of Science Thesis PPUX05 eZIN Master of Science Thesis in the Master Degree Program, Industrial Design Engineering © CHRISTOS SAPLACHIDIS, EMIL YXHAGE Chalmers University of Technology SE-412 96 Goteborg, Sweden Telephone +46(0) 31-772 1000 Cover photo: Computer generated image of final concept Print: Repro Service Chalmers CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Department of Product- and Production Development Gothenburg, Sweden 2015 Division of Design & Human Factors Abstract A rather important trend for modern society is the fact that average life expectancy is increased with accelerated pace. Furthermore, the burden of lifetime illness is compressed into a shorter period before the time of a person's death, a statement known as compression of morbidity. As a result, people are capable of being more and more active for longer periods and older ages. Considering as well, the fact that most jobs currently, and most likely in the future, involve a lot of office work sitting still, the need for daily exercise becomes critical in many aspects, especially at older ages. Biking can bring these facts together since it can be easily integrated into everyday living as transportation mean. At older ages though, conventional bicycles can present usage requirements and side effects that will prevent people from using them. Electrically assisted bicycles, known as Pedelecs, can help overcome a significant amount of negative side effects of conventional bicycle riding and result in more frequent bicycle use either that is for commuting or leisure purposes. The purpose of this thesis work will be to examine the market and the older aged group specific needs and present a Pedelec design that will attract them into bicycle riding. By doing so, people in specific, and societies in general will benefit from an improved well-being. The project followed a model called the Vision in Product design or, ViP. The model is especially good for a future context with an existing product, which is the case of the project at hand. The model consists of two phases, the deconstruction of the existing situation and then the construction of the future situation. The deconstruction phase is about analyzing and breaking down the existing product qualities, product interaction and context. In this phase a significant amount of information was gathered on technology, manufacturing, rules and regulations, infrastructure and of course the target group. In the construction phase, what is to be offered was thoroughly defined before developing the product. Additional research was made to fill the gap of future technology as the ideation of solutions was made. The visual expression of the Pedelec was an important part of the bicycle's design . The expression was defined, the form generative process was conducted and after a series of evaluations and iterations the final design was decided. The final product compensates for many of the age related impairments, beside the obvious physical ones, that the ageing demographic is experiencing today by heightening their situational awareness. The design of the bike has an inviting expression by being exciting, simple and capable. Most of the technology is integrated in the frame and is not visible, making the product less complex visually, something that was considered a big concern of the target group. Preface This report presents a Master’s thesis project of 30 ECTS for the Master’s program in Industrial Design Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. The project was carried out from January 2015 to June 2015. Examiner Ulrike Rahe, Professor Industrial Design Engineering Master’s program at Chalmers University of Technology Supervisor David Lamm, Product designer, MSc in Industrial design engineering, BOID AB Mikael Sundgren, Product designer, MSc in Industrial design engineering, BOID AB Project team Christos Saplachidis (left) and Emil Yxhage (right), Master's students in Industrial Design Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology. Acknowledgements Specific events and people within different areas helped in the realization of the current project. And while we do consider ourselves lucky, being able to initiate the project, we would also like to acknowledge our specific gratitude to a number of people that made it possible and contributed in many diverse ways to its completion. First of all we would like to thank our examiner Ulrike, who believed in us and gave us the necessary momentum to initiate the project. Our supervisors David and Mikael for their help in overcoming difficulties by providing creative feedback in many troubling stages. Also, we would like to thank professor Oskar Rexfelt for his guidance through the complex maze of effective user interviews and data evaluation , Alexandros Nikitas for his thoughtful insights and Ralf Rosenberg for his input and his characteristic positive attitude. There are people outside the academic environment that we also feel grateful to Ulrik Bengtsson, Product manager and Christer Almqvist Design engineer, both from Cycleurope AB, for providing crucial industry experience regarding many areas of the project. Finally, we would like to thank all the wonderful people from Allegården for altering our daily routine in the most beautiful way and of course for their intuitive given feedback. Table of contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project aim ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Project goal ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Delimitations ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.5 Project and report outline ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.6 Execution and methods .............................................................................................................................................. 5 1.6.1 Deconstruction phase ........................................................................................................................................ 5 1.6.2 Construction phase ............................................................................................................................................. 6 2 Prestudy ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Bicycle background ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Electric bicycle background ................................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Pedelec background .................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 Definition and EU regulations ............................................................................................................................... 14 2.5 Trends and statistics ................................................................................................................................................. 15 2.6 Electrical bicycle use in the world ....................................................................................................................... 16 2.7 Numbers and trends in Europe ............................................................................................................................ 16 2.8 Numbers and trends in Sweden ........................................................................................................................... 16 2.9 Target group related ................................................................................................................................................. 17 2.10 Sustainability........................................................................................................................................................... 18 3 Existing product .................................................................................................................................................................. 19 3.1 Comparison of products .........................................................................................................................................