Leading China-based multinational bicycle sharing company ofo has partnered with German chemical company BASF to provide commuters with a more enjoyable ride that is safer and more comfortable through a two-layer tyre system made with BASF’s Elastopan polyurethane (PU).
Enabled by a unique dual density technology, the outer layer of the PU based tyre system is hardy over rough surfaces, while the inner layer provides outstanding shock absorption as a result of the material’s high rebound performance. The inflation-free tyre system also eliminates the annoyance of conventional inner-tube patching and repair.
Elastopan’s anti-slip properties also provide riders with outstanding surface traction for greater safety. The material enables a unique tyre tread design, which further improves the anti-skid performance of the tyres. Compared to conventional tyres made of rubber, the innovative bike tyre system made with Elastopan is approximately 30% lighter, making the bike easier to handle.
“The quality of bicycle tyres is critical to ensuring a positive user experience. As a key driver of our global expansion strategy, it is particularly important for us to move ahead and secure our leading position in the industry,” said Dai Wei, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of ofo.
The company has connected more than 10 million bikes in over 180 cities across 13 countries. It recently launched shared bikes in United Kingdom, Austria, Russia, Italy, Czech Republic and Holland.
Elastopan is wear-, abrasion-, chemical- and fatigue-resistant. As the outer layer of the tyre system is approximately three times more resistant to abrasion than rubber, it is very durable against rough surfaces.
“The use of Elastopan’s dual density technology can help reduce the need for repairs, extending the service life of our bicycles,” added Dai Wei. “As the bike tyre system is puncture proof and hard-wearing, this will also reduce the number of bikes that are abandoned due to damage.”
With Elastopan dual density PU system, the inner layer of the bike tyre has been optimised to deliver high rebound performance. The dual density tyre structure even improves the damping performance by around 30% which significantly enhances comfort and the overall riding experience.
“We are excited to contribute our material solutions to ofo’s new fleet, helping make the bicycles more durable, light and comfortable while supporting the development of bicycle sharing system and industry in China,” said Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.
“Innovative materials can inspire and enable design and functionality to meet the challenges of modern urban life. We continue to explore opportunities to improve material applications for other bike parts, including saddles, hand grips, wheel rims, baskets, brake line covers, pedals and many others. Concurrently, we are in discussions with ofo on new areas of strategic partnership to support ofo’sglobalisation journey.”
Elastopan can be produced in any color required. The two-layer structure enables more possibilities for design, as each layer can be manufactured in different colors, and cost-effectively produced in a one-step process.