At the
Eurobike trade show, motion plastics manufacturer
igus presented an electric version of the igus:bike for the first time, responding to the growing demand for low-maintenance e-mobility in cities. Like the original igus:bike, it consists of 50% recycled fishing nets and offers people the opportunity to combine environmental protection and low-maintenance urban mobility.
More and more people are moving away from using cars in cities, opting for bicycles to get from A to B faster.
Dave Spence, industry manager for bicycle components at igus in Northampton said: “With the electric version of our igus:bike, we are giving a clear solution to increasing demand."
The new e-bike is 50% plastic, from the bike frame and wheels to the seat post and handlebars. Metal is only used where it is still technically necessary, such as the suspension fork, brake discs and brake cables. The igus e-bike is designed for city traffic, currently single-speed, it weighs around 20 kg and has a battery range of up to 120km. Volume production will start in the third quarter of 2026, and a non-electric variant with eight-speed hub gears is also in development.
According to the environmental organization WWF, around a third of the world's plastic waste in the oceans consists of fishing gear such as nets and ropes. To reduce this, igus is working with a Belgian partner on the production of the igus:bike. They collect discarded nets from fishing boats near the coast, clean them and process them into a plastic powder.
Mr Spence said: "Our materials scientists have managed to ensure that 50% of the plastic for bicycle frames can be made of this recycled material. For production, igus uses a special process to produce seamless and tough hollow components, refining it to such an extent that a higher stiffness of the frame is now possible. This allowed us to reduce the wall thicknesses and make the frame design much slimmer."
Components such as the chain, seat post, spokes and welds on a traditional frame would rust, resulting in cyclists having to clean and maintain them regularly or even replace them completely. With high-quality bicycles or e-bikes, this can soon become too costly. "The igus:bike, on the other hand, is almost maintenance-free," emphasises Spence. This tried and tested model can withstand rain without corroding and does not require any maintenance at the bearing points thanks to igus lubrication-free plain bearings.