NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - Another Biking Innovation for the Base of the Pyramid - Comments

basic physics?

Jonathan Talbot — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:24:40 -0400

I think this is a fascinating concept - but wonder how much additional energy provided by the rider goes into running the filtration system? How much more does someone have to eat to provide that additional energy towards filtration? I can imagine that somehow using the energy to be lost as heat when braking might be put to good use driving filtration, similar to the way in which regenerative braking on the Toyota Prius charges its battery. As it is now, I can't see this is being any more effective than setting it up as a stationary bike and considering the effort to filter water as distinct from that to ride. And who wants to climb with that much extra weight?

Another Biking Innovation for the Base of the Pyramid

Derek Newberry — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:56:41 -0400

File this under the eye-catching-BoP-design category and add it to the list of fascinating cycle innovations intended to meet multiple needs for the poor - in this case, the challenges of water filtration and transportation.

The product is called the Aquaduct, a tricycle designed by a team of five at IDEO that stores water in a twenty gallon tank in the back of the bike's wide, blue frame. As the user travels back home, the energy they expend pedaling is used to filter the water into a removable two gallon tank that rests in front of the handlebars.

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