This unusual contraption is an electric scooter that was presented for the Lucky Strike J.
Designer Award Italy, one of the most prestigious design awards for students and graduates.
It’s called the “½ Equino” and reached the finals with an honorary mention.
It was presented by Marcello Pirovano from the Milan Polytechnic University, and is a scooter designed to recharge while riding it like a bicycle.
This makes it a kind of assisted bike, and the ½ Equino (half horse) stores energy, maintaining the energy reserves at a constant level.
The riding mechanism works when the riding stands up on the pedals, weighing down the rear suspension in brief stints of one to two minutes.
The energy produced in this way is collected by a generator that transforms it for battery use.
The ½ Equino project has been created to make urban transport more sustainable and environmentally friendy, while also participating in “scooter sharing” programs, much like the bicycle sharing that already occurs in Milan.
This could broaden the ecological transport options available in cities.
The front handle bar area reflects a horse shape, while the scooter takes on the look of a bicycle.
The battery and motor are contained in an enclosed plastic box at the front of the scooter and the whole has a kind of “bio-mechanics” look, with a nod of recognition to Buell for the air-box style.