Comments Off on CAKE expands operations in Germany
Local team and Berlin storefront to further propel the Swedish electric motorbike brand in the German capital.
LEVA-EU member CAKE, the Swedish maker of premium lightweight electric motorcycles, today announced that they are expanding their presence on the German market. A local sales team is already up and running in Berlin and a full-service CAKEsite is expected to open later this year – with a CAKE Pop-Up Store already serving local customers out of Berlin’s central Mitte district.
“Our physical presence around the world is expanding in line with our multi-city strategy, where we treat key cities as proper markets of their own. Berlin continues to be at the forefront of things to come, with the electrification of vehicle fleets being top of mind with politicians and citizens alike. Change is happening fast, with more companies and commuters realizing every day how CAKE motorbikes can make business better – or just turn commuting into something pleasant”, said Stefan Ytterborn, Founder and CEO of CAKE.
New fossil fuel vehicles banned by 2030 Like many major cities in Europe, Berlin is moving ahead quickly to combat the use of combustion engine vehicles in its city center. A petition to effectively ban cars from Berlin’s city center gathered more than 50,000 signatures earlier this year and is currently being reviewed by the state constitutional court. With more than 6 million residents calling the greater Berlin area their “Zuhause”, CAKE sees huge potential in the area. Already marketing the entire family of premium electric motorcycles and mopeds through their online store, many Berliners are already familiar with the CAKE brand. Current clients include last-mile delivery companies as well as commuters conscious of both their time and the environment.
Berliners are already demanding city streets free of polluting and noisy cars that clog up what little is left of available space. “We have a compelling offering of clean, electric motorbikes that caters both to occasional riders all the way to professional power users. We are definitely looking forward to making a difference in Berlin,” commented Nicole Nehrke, General Sales Manager Berlin, CAKE.
The CAKE Pop Up Store Berlin is now open and is located on Torstraße 101, 10119 Berlin.
With the new additions the force claims to be the most environmentally friendly in the country
Following an initial purchase of two electric motorcycles in 2019, the first purchase of its type in the country according to local government, the Poprad Police Force has now doubled the size of its electric fleet. Investment in such ecological vehicles helps to minimize the environmental impacts of policing operations.
Initially, electric motorcycles were purchased for female officers due to their smaller and lighter designs. Following resoundingly positive feedback, two larger electric motorcycles have now been purchased for their male counterparts. Of course, alongside environmental benefits, the new vehicles have lower operational costs, plus improved mobility compared to cars. The chief of police, Marián Gardoš shared, “Nowadays, bigger cities such as Poprad are plagued by traffic jams and, in many cases, this [motorcycle] is the means of transport with which we can get to the places where it is needed more easily.”
The city plans to further invest in electrical motorcycles in the near future.
Comments Off on Cake appoints Krister Thour as CTO
Ex CTO Northstar-SiteTel, advisor to Scania/Volvo and battery technologies and electrification specialist to lead the engineering team at Swedish maker of electric motorcycles
Cake, the Swedish maker of premium lightweight, electric motorcycles, today announced the appointment of Krister Thour, as Chief Technology Officer. Coming from a long entrepreneurial background in electrical engineering, Krister brings valuable experience and perspectives from within both technology and growing organizations.
“I have always chosen electrification over other opportunities. I’m excited about joining Cake, which allows me to both build new organizations, learn from skilled colleagues, and secure the handover to a sustainable production”, says Krister Thour, CTO at Cake.
“Engineering is where innovation comes to life. Krister will lead the very core of Cake, and take it to the next level. We’re particularly excited about his entrepreneurial attitude and drive, which is a perfect match with our company culture”, says Stefan Ytterborn, founder and CEO at Cake.
On his journey, Krister has led design and engineering teams, and also started several companies within electric areas. In recent years, Krister has worked as an advisor for Scania, Volvo, and Huawei, and acted as CTO for 13 years with industrial battery solution maker Northstar-SiteTel.
Further information: Media inquiries: christian.lundgren@ridecake.com Cake pressroom: ridecake.com/en/pressroom
About CAKE Cake is a Swedish maker of premium lightweight, electric motorcycles and mopeds, with a clear mission to inspire towards a zero-emission society, by combining excitement and responsibility.
