MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Smart Eco Bikes

One-line solution summary:

The transportation ®evolution

Pitch your solution.

Transition islands to electric vehicles powered by renewable energy.
Solar-powered electric bike that charges in motion.
Make islands fossil fuel-free

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

Measures aimed at sustainable mobility are usually focused on cities, where mobility follows an essentially recurring pattern linked to reasons such as work and study. However, in island environments, where ecotourism is a predominant component, mobility is different. Therefore, the approach to sustainable mobility has to be different.

Ecotourism is an important profitable driver for island economies. Energy supply, critical for the tourism business, is still dictated by oil products which rises islands’ vulnerability to the environmental impact of fossil-fuel consumption, as well as to oil price volatility, which makes it challenging for the industry to remain competitive.

To help build resilience against climate change, Smart Eco Bikes aims to demonstrate ways of transitioning to low carbon and climate-resilient pathway in the islands.

Finally, it should be noted that some places on the islands are especially attractive because they are located in enclaves with difficult access by car, generating mobility problems to the detriment of tourism. Therefore, the development of a solar electric bike could constitute a solution to promote sustainable tourism in island environments.

What is your solution?

We came up with the idea of a solar bike, and we started with rotating solar cells that were put on vertical axis wind turbines to make them more efficient.

We start with any standard bicycle, and you can work with any type of bicycle on the market today. You can make it brand new, or you can take an existing bike and go from there so our technologies and the solar cell and what's most important about this the patents that allow the solar cell to rotate.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Smart Eco Bike encourages brand-new ways to think about sustainable transportation in islands. If solar-powered bikes became a trend in small island commuting. CO2 levels in islands would decrease, and fewer traffic jams from a heavy use of cars coming and going will also make small islands an eco-friendly place to live.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Other

Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.

Accelerate the transition of island economies from fossil fuels to solar renewable energy resources and energy efficiency measures. Help islands to reduce their heavy dependence on fossil fuels while decreasing the cost of electricity for consumers through optimising the mix of conventional generation, renewable energy, and battery storage in a safe and reliable manner.

Thus, an unprecedented opportunity to protect our planet’s fragile environment exists for companies that can create electricity through renewable resources.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Honolulu, Hawái, EE. UU.

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Pilot: An organization deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community.

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.

A pilot program has been carried out to test the untested dynamics of solar bikes. The main objectives have been:

Understand our solution value proposition.
Analyze and get to know our target audience to initiate the right product updates and marketing messages.
Choose key performance indicators (KPIs) to track our solution’s progress.
Monitor spending habits and limit overheads.
Environmental Safeguards Specialist

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

William "Bill" Lee