bicycle

FranceCol’s Frugal Innovation – A Wheel Drive Built To Travel 100 kms In A Single Charge Is Winner Of France’s Creativenext India Contest

~ Venkata Gandikota

Just came across this on google news feed that FranceCol, a French startup, was named the winner of the Embassy of France and its international business development agency, Business France India’s Creative Next India competition.

FranceCol has developed an embedded wheel motor, which allows the electrification of any bicycle, motorcycle or wheel chair, without any structural modification.

Source: https://twitter.com/FranceCol_India/status/748516606376968193

According to the report on the French Embassy in India:

This cost effective solution for urban mobility converts mechanical energy to electrical energy and is poised to revolutionize transportation in India. It is environment friendly, durable and presents a perfect solution to using public transport in the cities as well as in rural India. The battery operated bicycle is built to travel 100 kms in a single charge and is ideally adapted to young Indians who do not want to depend on public transport, and would like to commute efficiently and at a reasonable cost.

Buzzbike London Wants To Save The World Via Bicycle Advertising

~ Venkata Gandikota

Article on BBC notes that Buzzbike, a startup in London, wants to encourage people to bike more in a way to ease traffic congestion in the city as well as leading to healthier lifestyles and avoiding pollution.

“Here’s how it works: Buzzbike provides free use of a bicycle to London cyclists in exchange for the right to use said bike as a rolling advertising platform. Programme applicants put down a £100 deposit — which is refundable upon the safe return of the bike at the end of a 1- or 2-year agreement. The agreement includes a committment to ride the bike to work at least 12 days each month and park on the street…”