BASF, a German-based chemical giant, rebuilt one of the first pedal-powered cycle in history, using modern materials and an electric drive. The company sees this project as an invitation to to customers to join them in developing new applications and product ideas for advanced plastics.
The dandy horse, also called Draisienne or laufmaschine, was the first human means of transport to use only two wheels in tandem and was invented by the German Baron Karl von Drais. It is regarded as the modern bicycle’s forerunner; Drais introduced it to the public in Mannheim in summer 1817 and in Paris in 1818. According to the company’s brochure, with its Concept 1865 BASF is taking a trip back into its own history—to the year 1865—when the Badische Anilin- & Soda-Fabrik (BASF) was founded and when Karl Drais’ wooden “Dandy horse” was given its first pedals.
The new bike—called the “Concept 1865”—is basically the answer to the question: How would the first pedal cycle have looked if the pioneers of the bike had had today’s advanced materials to work with? It was developed with the help from the DING3000 design studio. Concept 1865 with an electric drive is made almost entirely of modern BASF plastics. Only the brake, axles and motor are still made of metal.
The crank directly drives the front wheel (39″) which, in order to improve the transmission ratio, is much larger than the rear wheel (24″). The chain, sprockets and coaster brake are entirely omitted. Concept 1865 features such details as thin optical waveguides inlaid in the forks for the lights, softly sprung and at the same maintenance-free tires, and a detachable seat with an integrated battery.