Plug Into the Future

There’s a revolution going on in the transport world, and it’s electrifying. The Forumist celebrates the ingenuity of two innovators pushing the boundaries in their spheres and sees what happens when their visionary outlooks are brought together

Neon signs, wearable technology, drones, AI and electric transportation. Sound familiar? Thought so. Welcome to the reality of the 21st-century cityscape. With its growing size, pace and technological evolution, the modern metropolis and its many ingenious novelties have become the new standard, playing a permanent role in the daily lives of billions of people around globe.

But it wasn’t always like that. For previous generations, the vision of the future, of the present reality we live in today, was shared in cult movies such as Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, and Steven Lisberger’s Tron. This vision, which was conceived by many as a sci-fi utopia, based on naive hope rather than realistic expectation, must have seemed exciting, even far-fetched at the time. What dazzled moviegoers just a few decades ago has, in many cases, become part of our own reality, shaping not only the times we live in, but the exciting future that lies ahead – and this is just the beginning.

One area that has seen a rapid development is electric transportation and mobility, ranging from on-screen tech invention to affordable and environmentally friendly transport alternatives – an exciting and hope-inducing development that is likely to pick up pace even more in the coming years.

A pioneer currently in the driving seat of this electrified revolution, always exploring and pushing the limits to shape the future, is the iconic car manufacturer MINI. Ever since its early days, MINI has sought to create smart solutions for the issues and urban challenges of the times, seeking to engender a better, more liveable future. And that’s surely needed. Because even though the sparkling, tech-savvy and exciting advances portrayed in those films are cloaked with a feeling of excitement and possibility, our own reality today is far from perfect. Therefore, these current challenges are being turned into opportunities to change the world for the better. One part of this vision is the the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, MINI’s contribution to the burgeoning stream of hybrid cars – and MINI will also launch its first fully electric car later this year.

With its sleek design, modern aesthetic and electrifying performance, the Countryman Hybrid offers a driving experience and environmental efficiency that previous generations could only have dreamed of. With its unmissable yellow charging port that represents sustainability of the electric initiatives, the Countryman Hybrid is a bridge between the past, present and future, connecting MINI’s timeless design to the needs of our own times and those of the exciting, uncharted decades to come.

Another revolutionary that’s generating the future of electric transportation in its own way is the Swedish bike manufacturer BIKEID. Building on the booming e-bike evolution in recent years, which, according to BIKEID’s CEO Jakob Hultman, has been more focused on functionality rather than design, BIKEID has engineered its own electrified contribution, which is the perfect balance between the two.

Mirroring the sleek, modern design and performance of MINI’s Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, the BIKEID Diamond e-bike lets you pedal your way into the electric future, giving you a fun and special experience in the process. “There are many reasons to choose electric alternatives, but the most common is that you commute a longer distance and don’t want to arrive all sweaty,” says Hultman. “But we also want it to be a fun and enjoyable feeling.” Its design pays homage to the future and the past, and the performance offers an exciting and sustainable alternative for the urban dweller, regardless of whether you’re commuting to work or heading out on a Sunday-morning cycling adventure with your friends. And with its efficient, streamlined design and weighing under 15kg, you will virtually fly along the roads. It’s a bike for the present and a taste of the great potential that electric transportation will continue to bring in the future, one that Hultman looks to with excitement. “We have a very positive view of the future and we believe that the e-bike will become an important part of biking, especially for the daily commute.”

With the emergence of electric transportation and other impressive inventions, who knows what our own future will hold? It’s impossible to know for sure, but one thing is certain: MINI and BIKEID will continue to shape our reality and the way we live and transport ourselves. To celebrate this exciting and hopeful future, The Forumist brought these pioneers together and challenged BIKEID to interpret MINI’s design and innovative spirit. The result? A never-seen-before limited edition of the Diamond e-bike – a marriage of design and philosophy from two brands that, through their inspiring initiatives, will continue to generate a thrilling future, making the world a more sustainable and stylish place in the process. This is just a glimpse of what’s to come.