The model range currently consists of three different platforms – the versatile offroader Kalk, the modular utility bike Ösa, and the urban commuter Makka. Thanks to an extensive range of accessories and configurations, Cake is addressing a wide matrix of users and applications, including commercial use for last-mile delivery and other short-haul urban transportation.
Along with numerous awards and recognitions for its design and innovative approach to mobility and other societal challenges, Cake was identified as one of the world’s most innovative companies by Fast Company in both 2020 and 2021, and received the Time Magazine 100 most important inventions award in 2021.
The eighteenth annual ‘thick sweater day’ was celebrated on February 17th 2022. Originally taking shape as a response to the Kyoto protocol, schools reduced their heating for one day – encouraging pupils and staff to wrap up extra warm in an effort to reduce carbon emissions for the day. Today, ‘thick sweater day’ has come to represent much more; individuals, schools, companies, and local authorities all act to reduce their carbon footprint beyond just a single day.
This year’s theme was ‘put your own action in the spotlight’, Odisee University of Applied Science did exactly that at its February 16th kick-off event on the Technology campus. The establishment has reduced heating for an entire week, begun a thick sweater charity drive, and proudly presented its in-development e-motorcycle, powered by a solar-power charged battery.
Bram Rotthier, Technical Director of LEVA-EU, but also responsible for the energy department at Odisee University of Applied Sciences, was one of the initiators of this scheme.
Transportation accounts for 25% of total global CO2 emissions, primarily through fuel combustion. In many large cities, such as Barcelona and Madrid, combustion engine vehicle density has escalated air pollution levels to exceedingly high values. In line with European health legislation, many such cities have been forced to implement action plans to alleviate this issue; this includes low emission zones and vehicle environmental impact assessments.
A current emerging trend is electrifying mobility, with electric vehicle ownership increasing by a factor of ten in the last 5 years. These vehicles are perceived to have a significantly lower environmental impact than their combustion engine counterparts. Carranza et al. now analyze this environmental disparity in the context of Barcelona and motorcycles – in Spain, there was an 8.7% growth of motorcycle registrations in 2021 compared to the previous year. Understanding the potential for developing battery-electric motorcycle technology to reduce the environmental impact of motorcycle use in Spain is therefore crucial for limiting the country’s emissions going forward.
When analyzing the environmental impact of any vehicle there are multiple stages to consider – manufacturing, maintenance, operation, and disposal; however, the operational stage is where the most impact takes place. In internal combustion engine vehicles, direct emissions from fuel during their lifecycle equate to a value 10 times higher than their electric counterparts (6670 kgCO2-eq global warming potential compared to 650 kgCO2-eq). The source of electricity for battery electric vehicles does of course impact their individual emissions, doubling if supplied by purely coal plants; however, even at their highest point, operational emissions are still far below those of internal combustion vehicles.
Electric vs combustion engine
Considering all aspects of lifecycle, the global warming potential of battery-electric motorcycles is approximately one-fifth of internal combustion engine motorcycles, showing them to be a promising alternative. Regarding air pollution, the results of photochemical oxidation formation were 30% lower for electric motorcycles.
Electromobility will play a fundamental role in the transformation of densely populated and pollution-troubled European cities such as Barcelona. To read the full open access study, offering additional analysis and findings, click here.
Comments Off on STILRIDE raises £2.5m to produce sustainable e-motorcycles using ‘industrial origami’ robotics technology
Swedish technology and design startup STILRIDE has raised £2.5m to produce sustainable electric motorcycles and scooters using a groundbreaking process dubbed ‘industrial origami’. The trailblazing manufacturing technique involves robots that are able to fold single sheets of recyclable steel into intricate, lightweight, and durable new structures – significantly reducing the environmental impact of production. This process is being used to create the chassis and body for a fleet of next-generation e-motorcycles which will be made available to consumers in Europe later this year.
This £2.5m seed round was joined by angels and private investors that include Gustaf Hagman, Saeid Esmaeilizadeh, Sam Bonnier, and Andreas Adler.
STILRIDE’s pioneering industrial origami technology, called STILFOLD, is the brainchild of best friends Tue Beijer and Jonas Nyvang, whose backgrounds span the worlds of fashion, industrial design, and engineering. With STILRIDE, the duo aims to reimagine how high-performance electric-mobility products are manufactured and distributed using cutting-edge steelwork, advanced robotics, and ambitious design.
