Written on December 8, 2008 – 7:25 am | by Maria Mihale |


More and more eco-friendly vehicles make their appearance for some time now. It’s a good thing that people started to think about the environment, rather than giving their best to destroying every chance that we’ve all been given in order to spend a healthy life. The solution is in our hands, as a matter of fact.

People in my town were “threatened” some time ago with closing main streets, due to an overwhelming traffic that made (and still does) the center some kind of a labyrinth that you can get out of under no circumstances. A crowded place stuffed with angry individuals, brought to the highest level of despair in just a couple of minutes, and all sorts of vehicles, some of them driven by those angry people, some of them abandoned in the middle of the street, is far from being what is supposed to: the most important tourist point of the city.



Biking is a perfect solution, as far as I’m concerned. It gives you the chance to exercise a little bit, taking care of your physical shape, but it is also a good way for you to become conscious about the environmental issues the world is now facing.

Grasshopper is a foldable electric powered bicycle that can be used by anyone. Not to mention the fact that it folds up into a compact size (it turns into a trolley for easy storage and transport), being perfect for those who don’t have enough space to store it. The best thing about it is the fact that this bike is different from any other vehicle you’ve ever seen, as it doesn’t use energy, like other similar bikes, but it actually generates energy. The surplus can be used for other purposes.



The bicycle is made of composite materials which make it not only rigid, but also very strong and resistant to all sorts of shocks. The design is aimed at satisfying people who love to bicycle on a regular basis and confront harsh natural conditions, due to the severe configuration of the terrain. Therefore, the target market consists of active people who live their lives in urban centers , always concerned about the environment and health. The Grasshopper is provided with a regenerative braking that helps the battery to charge. In addition, the bike can easily be converted into a stationary exercise bike.

The electric powered bicycle was created by designer David Miguel Moreira Gonçalves (if the name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe the Scarab Electric Concept does), who decided to enter his product in the 12th International Bicycle Design Competition, 2008, where he won a Merit Prize.

(Source: Dvice)