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BMW and Shanghai university design elevated highways for e-bikes

BMW’s Group Technology Office in Shanghai has worked with Shanghai’s Tongji University to design a network of elevated highways for electrically powered bicycles.

The concept is part of the Munich-based carmaker’s Number One > Next strategy, which is more about floating ideas than it is about definite building projects. In this case, the concept is for highways that would be used for electric-powered cycles or e-bikes.

BMW says the modular highways would be elevated above the road network and would provide "a fast, direct link between key traffic hubs". 

The title of the project, the "Vision E³ Way", is a reference to the fact that it is elevated, electric and efficient.

BMW says that ramps and sluice systems would connect Vision E³ Way to the regular road network, underground stations, other traffic hubs and shopping malls.

The highway would have a maximum high speed of 25kmh, lowering the risk of accidents. It would also be covered to shelter riders from rain and heat. A cooling system with purified rainwater would be used to reduce temperatures and clean the road surface at night.

Traffic flow would be optimised by automated video surveillance systems and artificial intelligence. 

Images courtesy of BMW

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Comments

  1. Ahead of the UK by Km/2

  2. Sounds a good idea but given that the intention is to provide covered tracks with rudimentary cooling and cleaning systems. At first glance I feel that neither cost benifit analysis nor significant improvement in air quality would be significantly positive. Rider safty and comfort may not be a significant plus to the general tax payers.

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