Electric BMW Halbo Saves The Planet But Not You

Designed for the BMW Motorrad Innovation Contest, the Halbo turns saving the planet into an extreme sport.

Conceived by designer Pierre Yohanes Lubis, the electric bike is much more planet friendly than say a petro-based vehicle. But, if the concept were to become popular it’s just unsafe enough to thin the herd.

The Halbo takes up about half the space of a conventional motorbike, according to the designer. Its front wheel is standard, gyro-assisted, and even propels the vehicle. The rear “wheel,” which is spherical and attached to a mounted arm, pivots from side-to-side for balance…and just a little less death.

You’re a tricky one, Pierre!

Source: Yanko Design

About Jerry James Stone

Jerry is a web developer, part-time blogger and a full-time environmentalist. His crusade for all things eco started twenty years ago when he ditched his meat-and-potatoes upbringing for something more vegetarian-shaped.

He currently works at Care2 and also blogs over at Treehugger. His passions include green tech, eco politics and smart green design. And while he doesn't own a car anymore, he loves to write about those too.

Jerry studied at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. During his time there he was a DJ at the campus station KCPR and he also wrote for the campus paper.

Jerry currently resides in San Francisco, CA with his cat Lola.

You can stalk him on Twitter @jerryjamesstone.

Comments

  1. Kate says:

    I agree. It is cool looking… but yeah it looks like it would be scary…

  2. Kate says:

    I agree. It is cool looking… but yeah it looks like it would be scary…

  3. I don’t understand. Are you saying this prototype is just as unsafe as all motorcycles and its popularity would bring up death rates? Or are you saying that it is more unsafe than a conventional motorcycle. A couple of more paragraphs on this wouldn’t have hurt.

  4. I don’t understand. Are you saying this prototype is just as unsafe as all motorcycles and its popularity would bring up death rates? Or are you saying that it is more unsafe than a conventional motorcycle. A couple of more paragraphs on this wouldn’t have hurt.

  5. Jeremy says:

    Which tire has brakes? If it the front your weight is to far front to avoid constantly planting your face on ground, if it is in back not enough weight to stop in less than a mile.

    • Ty says:

      That isn’t True. Otherwise a standard bicycle would also immediately endo when the front brakes are applied. They do not. Even at a high rate of speed.

  6. Jeremy says:

    Which tire has brakes? If it the front your weight is to far front to avoid constantly planting your face on ground, if it is in back not enough weight to stop in less than a mile.

  7. Photon says:

    Looks interesting!

    I would like to see a video of this on a high speed maneuvering…

    and yes.. brakes!!!

  8. Photon says:

    Looks interesting!

    I would like to see a video of this on a high speed maneuvering…

    and yes.. brakes!!!

  9. Lishster says:

    This may not be that unsafe. This bike’s second wheel looks so small that the overall design actually looks more like a unicycle. Unicycle mountain biking (yes, there are some people who really do this) is in some ways safer than mountain biking. Because a unicycler doesn’t have handlebars in their way, they won’t get mangled by their own bike if they crash. On a unicycle, if you lose your balanace, you just hop off. The reason this motorized bike might be scary, is the same reason small cars are sometimes scary: people in big ones might not see you.

  10. Lishster says:

    This may not be that unsafe. This bike’s second wheel looks so small that the overall design actually looks more like a unicycle. Unicycle mountain biking (yes, there are some people who really do this) is in some ways safer than mountain biking. Because a unicycler doesn’t have handlebars in their way, they won’t get mangled by their own bike if they crash. On a unicycle, if you lose your balanace, you just hop off. The reason this motorized bike might be scary, is the same reason small cars are sometimes scary: people in big ones might not see you.

  11. Erik says:

    Would that design even be all that fuel efficient? A lightweight support beam and an additional tire don’t add a lot of weight.

  12. Erik says:

    Would that design even be all that fuel efficient? A lightweight support beam and an additional tire don’t add a lot of weight.

  13. anuj says:

    hi Jerry James Stone nice update and your bike is to good and join me on digg and chat to me anu.yadav@sify.com ok and agian nice

  14. anuj says:

    hi Jerry James Stone nice update and your bike is to good and join me on digg and chat to me anu.yadav@sify.com ok and agian nice

  15. Bob says:

    Don’t anyone say “that it looks as if a little rear ending could be a lot of fun”.

  16. Bob says:

    Don’t anyone say “that it looks as if a little rear ending could be a lot of fun”.

  17. shelley rock says:

    Wow…very cool idea, but seriously looks very unsafe. I would hope it would be tested much more.

  18. shelley rock says:

    Wow…very cool idea, but seriously looks very unsafe. I would hope it would be tested much more.

  19. Ahmet says:

    Hi,

    I ride an electric scooter to work and I bought mine from http://www.elecbikeco.com I absolutely love it… once I get to work I recharge it and ride home.

    Thanks

    Ahmet

  20. Ahmet says:

    Hi,

    I ride an electric scooter to work and I bought mine from http://www.elecbikeco.com I absolutely love it… once I get to work I recharge it and ride home.

    Thanks

    Ahmet

  21. Kevin Xu says:

    yes I agree! its looking cool and beautiful and it will saved planet too, but maybe yes too to save you to the heaven. :(

    I thought the company must be kidding with the buyer life.

  22. Kevin Xu says:

    yes I agree! its looking cool and beautiful and it will saved planet too, but maybe yes too to save you to the heaven. :(

    I thought the company must be kidding with the buyer life.

  23. PonchoV says:

    Me thinks that some of yous have forgotten what this is all about. If you want safety they stay at home & read about someone elses life or death.

    Should anyone care to dare, then hop on board & learn the real handling of your life.

    We have limited time.

    Stop not putting yourself at the adventure level.

  24. PonchoV says:

    Me thinks that some of yous have forgotten what this is all about. If you want safety they stay at home & read about someone elses life or death.

    Should anyone care to dare, then hop on board & learn the real handling of your life.

    We have limited time.

    Stop not putting yourself at the adventure level.

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