Japanese Researchers Develop Inflatable Electric Bike, Fit for a Backpack

Researchers in Japan have developed a new twist on the electric bike that's small enough to carry in a backpack. Called Poimo, the e-bike was developed by a team at the University of Tokyo, who were interested in more efficient ways to handle short and medium distance transportation, Daily Mail reports.

They decided to focus on a design for a collapsible, lightweight e-bike that people could carry with them on public transportation and use for what they call 'one-mile mobility.' This could include traveling to locations that aren't close to public transportation routes or moving between neighborhoods that don't have any direct bus or train connections.

Poimo is built around an inflatable rectangular fabric frame made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fabric, and comes with a small electric pump that can fully inflate the frame in around a minute, Daily Mail adds.

The total unit weights around 12 pounds (5 kilograms), but the team says they're working to make the bike even lighter in the future.

The team hope with continued development, they can make it even lighter, sturdier, and more ergonomic, making it a commercial product.

University of Tokyo

Poimo

electric bike

inflatable electric bike

polyurethane fabric

electric pump