Swedish startup Stillride has developed a cutting-edge technology that uses recyclable steel to produce a lightweight and durable frame for electric scooters. The Stillride technology yields steel that is called industrial origami and is currently used in the production of the Stillride Sport Utility Scooter One (SUS1) that will grace the European market from autumn 2022.
Stillride is a Swedish design and
technology startup that opened shop in 2019. It says the industrial origami
method of producing the structure and chassis of electric scooters minimizes
waste, reduces labor costs, and results in a less severe environmental impact.
The company’s mission is to rethink how electric mobility products are
manufactured using cutting-edge technology including robotics, design, and
steelwork. The Stillride proprietary industrial origami method is called
Stillfold and it involves using the origami technique to fold the recyclable
steel to the form desired for an e-scooter.
The SUS1 is unlike a traditional e-scooter
and it is constructed with folding sheets of stainless steel over curves. A
tubular frame and plastic body are some of the core parts of a traditional
scooter. The SUS1 is aesthetically neat, durable, and smooth, and much of its
structure is created by robots. The SUS1 has a top speed of 100 km/h and
a range of 119 km on a single charge. Stillride is planning to
fine-tune its technology and scale up the production of the SUS1 while also
creating the template for other e-scooter models. It is working on a production
process that allows the steel sheets to be flat-packed and transported to other
plants across Europe for folding and fitting with the necessary hub motor and
battery packs. No pricing details are available for the SUS1 at this time but
the prospects of the Stillfold technology are great.