The developer of e-motorcycles created using an "origami" folding method that allows robots to fold sheets of steel to make the chassis has revealed they will make their tech commercially available starting in 2023.
Taking a process similar to origami, the ancient Japanese art of folding paper into shapes, Stilride has created an e-bike made from green steel. Credit: Stilride
Stilride has announced the creation of a new parent company, Stilfold, that will sell its tech to designers, architects, manufacturers and engineers, allowing them access to specially-designed robot arms that fold steel sheets into desired shapes along curves.
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Inspired by the ancient Japanese art of origami - folding paper into shapes - the founders, Tue Beijer and Jonas Nyvang, started the company in 2019 with a dream of creating greener electric mobility.
Due to the process only using a single sheet of steel, the variables of which are determined beforehand using simulation tech, the entire process has been designed to reduce material waste and emissions during production.
The SUS1, the firm's first design for its e-bikes, uses 70% fewer components, drives a 25% reduction in labour costs, and sees a 20% reduction in material use when compared to a traditional scooter.
Reduced materials and standardised use of steel also mean around 50% fewer emissions during production. The steel sheets themselves are flat-packed and shipped to small, local workshops for folding, typically as close to consumers as possible.
Manufacturing currently accounts for roughly 12% of global emissions, and with industrial waste also being a pressing issue, technologies like this could be critical to a more sustainable future. Steel accounts for 8% of total carbon emissions.
Stilride founders Tue Beijer and Jonas Nyvang. Credit: Stilride
Once green steel, which is made without using coal-fired plants, therefore becoming nearly emission-free, becomes more commercially available, tech like this could reduce emissions to almost zero.
The tech is already beginning to see use in the creation of electric vehicles, which suggests it could help make urban mobility even greener.
The rollout was reportedly due to "unprecedented demand" for its origami technology, resulting in the team "bringing forward" the date for commercial release, which is currently penned in for 2023.
While currently only used in creating the e-bikes, the company states the tech's potential applications are "diverse" and will soon expand into creating cargo bikes and trailers.
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Stilride told Industry Europe the tech could be used to create buildings, kitchen appliances, storage spaces, and much more.
Its founders referred to it as "the intersection of technology, electromobility, manufacturing and design", and the firm wants each sector to become more sustainable without skimping on craftsmanship.
“We always envisioned separating the Stilfold and Stilride brands to differentiate our products from the technology itself. But we didn’t imagine we’d be in a position to make this move so early on in our journey", according to co-founder Jonas Nyvang.
"We’re immensely excited to be able to affect this change, as it signals a new phase for the business where we can finally share our technology with industry players and kickstart the ‘green steel’ revolution.
“We are extremely passionate about electromobility. But early on we knew the potential for this technology to go beyond just EVs. Using Stilfold, manufacturers across all industries can minimise resource consumption and waste, cut labour costs and ultimately reduce the environmental impact of production: which is a key mission for everyone in the industry in the midst of the climate crisis," he added.
In addition to its planned uses, the team also conducted a case study on redesigning the Golden Bridge, or Guldbron, in Stockholm, which can be viewed here.
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While nothing is set in stone, the firm calculated the production of the bridge using its tech could "reduce its carbon footprint by 60%, make it lighter and more durable", preventing "nine million kilograms of emissions entering the atmosphere".
The "controversial" bridge was shipped from China when it was constructed in 2020, reportedly producing enough emissions to cover 3000 transatlantic flights.
Stilride hopes its first range of origami e-bikes could hit showrooms by Autumn of this year.
In total, the firm has raised around £3.7 million (€4.34 million) during its initial funding waves.
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