This Sleek Urban Bike Is Made Entirely From Recycled Plastic
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
There have been numerous attempts to create an all-plastic bike. However, most have never made it past the prototype stage. Igus, a Germany-based manufacturer of high-performance plastics, and Dutch start-up MTRL aim to change that with the igus:bike — the world's first urban bike crafted almost entirely from recycled polymer.
Igus CEO Frank Blasé first got the idea while vacationing on a Florida beach in 2009. A conversation with employees at a rental company made him aware of the challenges of maintaining beach bicycles. The continuous exposure to sand, wind, and salt water caused the bikes to rust rapidly. Many had to be replaced in as little as three months.
The igus:bike, unveiled at a German trade show on May 31, 2022, is maintenance and rust-free. It can be left outdoors in all weather and does not require lubricant oil to reduce friction between parts. Since it does not attract sand, dust, or dirt the bike can be cleaned with a garden hose in seconds.
"As all components are made of plastic, no part of the bike rusts, even the gears – bicycle gears made of plastic were unthinkable for a long time," Blasé said.
The igus:bike will also help alleviate the world's plastic pollution woes. The company says a single adult bike gives new life to about 35 pounds (16 kilograms) of single-use plastic that would otherwise clog our landfills or waterways. For example, the first prototypes were made of material from old fishing nets.
Currently, 90 percent of the igus:bike is made using plastic. This includes the bicycle's sturdy but lightweight frame, bearings, pedals, and wheel rims. Igus and MTRL believe future versions will be made entirely from plastic.
"From ocean plastics to motion plastics — the igus:bike concept has what it takes to become a high-tech ecological product," says MTRL co-founder Benjamin Alderse Baas.
The plastic bikes are expected to come to market in early 2023. An adult model, made entirely from recycled plastic, will cost about €1400 ($1430). A slightly cheaper version, made using new plastic, and an electric bike are also in the works. Igus also plans on sharing its technology with other bicycle manufacturers. "We want to enable the bicycle industry to produce plastic bikes," says Blasé
Resources: New Atlas.com,bikeradar.com, igus.com,
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
72 Comments
- smiles897about 2 yearsFinally a job for Mark Rober. He's a famous Youtuber.
- 123bentleyabout 2 years#Team trees
- 123bentleyabout 2 yearsgood thinking igus
- 123bentleyabout 2 yearspeople think plastic is trash when it is used,but look what it can become
- idolcreatureabout 2 yearsCheesy, but agreeable. Plastic in general has been causing a lot of environmental problems, so recycing on a larger scale like this would be a huge turning point both in environmentalism and general production.
- khococatabout 2 yearsThat’s pretty interesting how they could make a bicycle out of plastic!
- adroit_avimimusabout 2 yearsI know right!
- mastermonkeyabout 2 yearsnice
- gukijujimepuabout 2 yearsgood
- kirathegirlabout 2 yearsThis is really cool plastic bike! I wish I could ride it...but I have my own that I like.
- idolcreatureabout 2 yearsHonestly though, the way it's designed is so cool-looking.
- 123bentleyabout 2 yearsme too
- adroit_avimimusabout 2 yearsI know how to ride a bike but I actually don't own one lol how ironic is that, but I would really like to ride this one!
- aub12about 2 yearsthis is super cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- legendgliderabout 2 yearsthat bike would be weak. I got a BMX from mongoose. Talk about helping the earth, man!
- adroit_avimimusabout 2 yearsI mean, it's just for casual rides throughout the day, not actual extreme activities and such. And nice
- drago0627about 2 yearswhy it cost so much?? the plastic they use to make it probably cost less than ht ebike
- greengirrafe214about 2 yearsAt least you're re-using the plastic!
- adroit_avimimusabout 2 yearsI guess the time and effort to manipulate the plastic to be what they want it to be is already a high price for it.
- readinglog_loveabout 2 yearsThis is a great way to reuse!
- adroit_avimimusabout 2 yearsAgreed!