Pump.

Punkt. aim is to develop a product that uses motorised assistance to make cycling more attractive. Prototypes of the three designs are displayed at Palazzo Litta. #MDW2017

RCA Londra, EB 01 handlebar detail for Punkt., 2017

The project has involved three top European design schools: the RCA in London, Lausanne’s ECAL and Design Academy Eindhoven. The brief was to create a product that enhances personal mobility in the urban environment by making electric-assisted cycling easier and more accessible. Visitors of the Salone del Mobile are invited to view the prototypes and vote for their favourite. Voting is via Instagram or Twitter, with the winning design being announced on the last day of the show.

London features a large number of co-working spaces; the EB 01 is designed as an extra service for these businesses to offer. Removing a saddle to prevent theft is normally a hassle; here it’s a handy way to bring the battery in for recharging. The integral navigation system helps non-Londoners find their way around.

Riding two-up is common in the Netherlands. Now thanks to Bike for two it’s also easy. The bench-seat takes a passenger, and the motor takes the strain. Concealed battery, built-in foot-rests. Robust side-stand, allowing the bike to function as instant street-furniture. The result: conviviality à go-go.

Design Academy Eindhoven, Bike for two for Punkt., 2017

Travelling in Lausanne means short distances but steep hills. This retro-fit motor e-CAL 1020 harvests downhill braking energy that would otherwise be wasted as heat, and stores it ready to send back to the wheel the moment it is needed. The further you are from the centre of the planet, the more energy you have available to you.