‘TUM NTU GlobalDrive Bike To Go’ makes electric mobility trendy

Created by a design teams from Nanyang Technological University and the Technological University of Munich, the GlobalDrive TUM-NTU Bike-To-Go aims to bring electrical mobility to the masses and help ease traffic congestion in the cities. Since biking has become the “in” thing with young urban city dwellers, the foldable electric bike design fits right in with the changing lifestyle and eco consciousness of the city youth who are more open about replacing gas guzzling motorcycles with more eco friendly and health friendly options like electric bikes.

As a mobility solution, the TUM-NTU GlobalDrive Bike-To-Go looks to complement public transport while allowing users to forgo their motorcycles or cars for a zero emissions bike that can be easily folded and carried aboard public transport like city buses and subways. Designed for easy handling as well as trendy style, the pedelec (pedal-plus-electric) bike is made to look, feel and drive like a regular bicycle though it comes with a clever folding mechanism as well as a supplementary electric motor that can provide extra boost when the biker doesn’t want to pedal, is going uphill or needs to travel farther.

The TUM-NTU GlobalDrive Bike-To-Go is propelled by a 250W built-in electric motor that powers the pedal and allows the vehicle to be classified as a normal bicycle which allows it to remain exempt from parking taxes for motorized bikes. The electric motor travels at top speeds of up to 25 km/h which keeps the biker safe and in control of the bike at all times. The bike weighs less than 15kgs and can be folded into a trolley-like structure that is compact and be stowed like a trolley.

The TUM-NTU GlobalDrive Bike-To-Go is also smartphone compatible with a dock for the iPhone allowing users to sync up the bike’s vital stats like recuperation rate and battery condition and also keep an eye on nearby parking spots, recommended routes and distance to their specified destination etc. The iPhone can also be used as a speedometer and a GPS navigator.

Thanks to a signature wave-like bodyline, the bike can be folded into a structure that resembles the form of the cobra. The tubular structure of the bike is fashioned out of carbon fiber and features desirable and trendy styling that can be customized by the user. The masculine silhouettes of the vehicle are derived from leading auto brands like BMW which enhance the ergonomics of the bike while giving it a distinct styling edge over rival e-bike brands.