Swedish startup Stillride has developed a cutting-edge technology that uses recyclable steel to produce a lightweight and durable frame for electric scooters. The Stillride technology yields steel that is called industrial origami and is currently used in the production of the Stillride Sport Utility Scooter One (SUS1) that will grace the European market from autumn 2022.
Stillride is a Swedish design and technology startup that opened shop in 2019. It says the industrial origami method of producing the structure and chassis of electric scooters minimizes waste, reduces labor costs, and results in a less severe environmental impact. The company’s mission is to rethink how electric mobility products are manufactured using cutting-edge technology including robotics, design, and steelwork. The Stillride proprietary industrial origami method is called Stillfold and it involves using the origami technique to fold the recyclable steel to the form desired for an e-scooter.
The SUS1 is unlike a traditional e-scooter and it is constructed with folding sheets of stainless steel over curves. A tubular frame and plastic body are some of the core parts of a traditional scooter. The SUS1 is aesthetically neat, durable, and smooth, and much of its structure is created by robots. The SUS1 has a top speed of 100km/h (62mph) and a range of 119km (74 miles) on a single charge.
Stillride is planning to fine-tune its technology and scale up the production of the SUS1 while also creating the template for other e-scooter models. It is working on a production process that allows the steel sheets to be flat-packed and transported to other plants across Europe for folding and fitting with the necessary hub motor and battery packs. No pricing details are available for the SUS1 at this time but the prospects of the Stillfold technology are great.