The injection of funding will be used to bring the startup’s first product to the mass market: the futuristic Sport Utility Scooter One (SUS1). Unlike traditional scooters (which consist of a tubular frame and plastic body), the SUS1 is constructed by folding sheets of stainless steel over curves, much like origami. Not only does this result in a durable body and distinctive aesthetic, but it also requires fewer raw materials and reduces labor costs. Compared to a traditional scooter, the SUS1 requires 70% fewer components, driving a 25% reduction in labor costs and a 20% reduction in material costs.
E-motorcycles are the first application of STILRIDE’s proprietary STILFOLD technology. Next, STILRIDE will use this technique to add Cargo Bikes and trailers to its product offering.
To reduce the product’s carbon footprint, the company is aiming to create a production process that allows the steel sheets to be flat-packed and shipped to local factories across Europe where they’ll be folded and fitted with a hub motor and battery pack. Already, the climate impact of developing the SUS1’s chassis is 50% lower than that of traditional scooters.
There are already 90,000 people on the waiting list for the STILRIDE SUS1 e-scooter, with the first pre-series set to be released to customers in the autumn of 2022.
Jonas Nyvang, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of STILRIDE, comments:
“STILRIDE sits at the intersection of technology, mobility, and design. My co-founder Tue first introduced the idea for the scooter to me at a dinner in 2019. He sketched out how it could be manufactured using origami folding and built a model out of paper. It’s surreal to have now created a high-spec electric motorcycle that’s true to that original vision. It meets our commitment to sustainability whilst also having a radical and distinctive design identity. Not only is it unisex, but it’s uni-age. It’s designed for everyone and we hope it can be an accessible entry point to the world of scooters and motorcycles for those with an eye for style and a love of nature.
“The STILFOLD technology is best described as a dance between robots and steel. We have created a process that builds high-performance, sustainable personal mobility products that are also durable, lightweight, and desirable. The SUS1 is the first application of the technology and the ambition is to apply it to cargo bikes and trailer products.
“Using STILFOLD, manufacturers can minimize resource consumption and waste, cut down on labor costs and ultimately reduce the environmental impact of production. We’re launching in Europe first as it’s a market that relies heavily on outsourcing and has much to gain from increasing its domestic manufacturing capabilities. Next, we will look to expand into other international markets.
“We’re incredibly proud to be working with such esteemed investors to push ahead with production of this first product and get it in the hands of customers. It’s an exciting time to be in the green mobility space and we’re ready to make our mark.”
Saeid Esmaeilizadeh, entrepreneur and STILRIDE investor, comments:
“There is a very strong team behind this whole solution, which made the choice to invest easy. They have found a solution to build lighter electric vehicles which is a key challenge for the whole transportation industry. In addition, the first product’s place in the market is a total no-brainer.”
Gustaf Hagman, serial entrepreneur, business angel, and investor, comments:
“Their Green Steel production technique STILFOLD is groundbreaking and there are endless application areas, this is just the beginning”.
Comments Off on CAKE :work series introduced at CES 2022
CAKE the Swedish maker of premium lightweight, electric motorbikes, participated in the CES 2022 show in Las Vegas, where it displayed its CAKE :work series of professional motorbikes for the first time in the USA.
In addition, on January 4th Cake announced several updates leveraging the built-in connectivity capabilities in its bikes. Individual riders will benefit from expanded functionality of the Ridecake connectivity app, and professional fleet managers will now be able to monitor and manage their vehicles via fleet management systems.
“The CAKE :work series offers the immediate potential of moving last-mile deliveries and mobile workforces away from traditional solutions for urban transportation, clearly exceeding the efficiency of both cars and bicycles, making this initiative our single most important contribution to date in speeding up the process towards a zero-emission society”, says Stefan Ytterborn, founder and CEO of Cake. ”Above our efforts in delivering a bike that offers a clean and swift ride, our connectivity solutions add an extra layer of efficiency through riding data, measurability, control and unique settings – to both private riders commuting or racing, and fleet owners maximizing the output of their vehicles”.
Connectivity features for individual riders Applicable to all current and upcoming models, as well as a majority of the existing Cake bikes, the new connectivity features are available to all riders with a data service-enabled CAKE Connect module on their vehicles. Features include: customized ride modes, realtime riding information and ride history, and anti-theft security. Bikes leave the factory already equipped with the CAKE Connect module, enabling the direct interaction over cloud or bluetooth connection that allows users to explore the full potential of the bike.
