Selle Royal has teamed up with BMW Group subsidiary Designworks to develop a saddle specifically designed for the needs of e-mobility. The result of this collaboration is eZone, a saddle with a unique gesture that improves e-bike safety, comfort and riding performance. To pinpoint the specific performance characteristics that could be improved with an innovative e-bike saddle design, the two companies conducted the first comprehensive study of e-bike users
Unique design requirements for e-bike mobility.
Until recently there were no studies available on the particular usage characteristics of an e-bike and how these affect saddle comfort and support. Consequently, up until now saddles marketed specifically for e-bikes have essentially been slight variations of traditional bicycle saddles. Selle Royal set out to fill this market gap and just released eZone, a saddle specifically designed for modern commuter, leisure, touring, off road and urban e-bikes.
Marketing manager Lara Cunico said: “The big discovery of our research conducted with Designworks is that the characteristics of e-bikes are in many ways distinctly different to those of non-electric bikes. This led us to re-think our product in its entirety. We pushed the realms of expertise in the industry to develop a completely new type of saddle, different from any other product on the market. eZone is the outcome of an amazing project… and this is just the beginning.”
Zonal design for comfort and safety.
E-bike users experience a different kind of compressive force when quickly accelerating, shifting abruptly to a higher gear or breaking to avoid collision. In fact, road safety studies have shown that slipping off of ‘flat’ traditional saddles is the number one cause of e-bike accidents. ´Enhancing confidence and therefore freedom during the ride` were also two of the main desires that crystallized during the consumer research process. To enhance the rider’s security, confidence, comfort and performance in any situation, the design team introduced the concept of the ‘comfort atlas’.
It defines zones that speak to the different requirements of e-bike users, adding safety during acceleration and stopping as well as enhanced control and balance during the ride. The ‘comfort atlas’ also led to the innovative shape of the e-bike saddle: The rear zone of the saddle was raised to prevent backward sliding and a shorter nose was introduced to make mounting easier. Wings were added with which the rider can steer and adapt thrust with precision. An integrated fiberglass handle allows for easy maneuvering. The saddle is padded with a tridimensional gel structure that reduces pressure peaks by up to 40%.
With its innovative design, Selle Royal´s new e-bike saddle is a perfect complement to the all-new BMW Active Hybrid e-Bike, the latest addition to the bike collection of BMW Lifestyle for which Designworks is also the design partner. Thanks to the integrated Brose electric engine featuring a power of 250 W, torque of 90 Nm and capacity of 504 Wh, the e-bike is extremely dynamic and agile.
Selle Royal´s eZone will be available for purchase from October 2017 at selleroyal.com and through Selle Royal’s selected retailers.
The new BMW e-bike will be available as of September 2017 online at www.bmw-shop.de or at selected BMW retailers.
In the event of inquiries, please contact:
Birgit Pucklitzsch, Manager Communications
Designworks, A BMW Group Company
Tel: +49-151-6052-4026, Fax: +49-89-548-49399
E-mail: birgit.pucklitzsch@bmwgroupdesignworks.com
Internet: www.bmwgroupdesignworks.com
Dr. Gesa Prüne, Spokesperson BMW Lifestyle
BMW Group Innovation and Design Communications
Telephone: +49 89 382 940 81
E-mail: gesa.pruene@bmw.de
Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com
Designworks, A BMW Group Company
Designworks is a BMW Group company and a creative consultancy that’s been driving innovation for more than forty years. Acquired by BMW Group in 1995, Designworks enables its parent company as well as internationally-renowned clients outside the automotive industry to grow their businesses through design and creative consulting services. With studios in Los Angeles, Munich and Shanghai and with clients including BMW, MINI, Rolls Royce, HP, Microsoft, Corsair, Coca Cola, Embraer, Neil Pryde, Siemens Trains and Singapore Airlines, Designworks is deeply immersed in a broad cross-section of industries.
Selle Royal
Selle Royal has been a world-leading bicycle saddle brand for over 50 years. Its history is one of innovation built on research, technology, and advanced design. Selle Royal exports to more than 70 countries worldwide and is the choice of many prestigious bicycle manufacturers. Its saddles have won numerous design awards and are today the subject of scientific research in the bio-engineering laboratories of major European universities.
www.selleroyal.com
