According to a report by the UK's Daily Mail on the 14th, a research group in Thailand has begun developing a new type of bicycle that can purify air and direct the purified air toward the rider, allowing them to breathe fresh air.
According to Lightfog Company, this bicycle consists of the following three systems — an air filter for removing dust and pollutants from the air; a photosynthesis system (which includes a water tank) for generating oxygen; and an electric motor and battery to power the entire system.
Designers involved in the project, such as Vera Kul, stated that when the bicycle is in motion, air will first pass through the air filter located between the handlebars — that is, collecting dirty air such as vehicle exhaust before it reaches the rider, preventing exposure to polluted gases. Then, the filter purifies the contaminated air and releases clean air. At the same time, the photosynthesis system located on the bike’s top tube absorbs carbon dioxide in front of the bike and, by simulating photosynthesis, releases oxygen, which combines with the purified air from the filter and flows toward the rider.
As an environmentally friendly bicycle, both its operation and the driving of its air purification system rely on human power and its own built-in energy generation system.
The bicycle’s air purification system is designed to be pedal-driven — somewhat like popular pedal-powered generators. When the bicycle is in motion, the energy for the purification system comes from pedaling. When the bicycle is stationary, especially when parked, the air purification function can continue to operate using the battery carried by the vehicle. Interestingly, the battery’s energy is generated through photosynthesis — mimicking plant photosynthesis — by converting inhaled carbon dioxide into organic compounds and ultimately forming energy. The uniquely green frame of the bicycle is designed to convert sunlight into energy, thereby charging the battery and ultimately providing power to the filtration system.