CAKE Connect allows the rider to modify drivetrain characteristics by adjusting torque, top speed, and regenerative braking. This allows owners to customize their bikes to perfectly suit performance needs and riding styles, be it urban commuting, hauling gear, backcountry exploring, or anything in between. Rides can be saved to get useful and interesting riding data such as route, distance, average speed, and power. With the heads-up display feature, a phone can be used as the bike’s interface, displaying in-depth real-time riding and performance data.
Anti-theft features in CAKE Connect will notify owners if the bike is being moved or stolen. Furthermore, a GPS tracking system allows users to see the real-time location of their bike on the CAKE Connect app, regardless of where the user and the bike are in the world.
Professional fleet management building on cloud and API connectivity Following Cake’s recent launch of the :work series, bikes designed for professional use, increased capabilities and features for connectivity will benefit both professional users and fleet owners, and ensure efficient implementation of Cake vehicles in existing professional fleets.
Thanks to Cake’s proprietary cloud-based fleet management system, fleet owners will get real-time data on the state of their fleet, including live location of their fleet with position of all bikes, mileage, range and battery status for all bikes, and access to diagnostic data. Over the air, the system will also allow for firmware updates, access to anti-theft functionality, and setting custom ride modes.
Fleet owners with existing fleet management systems are able to leverage Cake’s APIs to access all data in their own environment, allowing for smooth integration of Cake bikes in existing fleets.
Availability The CAKE Connect connectivity module is pre-installed on all Ösa and Kalk bikes manufactured since August 2021, and will also come as standard equipment on all models of the Makka bikes from spring 2022. The cellular connectivity is included and free of charge two years from delivery date. All initial CAKE Connect features are made available through the Ridecake mobile app, providing connectivity features in order to add an extra layer of functionality to the bike.
Further information: Media inquiries: christian.lundgren@ridecake.com Cake pressroom: ridecake.com/en/pressroom
about CAKE
CAKE is a Swedish company with a clear mission to inspire towards a zero-emission society, by combining excitement and responsibility in its development of light, quiet, and clean high-performance electric motorcycles and mopeds. Its first model, the Kalk, debuted in January 2018 and received numerous accolades, including the 2019 and 2020 Red Dot Design Award, IF Design Award, Automotive Brand Contest Award, and “Best in Show” designation by several outdoor industry publications. In 2019, Cake launched the Ösa, a utility platform with an integrated power station and off-road capabilities, which extended their award-winning streak. Cake expanded into the race scene in November 2020, launching the Kalk OR Race and Kalk INK Race. In September 2021, Cake released a convenient and light city moped, the Makka, expanding the user matrix further. Building on Cake’s existing platforms, the :work series of bikes optimized for professional use, including last-mile delivery and service applications, was launched in November 2021.
It’s all about the outdoors. Explore with respect. Learn more about CAKE at ridecake.com.
CAKE :work was unveiled at the International Motorcycle and Accessories Exhibition (EICMA). CAKE :work is catered towards last-mile deliveries and mobile workforces across a variety of sectors and is available to be ordered globally from Cake (www.ridecake.com)
CAKE (www.ridecake.com), the Swedish maker of premium lightweight, electric motorbikes, has announced the launch of CAKE :work; a new series of powerful and durable electric utility vehicles designed and developed for professional applications such as delivery drivers (food and parcel), craftsmen, and service professionals.
With the launch of the :work series, CAKE will speed up the transition to sustainable cities and facilitate significant cuts in emissions by offering solutions and opportunities for businesses striving to develop environmentally sustainable and more efficient services and logistics. The new series of professional-grade electric two wheeled vehicles addresses several urgent challenges facing metropolitan areas worldwide.
Globally there are two billion fossil fuel-driven vehicles on the road that emit five gigatons of CO2 annually – driving climate change. To date, more than 150 cities worldwide have announced restrictions on combustion engine transportation. Innovation and investment in sustainable transportation must happen at haste, to navigate tighter emissions targets and restrictions on fossil-fueled vehicles.
