Source: press release Bio-Hybrid | Update: The start-up Bio-Hybrid had to file for insolvency in April 2021, the search for investors was unsuccessful. The start-up has been dissolved in the commercial register in mid-July.
Since October, the four-wheeled Pedelecs from Schaeffler Bio‑Hybrid GmbH have undergone application tests on Germany’s cycle paths and roads. The prototypes, which feature all the functions of the vehicles that will go into series production at the end of 2020, were put to the test in everyday life situations. The primary focus of the test drives was on demonstrating which of the different Use Cases are conceivable with the Passenger and Cargo version of the Bio‑Hybrid in the city and on campus grounds and what advantages the new mobility concept offers.
Sustainable campus mobility needs clean mobility solutions
Mobility experts and companies are currently working hard on making campuses fit for a cleaner future. In this, smart, effective and, above all, sustainable solutions take center stage. The application tests also focus on the topic of getting around a campus. More than 80 employees recently tested the Bio‑Hybrid prototypes in a variety of situations on the 40-hectare corporate campus in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region. The tests ranged from in-house logistics, factory safety, catering management to the transport of various materials. For this, the Passenger and Cargo versions were used. “Due to its flexible platform, we regard the Bio‑Hybrid as an equally versatile and sustainable solution for numerous Use Cases on our campus premises,” said the company’s site manager.
Bypassing traffic jams with the Bio‑Hybrid
It is difficult to maneuver a bulky delivery van through heavy city traffic and almost impossible to find a legal parking spot. With the nimble Bio‑Hybrid, couriers can bypass a traffic jam by using bike paths and stop directly in front of the door. Christian Hollweck, the owner of the boutique baby store “Rasselfisch” in Munich, is a perfect example: “With the Bio‑Hybrid, it would be totally realistic to deliver within a ten kilometer radius easily and cost-effectively. Thanks to the closed box, even bulky parcels like child seats and strollers can be delivered safely to customers,” says the businessman. Moreover, as a clean mobility solution, the Bio‑Hybrid fits perfectly with the ecological philosophy of the shop, with many customers travelling on the subway and leaving their cars at home.
The advantages of the Bio‑Hybrid are also evident when it comes to less bulky packages: for instance, when a courier effortlessly maneuvers the pick-up version of the Bio‑Hybrid through the streets of Munich to drop off salads of a health-food delivery service. The loading space can easily hold two thermoboxes.
In light of the successful tests with the prototypes, Gerald Vollnhals, Managing Director of Schaeffler Bio‑Hybrid GmbH, draws a positive conclusion: “We’ve demonstrated that the Bio‑Hybrid in the Passenger version and particularly the Cargo version can be used for a wide range of applications. Our goal is to appeal to a broad group of consumers.”
Video campaign features application trials
The video campaign “We move…” puts Use Cases in the limelight: from couriers through the state capital and around the Munich Werksviertel through to test runs in the heart of Frankfurt am Main. A trailer gives the green light for the storytelling campaign over several months. “With the ‘Bio‑Hybrid Stories’ we intend to give an emotional boost to the brand and shine a light on the vehicle. The advantages of the Bio‑Hybrid are told authentically and honestly, with the focus of the stories on everyday situations,” says Jakub Fukacz, Director Marketing and Communications at Schaeffler Bio‑Hybrid GmbH. The individual stories will follow in 2020.
About Schaeffler Bio‑Hybrid GmbH
Schaeffler Bio‑Hybrid GmbH headquartered in Nuremberg is a fully owned subsidiary of the Schaeffler Group. As a pioneer in the field of electric mobility, Schaeffler presented the Bio‑Hybrid product category as a vision for private transportation in urban areas as early as in 2016. This vision is now becoming reality. Schaeffler Bio‑Hybrid GmbH has the mission to develop the Bio‑Hybrid to production level and to launch the vehicle on the market. While operating with the flexibility of a startup, the company has access to the entire technical expertise of the Schaeffler Group.
About Schaeffler
The Schaeffler Group is a leading global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors. Its portfolio includes high-precision components and systems for engine, transmission, and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The Schaeffler Group is already shaping “Mobility for tomorrow” to a significant degree with innovative and sustainable technologies for electric mobility, digitalization, and Industry 4.0. The technology company generated sales of approximately EUR 14.24 billion in 2018. With around 89,000 employees, Schaeffler is one of the world’s largest family companies and, with approximately 170 locations in over 50 countries, has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities, and sales companies. With more than 2,400 patent applications in 2018, Schaeffler is Germany’s second most innovative company according to the DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office).
Photos / Infographics: Schaeffler Bio‑Hybrid GmbH
