More and more people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and live more sustainably, a factor that is increasing demand for electric transportation alternatives. In recent times, a remarkable variety of possibilities has emerged in the field of urban mobility whose objective is to combine comfort and commitment to the environment.
Among these options are electric motorcycles as particular as the Stilride 1, a proposal developed by the Swedish firm of the same name (but without the number 1). In addition to contributing to the reduction of emissions in cities, the creators have intended that this vehicle can almost be considered a small work of industrial art.
The first thing to note is that the bike is built on a curved stainless steel monocoque structure. For its preparation, a steel folding process has been used that the company calls StilFold and which is inspired by Japanese origami (a technique used to make figures or objects by successively folding sheets of paper).
In fact, one of the goals has been to design an origami-style steel vehicle that resembles an elegant swan gliding on water. These Swedish innovators unveiled the idea at the end of 2020, when their concept version saw the light of day. In March of last year, the company showed a real prototype, also expressing its intention that the vehicle would become a production model.
Now, the time has come to reveal the final version and make its details public. The motorcycle weighs 130 kg (including the battery) and is powered by an 8 kW electric motor installed on the rear wheel. Said motor offers a maximum torque of 280 Nm and can take the vehicle to reach a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
Its integrated 5.1 kWh battery is capable of providing a maximum range of approximately 120 km and requires about four hours to fully recharge. The electric motorcycle’s steel frame is combined with a front inverted fork, a single-shock rear suspension and an adjustable suspension-equipped rider seat.
The vehicle also features a digital display, an eVCU electrical control unit and offers connectivity options through the dedicated Stilcontrol mobile application. This will display information such as battery status or geographic positioning, among other parameters, and will enable an anti-theft system to be activated.
As the Swedish firm has announced, each copy will be manufactured individually and will be made to order in its Stockholm workshop. Its price will be 15,000 euros and deliveries will begin during the spring of 2024.
The first units will be part of a limited edition, will have additional equipment and will be numbered to add more exclusivity. If you are interested in knowing in more detail how the chassis of the Stilride 1 is built according to its origami inspiration, you can take a look at the video that accompanies this article.
