Imagine a bicycle that could help cut down on air pollution and cleanse the atmosphere as you ride it along the busy streets. Well, it could become a reality.
Researchers in Bangkok, Thailand, have created an environment-friendly bicycle, dubbed the Air Purifier Bike, which as the name suggests will cleanse the polluted air as you ride it.
The "photosynthesis bike" is the brainchild of Bangkok's Lightfog Creative & Design Company and currently is limited to being a concept and does not even have a prototype. The air purifying bicycle is an electric one and will sport an aluminum frame and run on a "photosynthesis system," which will generate oxygen. The oxygen will be generated courtesy of a reaction between water and the electric power that will come via a lithium-ion battery.
Silawat Virakul, Torsakul Kosaikul, and Suvaroj Poosrivongvanid are the designers of the Air Purifier Bike. It comprises a photosynthesis system, an air filter which screens dust and pollutants from the air, an electric motor, as well as a battery.
"We want to design products which can reduce the air pollution in the city. So we decided to design a bike because we thought that bicycles are environmentally friendly vehicles for transportation," said creative director Silawat Virakul. "Riding a bicycle can reduce traffic jams in a city. Moreover, we wanted to add more value to a bicycle by adding its ability to reduce the pollution."
The bicycle, even though a concept, has been creating waves and even won an award in the 2014 Red Dot competition for design concept.
"While it is being ridden, air passes through the filter at the front of the bike, where it is cleaned before being released toward cyclist. The bike frame houses the photosynthesis system. When the bike is parked, the air-purifying functions can continue under battery power," notes Red Dot.
So the Air Purifier Bike not only purifies the air when it is being ridden but also when it is parked, which is a bonus. While no prototype exists as of now, the concept is a fantastic one and would surely have several takers. The electric bicycle would be eco-friendly in more ways than one, and help combat air pollution problems that are increasing day by day.
According to Lucintel, a consulting and market research firm, government initiatives to promote cycling which will aid in reducing carbon emissions and pollution is fast gathering momentum. The bicycle is not only an effective fitness activity, but since it is energy efficient it will give a fillip to the demand of Air Purifier Bikes if it bears fruition.
Urban dwellers are fast switching to bicycles for short-distance commuting thanks to the benefits of the transportation and if such a bicycle is developed, it would have several takers.
