Design and fabrication of foldable electric bicycle

Abstract Sustainable and flexible modes of transportation are gaining popularity these days, primarily due to their economic and environmental benefits. It has changed the prime focus of automakers towards electric vehicles. Today, cycling has become a common mode of short-distance travel, mainly due to its health benefits and flexibility. But they are not easy to carry around. Thus, incorporating a folding mechanism to the current design can improve its portability. Also, the integration of an electrical motor further enhances the cycling experience in a rugged environment. This paper describes the process of design, development, and fabrication of a foldable electric bicycle from an ordinary bicycle. The process of designing and fabrication involves the design and manufacture of folding and locking mechanisms. The fabricated model is tested under various terrains and loads. Similarly, the BLDC motor is tested under different conditions, recording motor characteristics. It was found that bicycle conversion is much more feasible than fabricating the whole cycle.