Students of Tehran’s Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology managed to build an electric bicycle which can run up to 40 kilometers per charge.

As air pollution is one of the main problems that metropolises, especially Tehran are struggling with, using bicycles can be a viable option over cars, Mahmoud Karimi the head of the design team said on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony of the bicycle on Thursday.

However, one of the problems of the most cities in Iran are steep streets and pavements which make it difficult to ride a bicycle on, therefore many would give up the idea of riding a bike, Mehr news agency quoted Karimi as saying.

Badpaye Nasir, the aforesaid electric bicycle, is a dual purpose bike in a sense that it can move forward both using pedals and electricity, he added.

While pedaling the batteries which are installed on the bike can be charged and while riding on a steep street the rider can switch to the batteries instead of pedaling, he explained.

The batteries can last for 10 to 20 kilometers, Karimi said. However, if both the pedals and the batteries are used properly, the bicycle can even run up to 40 kilometers per charge, he added. “Moreover, one can keep track of the speed, the road map and the state-of-charge of the battery on their cellphones.”

“We are planning on negotiating with Tehran’s municipality in order to mass-produce the bike,” Karimi noted. / Tehran times /