Mobility is one of the biggest problems in today’s society. Congestion in cities not only has an impact on air quality, the consequences go far beyond that. Pollution, noise, energy inefficiency, increased accident rates and loss of time are just some of the effects of the current transport model. In this scenario, technology companies such as CIDAUT are being forced to look for alternatives that address the current mobility problem with a view to finding a solution.
CIDAUT, in its commitment to transforming society towards clean and environmentally friendly mobility models, is participating in the development of a bicycle partially powered by clean energy such as solar energy, through panels integrated into the structure of the bicycle. With a proven energy saving of 30% compared to the same model of bicycle but without photovoltaic panels, the solar bicycle developed by IFEVS together with CIDAUT, allows to obtain up to 10 kilometres of extra range per day, in favourable conditions, simply by riding on a sunny day.
The bicycle incorporates an accessory, which integrates photovoltaic cells, that is able to collect solar energy to feed the battery which, thanks to a motor, moves the bicycle, helping the natural pedalling. In addition, the panels act as a roof, protecting the cyclist from inclement weather.
This solution, together with solar cars, constitutes a different, non-polluting mobility alternative, key to achieving the goal of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, agreed by all EU member states in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, approved in 2016.
The development and exploitation of the bicycle both are part of the European project URBANE (GA No. 101069782), an initiative funded by the European Commission that aims to drive the way towards a more efficient, resilient and sustainable last mile mobility through four Living Labs in Valladolid (Spain), Helsinki (Finland), Bologna (Italy) and Thessaloniki (Greece).