Finally someone has come up with a concept for an electric motorcycle that
actually looks bad ass. Check out the BOLT from Springtime in Netherlands.
I could easily imagine kids of tomorrow zooming around on bikes like this.
Through the years Springtime have designed and developed quite a selection
of cool stuff on wheels and on their blog they bombard the world with
their personal – sometimes odd – favourites in automotive design on a daily
basis. Sustainable mobility has always been one of their key specialties.
Recently one of their designers, Niels Caris, gained an even
keener interest in motorbikes (got the license, bought the wheels) and started
looking out for both established designs and inspiring concepts in the
motorcycle industry.
“My goal was to create a contemporary electric bike in a cross-over class
that allowed me to freely incorporate style cues I love from different
segments. Applying the bison-like posture of the amazing Yamaha MT-01 felt like
a fitting way to combine raw performance looks with a streetfighter attitude as
seen in Ducati and KTM bikes.
In addition to this, the more refined, polished features reminiscent of a
sports tourer help create an overall more sophisticated image that fits the
technologically advanced character of an electric vehicle.”
Creating an electric bike allows you to reconsider the order and proportions
of volumes in the product. The absence of a fuel tank and combustion
engine pave the way for a new visual archetype (obviously you’ll get an
electric motor and battery in return). The challenge here is to retain a visual
reference to performance bikes.
The BOLT design concept consists of a modular trellis / cast aluminium
frame, fibre glass body paneling and features a single-sided rear suspension
and upside-down front shocks. Sufficient braking power is obtained by large
dual 380 mm discs and radial caliper brakes. The bike is powered by a set of
two electric motors positioned as low and centered in the bike as possible,
putting out a total of around 80 kW and above all an amazing amount of torque,
which is of course typical for electric propulsion. A heavy duty
lithium-polymer battery pack supplies the motors with energy. A clear digital
display lodged in the volume where normally the fuel tank would be, informs the
rider about basic stats like trip info and battery stamina. An oversized tail
light ensures proper visibility.
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