Greek Engineer Invents 4-Wheeled Electric Bicycle “For Cleaner Cities”

A Greek engineer in the northern city of Kozani built a four-wheeled electric bicycle to help the environment and make Greek cities “greener and cleaner.”

52-year-old Dimitris Gloumpos said that he created his electric bicycle during the long period of the coronavirus lockdown.

It is believed that this is the first completed 4-wheeled electric bicycle made in Greece.

Speaking to the Athens News Agency (AMNA), Gloumpos, who works as a part-time electrician-engineer at the University of Western Macedonia, said that “Bike -1” was built during the second and third lockdown period in Greece.

He added his technological creation is part of the effort “for cleaner green cities and citizens’ healthy living.“

Εlectric bicycle has seven speeds

Bike -1 operates with a lithium battery which charges with the same process used by electric vehicles — or alternatively, with continuous pedaling by the cyclist. The battery has an autonomy of 1 hour.

It can transport belongings weighing up to 30 kg (66 pounds) in a special space behind the seat.

The length of the four-wheel electric bicycle is 1.8 meters (6 feet), its width is 0.90 meters ( 3 feet) and its height is 1.47 meters (4.8 feet). It weighs about 120 kg (265 pounds).

The four-wheeled bicycle has seven speeds, four-wheel drive system, digital navigation for city traffic, bicycle handlebar, electric lighting systems, mirrors — and even speakers for music.

Gloumpos said that he wanted to build a bicycle that could offer the green footprint to the city.

“Due to its altitude and spatial peculiarity, Kozani is a city difficult to use a simple bicycle in, and I wanted with my special construction to alleviate this difficulty,” the Greek engineer said.

Greek electric bicycle inspired by couriers

He added that he was inspired by couriers who are constantly exposed to rain, wind and snowy weather.

“So I thought that my electric bicycle should be four-wheeled with a protective cage where the rider will be able to move safely in the city carrying even small objects,” he says.

Gloumpos, a father of two, stressed that the whole the construction took place during the quarantine and that due to lack of auxiliary space the construction of the bicycle parts was done on the terrace and in the living room of his own home.

“With the help of my children and my wife, we pushed the living room furniture into a corner and their place was taken by the bike -1 parts, its creator said.

The Greek engineer noted that he has not decided yet what he would like to do with his Bike-1 in the future.

For the time being he is considering some improvements in reducing the weight of the bike so that the user saves more time when driving in the city.

Source: AMNA