melting pot of experience build the trefecta electric bicycle

melting pot of experience build the trefecta electric bicycle
all images courtesy of trefecta

two years ago, a team of experienced professionals from automotive and aerospace engineering got together to have developed an electric bike with a unique range of distinct components. the end result called the ‘trefecta’, set a standard in electric bicycles world wide. it comes in two flexible versions; – off roader ’DRT’ and ‘URB’ for urban use. both are equipped with a 4kW motor powered by a 60 volt battery pack, the electric bike has a range of 100 km on different terrains and is recharged within three hours. the pedal system measures the force the rider put into it and electric moto helps accordingly, reaching speeds of 70 km/h.

regenerative brake system charges the battery when stopping or going downhill

to control torque levels, ‘trefecta’ integrates 14 speed gearbox for better control and a natural ride. it has active suspension controlled through the handlebars to soften or harden the ride on demand and also includes a regenerative brake system that charges the battery when stoping or going down hill. the integrated display gives users all the information needed whilst the iPhone adds extra features like sensitivity of throttle, navigation and additional system information. the ‘trefecta’ drive train is machined from 7075 high grade aluminum blocks and rides on six spoke carbon fiber wheels. the whole bicycle can fold up into a flight case that fits easily in the back of a car.

designboom caught up with founder haiko visser about the idea behind of ‘trefecta’, his influences and interests.

designboom: what originally made you want to create the ’trefecta’?

haiko visser: having discovered the ebike as a mode of transport and recreation that I learned to love I was nonetheless disappointed with what was available on the market. this was basically what started my quest in search of the ultimate ebike. such a bike as I imagined simply was not available, nothing even close. this motivated me turn my dream into reality and directly led to the creation of the trefecta DRT and URB ebikes.

trefecta can reach a top speed of 70 km/h

DB: what particular aspects of your background and upbringing have shaped the design principles and philosophies?

HV: my father was a collector and appreciated engineering, quality design and functionality above all else; this he also installed in his children. my own background working for MOWAG, a small high tech swiss engineering company active in the defence sector with specialist wheeled armoured vehicles. this gave me insight into what a soldier might need as well as a real appreciation of swiss precision engineering. these two factors helped define the trefecta.

DB: who / what has been the biggest influence for the bike?

HV: the biggest influence on the design of the trefecta was the military daily use requirement as a starting point. this lead to a much higher load case which existing bikes simply could not deal with.

six spoke carbon fibre wheels can hold loads up to 150 kg

DB: overall, what would you say is your design’s strongest asset and how have you developed that skill over time?

HV: the designs strongest asset would be its multi-functionality! it is a case of more is ultimately less. the idea being that all the technology works in the background and you can ride the Trefecta just like an ordinary bicycle.

DB: now that computer generated visualizations are so commonplace, is there still a place for physical model making or sketching designs by hand?

HV: absolutely, every design starts with a sketch before becoming a 3D design. models are also very important in the design process. in our case we went straight to working with machined aluminium and went through several design evolutions before achieving the final design from a functional perspective. the trefecta was very much a form follows function exoskeleton approach to achieving our wide range of requirements.

60 volt smart battery pack that is rechargeable in three hours

DB: how – and to what extent – do other creative fields influence your industrial design work?

HV: naturally, we are all creatures of our time and influenced by all that we see. nonetheless, it was our goal to start with a clean sheet approach with out of the box thinking. achieved in part by using aircraft structural principals in design coupled with an automotive standard can-bus based proprietary electronic system.

DB: what are you currently interested in and how is it feeding into your designs?

HV: urban transport in general is undergone a slow but sure revolution aided by electric propulsion. I find a lot of inspiration in looking at daily city life.

DB: which engineers or designers working today do you most admire?

HV: steve jobs and jonny ive as well as norbert haller our industrial designer responsible for the final design of the trefecta as well as the bauhaus revival that is shaping much of modern design.

equipped with a 4kW engine