The electric bike is booming. We like its green side which reassures us in our desire to preserve the environment and particularly its practical aspect in our travels. Almost everywhere on the planet, city dwellers tend to use it more and more to replace the automobile, as much as possible. This shows how timely the Nespresso company is with its latest innovation.
The title of this column is not just a play on words. Recycled Nespresso coffee capsules could indeed turn into electric bicycle parts soon. And when we say soon, we’re talking about summer 2024. In Europe, at least.
The idea originated in Switzerland from the Miloo bicycle brand, which is currently collaborating with the famous company Nespresso to design an e-bike that would be both powerful and environmentally friendly.
The Swiss company is already well aware of environmental preservation efforts. This year, it wants to go even further by adapting its Miloo Xplorer Beast model, an electric mountain bike that offers maximum performance both on and off road, and which is made from a carbon fiber frame of fantasy.
However, in its new version, the frames and rims of the bike would no longer be made of carbon, but of recycled coffee pods.
The Nespresso coffee brand may have many fans, but everyone knows very well that its aluminum capsules, once used, become bulky waste that is harmful to the environment, despite the company’s numerous efforts to ensure that certain parts of the capsule are recyclable.
And when you consider the number of pods that can be used day after day by coffee lovers around the world, the consequences are not trivial, quite the contrary.
However, the new partnership between Nespresso and Miloo could allow fans to drink their coffee without guilt.
Additionally, the fact that Nespresso is supplying its recycled aluminum to Miloo to build the frames and rims of its new electric bikes directly aligns with the values of the bicycle company, which is already familiar with recycled materials.
With all these innovations, Miloo is trying to become a kind of role model. It tries to convince other companies to do the same by developing vehicles that are ever more respectful of the environment, and likely to be a good means of transportation in addition to cars.
In this new adventure, Miloo found a partner who was in much the same place in his ambition to become greener. As a matter of conscience and to give a better image of its coffee capsules, the Nespresso company is also already used to recycling.
It has been 12 years since the coffee company launched its program called “Recycling at Home” in Switzerland. In partnership with the postal service, this program allows used capsules to be collected at 3,700 collection points to be delivered to its own recycling plant. According to the company, it recycles around 72% of all Nespresso capsules used in this country.
The Miloo Xplorer Beast can therefore boast of being ultra-conscious of the environment, but the company has not forgotten its power.
On the battery side, Miloo will use LG 21700 cells for maximum energy density and efficiency. Other features include a 14-speed Kindernay adapted hub drivetrain, as well as an optional carbon belt drive from Gates. The user can even install a double battery on their bike to allow longer journeys.
In terms of price, we don’t yet know if there will be a big difference between the two versions. While we already know that the carbon fiber Miloo Xplorer Beast costs around US$12,600, the price of the “greener” version, made from recycled Nespresso capsules, remains unknown at the time of writing this column. That said, we will know soon enough, as the summer season is upon us.