“The CAKE :work series offers the immediate potential of moving last-mile deliveries and mobile workforces away from traditional solutions for urban transportation, clearly exceeding the efficiency of both cars and bicycles, making this initiative our single most important contribution to date in speeding up the process towards a zero-emission society”, says Stefan Ytterborn, founder and CEO of Cake. “Any industry that handles large volumes of short-haul transportation of both people and goods understands the daily struggle with traffic jams, parking fines, and the need to find both economical and sustainable fossil fuel-free vehicles. At CAKE, we truly believe that the future for last-mile deliveries will be electric and run on two wheels.”
CAKE for professionals Designed and developed in close collaboration with different professional user groups, the new :work series builds upon CAKE’s three existing platforms: Kalk (high performance off road), Ösa (modular utility bike), and Makka (urban commuter). Optimizing power, reach, efficiency, and capacity, the adjustments and reinforcements specific to the :work series include an increased range that allows the bike to run for the full working day, and power support which enables workers to power electronic tools or regulate the temperature of food delivery boxes, for example. Additionally, :work has an increased towing capacity as well as a more compact design, such as narrower handlebars, allowing riders to more easily weave between cars. CAKE is also offering a wide range of purpose-built accessories that will allow riders
The bikes Makka :work – the lightweight and agile urban shuttle comes in two new models (45 km/h and 25 km/h). Now with more peak power, up to 110 km range and new accessories to carry more loads. The new Makka model comes with external power outlets, allowing users to supply off-grid power to electric gadgets as well as heavy-duty power tools like grinders, drills, and more.
Ösa :work – the powerful workbench and towing truck on two wheels. Comes in three models, with top speeds of 90, 45 and 25 km/h, with more peak power, up to 160 km range, and new trailers to haul loads of up to 1,500 litres. As with the original Ösa, these bikes can also supply off-grid power to heavy-duty tools and gadgets through the bike’s battery system.
Kalk :work – the efficient outbound explorer. Its 18” off-road tires and unique :work ride modes makes for a bike ideal for surveillance, service, patrolling or similar, to reach remote places through rough terrain. The new Kalk :work is street-legal and comes with a new rack to bring work tools or gear along.
All bikes come with new :work ride modes, adapted for professional user needs. They also come with custom ride modes, available to customize directly in the CAKE Connect App.
A wide range of new accessories have been added, as well as new pre-configurations. Among the highlights are the rear and front carrier, together carrying loads of up to 150 kg. The new big Carla Cargo trailer pulls loads of up to 150 kg and the compact Fårö trailer carries up to 50 kg of weight.
Comments Off on CAKE sets up solar-powered bike initiative with SAWC to combat poaching in South Africa
Poaching is a growing concern for wildlife conversation areas all over the world, leading to some animals being threatened with extinction. Swedish electric bike manufacturer, CAKE, and Southern Africa Wildlife College (SAWC) have established a joint initiative to improve anti-poaching efforts and promote sustainability by creating the electric, solar-powered motorbike: Kalk AP.
Anti-poaching teams normally use dirt bikes for patrolling, as they are the fastest and most agile vehicle to use in wildlife areas but they are powered by fuel which is a scarce and expensive resource. Work to save endangered species from extinction is also hindered by their noisy engines alerting illegal poachers.
CAKE has worked closely with SAWC using its CAKE Kalk platform to develop the Kalk AP (Anti-Poaching), a high-performance bike that’s lighter and quieter than any combustion engine motorbike. Stefan Ytterborn, CEO and Founder, CAKE, has described this collaboration as “a perfect example of purpose meeting sustainability”.
This bicycle allows rangers to approach poachers silently without being detected, and tackles the inconveniences and expensive costs associated with getting fuel for standard anti-poaching vehicles. It also helps to reduce pollution with its renewable power kit and solar panels that are fuelled by leading solar power company Goal Zero. Anti-poaching rangers are given more freedom to ride in remote wildlife locations because the power kit of the KALP AP can be charged independently from any power outlet.
In July, it was announced that CAKE was awarded “The Best of the Best” accolade by ABC for the Kalk AP model, and since September 2021, rangers have been trained on these bikes for anti-poaching missions, before they hit the trails of South Africa.
CAKE is initially offering a limited edition of 50 bikes as a reduced price bundle; for each bike purchased by the buyer, another bicycle (and its solar services) will go to SAWC.
