Folding and locking
Folding
and
locking
When begining our design project, one of the key problems we found in the already existing kick boards was their badly thought folding mechanism. At first we decided to look for a solution that would provide a compact sized board which could easily be carried around even when not in use and hence overcome an unpleasant problem caused by almost every transportation solution excluding walking. Our problem solving methods included loads of sketching and quick prototyping with paper and cardboardlike materials. However, after going through several possibilities we finally came to a conclusion that creating a complex folding mechanism would compromise other properties we wanted our design to have such as good ridability and rigid, simple outlook. Changing our approach left us with the problem of the folding of the handle bar and steering mechanism. After some more designing assisted by computer modeling and prototyping we succeeded in creating a model that would combine the best of riding comfort and foldability. The final design gives user a possibility to fold the handle bar with a single downward movement from the wheels axel and to use the so formed shape as a locking system. This all without compromising the simple look of the kick board both when in riding position and when folded. With EO’s locking solution user can leave it safely practically anywhere. The board locks from the end of the handle bar to the back wheel axel so that it is extremely compact and has a beautiful simple outlook.
Customize
To lower the threshold for a customer to order an eo with A1, there will be a customization service available online. The customization service works similarly to the one designed to customize Audi A1: you can choose the color of the body parts and type of the wheel.
Businessplan
The marketing value the Eo is able to offer Audi is mostly based on the individiuality it gives to the A1 compared to any other car model. As a basic blue ocean strategy this gives Audi an opportunity to be on the edge of the change of attitudes and behavior in the modern urban environments. As several environmental issues and the idea of sustainability is gaining ground as a standard way of thinking and not only a far away dream the idea of a car is becoming out dated and untrendy. To fight this Audi can, with Eo, offer a solution that helps people to not only live a sustainable lifestyle but also keep their highly valued individuality and freedom that have always been associated with cars. The marketing keywords of the EO will mostly be based on eco-friendliness and sustainability. A natural demand for the product could be emerging from cities, that are using congestion fees as a method to reduce traffic in the city. This is a way for every A1 owner to make their own life easier by driving less in the city and at the same time being active in protecting the
environment. The international discussion around environmental issues serves directly for our marketing baseline: everyone is demanding answers and solutions, and Eo by Audi is a relevant application on the market. We want to give the people a choice for not sitting in traffic wasting their time and feeling bad about environment. This is a way for every A1 owner to make their own life easier by driving less in the city and at the same time be active in protecting the environment. The inter-
national discussion around environmental issues serves our marketing baseline: everyone is demanding answers and solutions, and Audi by Green Kick is here to bring a relevant application to the field. This all summed up means that the true value of the Audi A1 Eo is not only the attractivenes it gives the model and the enjoyment it offers the user but also in the philosophy it represents and by so doing affects the whole Audi brand in a positivie way benefiting it both directly and indirectly.
Material principles An aluminium based alloy (duralumin, for example) as the raw material of body parts will most definitely apply the conditions set earlier: high recycling rate and light weight combined to the general rigid feel necessary to win the trust of the owner. It would be a fantastic way to market the Green Kick saying: “Oh, there’s my new Green Kick made out of my old car’s wheels”. A hardened rubber mix will meet the requirements of a smooth ride and low wearing rate as tire materials. Tires will of course be replaceable to give the board a longer life. For wheels, it is best to use the same or nearly the same aluminium based alloy as in the body parts, that way it’s possible to bring down production costs and to not make the eventual recycling process of the board too complex (and expensive). 1. The production process of the materials involved should have minimum environmental load. 2. The materials must be reliable and long lasting: a strong message against the “disposable culture”. 3. The materials should be as recyclable as possible. If an old car can be recycled by over 90%, then the board should get as near as possible to 100%. 4. We want to compile the board using the smallest amount of different materials possible to avoid high recycling costs.
EO BAG To maximize the usability of Audi EO, we have attached a removable bag to the front side of the board, big enough to contain your belongings safely. To achieve a light weight and perfect foldability, materials like recycled parachute fabric or sails could be used. When walking around, the bag can be hanging on the shoulder or carried around like a shopping bag.
Storage When dealing with any additional equipments there always exists the problem of storage. The storaging of the board while driving is solved by creating a place for the Eo on the roof of the car’s trunk. This allows a practical way to keep the board securely in place while driving with minimal space consumption. This also makes it possible to place and remove the board even when the trunk is in use.
eo