Swytch Foincsean Bunasach: Sèata Tionndaidh Baidhsagal Dealain by Swytch Technology Ltd

Swytch Foincsean Bunasach: Sèata Tionndaidh Baidhsagal Dealain by Swytch Technology Ltd is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Duais Iarainn A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Charbadan, Gluasadachd agus Còmhdhail Competition Category.

IarannCarbad· 2023

Swytch Foincsean Bunasach: Sèata Tionndaidh Baidhsagal Dealain

by Swytch Technology Ltd

Client: Swytch Technology Ltd

Duais Iarainn A' Design Award Winner in Carbad Category

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The Design

About Swytch Foincsean Bunasach: Sèata Tionndaidh Baidhsagal Dealain

Teacsa an Leabhair: Is e sèata tionndaidh a th' ann an Swytch a thionndaidheas baidhsagal àbhaisteach gu baidhsagal dealain. Tha an sèata a' toirt a-steach cuibhle motair aghaidh, mothachair pheadal, greim air an handlebar, agus bataraidh de mheud pòcaid ris an canar am Power Pack, a tha coltach ri meud fòn-làimhe mòr. Tha an siostam air a chuideachadh le peadaladh, mar sin thathar a' toirt cumhachd seachad fhad 's a bhios am marcaiche a' peadaladh. Thathar a' tabhann dà Power Pack, le rainse de 15 cilemeatair no 30 cilemeatair. Chan eil feum air eòlas teicnigeach airson an sèata a chur an sàs. Leigidh an sèata le baidhsagal a th' ann mar-thà a bhith air ath-chleachdadh an àite a bhith air a chur an àite ùr, rud a lùghdaicheas sgudal.

The Recognition

About the Duais Iarainn A' Design Award

Tha Swytch Foincsean Bunasach: Sèata Tionndaidh Baidhsagal Dealain air Duais Iarainn A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean math a choinnicheas ris na riatanasan proifeiseanta is gnìomhachais a thathar a' sùileachadh bho chruthachaidhean a chaidh an dealbhadh gu math. Tha buannaichean Iarainn a' nochdadh sgil mhòr, speisealachadh àrd, tuigse eòlaiche agus comas cruthachail an luchd-cruthachaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Swytch Foincsean Bunasach: Sèata Tionndaidh Baidhsagal Dealain na chruthachadh air a bheil mòran meas, ion-mholta agus gràdhach a tha practaigeach agus ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Iarainn A' Design Award a' cur nan cleachdaidhean as fheàrr sa ghnìomhachas còmhla agus tha feartan teignigeach comasach aige ceangailte ri eòlas-dèanamh agus tàlant. Tha meas air Swytch Foincsean Bunasach: Sèata Tionndaidh Baidhsagal Dealain airson a dhùrachd agus chaidh a dhealbhadh gus leasachaidhean càileachd beatha a thoirt seachad a chuidicheas le bhith a' dèanamh an t-saoghail na àite nas fheàrr.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Swytch eBike conversion kit features a pocket-sized battery (the Power Pack) which is similar in size to a large smartphone. The Swytch Kit enables customers to upcycle their existing bike, making it electric and reducing waste. Electric assist unlocks extra range and provides convenience to traveling which allows people to use their bicycle as a primary mode of transport. Anyone can turn any bike electric with the Swytch Kit, no matter their technical experience.
Dimensions & Packaging: The powerful hub motor provides 250W of power. There are two Power Packs available with a range of 15km (Air) or 30km (Max). The Air Power Pack weighs as little as 700g while the Max Power Pack is only 1100g. The Air can be recharged in around 1 hour, the Max takes around 2.5 hours. The Air Power Pack's dimensions are 212mm X 100mm X 25mm. The Max Power Pack's dimensions are 228mm X 100mm X 35.5mm. Both Power Packs are available in multiple different colourways.
Tags: ebike, bike, bicycle, electric bike, electric bicycle, light electric vehicle, electric vehicle
Production Technology: A regular bicycle produces emissions of over 200kg of co2 during the manufacturing process, and larger, heavier electric bicycles are almost twice as pollutive. A Swytch Kit takes just 50kg of co2 to manufacture, meaning that the environmental impact is eight times lower compared to most complete electric bicycles.
Design Challenge: There are two Power Packs available with either 15km (Air) or 30km (Max) range. The width and length of the two Power Packs are different, however their heights are identical to ensure that the handlebar battery mount fits both and they are interchangeable. The packs contain different cell types with different outer dimensions. The challenge was to find a design language which can be scaled in any dimension to account for the differences in the cell sizes, without disrupting the overall aesthetics. Applying a subtle pattern on the sides of the Power Packs created a uniform design language which tied together the product series, despite the slight difference in shape and size.
Research: During the development of the Swytch Kit, the design team conducted extensive user research to explore how the users would assemble the Kit onto a bike, and how they would interact with the product. As the Swytch Kit is installed onto their existing bike by the customers, the design team conducted three different types of user testing. The first test was without any guidelines, to see how the users fit the fully disassembled kit onto the bike, without any instructions. The second test included a partially fitted kit. During the third round of tests, the users received a one-page instruction manual. All tests were recorded and summarized. The design team made changes to the design based on these results, including making the handlebar battery mount more user-friendly through interaction and mechanism improvements. Once these changes had been made, the user testing was continued to ensure that the design team was able to receive immediate feedback.
Inspiration: At Swytch, we are changing the way people move. We fundamentally believe that sustainable transport should not cost the Earth, so we have made it our mission to make electric transport accessible to everybody.
Swytch believes that eBikes should be lightweight, affordable and work like a regular bike, whilst having electric functionality. Studies show (and our customers tell us) that people with eBikes cycle considerably more than the average regular bicycle owner, increasing exercise rates and improving health. The Swytch Kit allows anyone to upcycle any bike, turning it into a powerful electric bike for use on all terrains and in any weather.
Project Duration: The project started in 2020 and ended in 2022. The design team was based in Swytch's London headquarters during the development.
Operation Flow: The Swytch Kit is pedal-assist, meaning that it provides power as you pedal. The pedal sensor (placed next to the bike’s cranks) detects when you are pedalling, and the motor controller (contained inside the handlebar battery mount) draws power from the pocket-sized Power Pack and powers the 250W front motor wheel. So, how do you Swytch your bike?
First, simply swap in the front motor wheel (built to fit your bike, and included in the Swytch Kit). Next, attach the pedal sensor and the handlebar battery mount, and finally clip on your Power Pack. That is it - your bike has been Swytched electric and will now give you 250W power for up to 30km. Once fitted, to get started simply clip in the Power Pack and start pedalling - the system detects your cadence and sends power to the front wheel, boosting your ride.
Team Members: Murray Allen
Lee Beale
James Cromarty
Louis de la Croix
Andy Durnan
Rebecca Fairchild
Helen Inman
Max Keizer
Dmitro Khroma
Oliver Montague
Delia Parrinello
Iola Ryland
Alex Salmon
Sohail Shahzad
Joshua Stone
Grace Tribe
Tamas Turi
Image Credits: Ardeshir Abdolrahimi