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Self-balancing Electric Two-wheeler a High-tech Alternative to Wheelchairs

RadiciGroup, Acerbis, and Genny Factory SA have developed a two-wheeled electric vehicle that aims to redefine mobility standards from the medical sector to urban environments.

Stephen Moore

October 14, 2024

3 Min Read
Genny Zero wheelchair alternative
Image courtesy of Genny Factory SA

Compounder RadiciGroup, Italian motorcycle part manufacturer Acerbis, and Swiss mobility OEM Genny Factory SA have collaborated on the creation of a self-balancing personal transporter, a two-wheeled electric vehicle designed to redefine mobility standards from the medical sector to urban micromobility. This new vehicle combines aesthetics, functionality, and accessibility to meet the growing demand for innovative sustainable mobility solutions.

For years, Genny Factory SA has been committed to improving the quality of life of people with reduced mobility. With Genny Zero, the company aims to launch a new era of electric mobility by offering an inclusive and sustainable solution.

High-performance polymers replace metal

Besides supplying high-performance polymers, RadiciGroup supported all design work for the Genny Zero through its Engineering Service. The in-house service uses advanced numerical simulation systems to aid in predicting component behavior and optimizing design even during the first stages of development. The objective was to replace the metal parts of the first Genny Zero prototypes with the appropriate materials to make them lighter, while ensuring the resistance, safety, and aesthetic characteristics required by the application. More specifically, RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers brought into play different materials, such as Radistrong polyamide 66 and Radilon polyamide for structural and functional parts and Radilon Mixloy polyamide blends for parts requiring good aesthetic appearance.

45% weight reduction

“Using our engineering polymers contributed to reducing Genny Zero’s weight from 110 kg (220 lb) at the start to only 60 kg (132 lb) now,” said Claudio Ghilardi, marketing sector focal team leader of RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers. “What’s more, the polymers helped make the vehicle dynamic, stable, safe, and resistant to various types of stress. Great attention was also given to aesthetic appearance, particularly to the fairings and rear, for which we chose materials that guarantee an excellent surface appearance, hence avoiding the need for final painting. Additionally, the materials were stabilized against UV rays and developed to resist exposure to weather conditions.”

Genny-Zero.jpg

RadiciGroup worked closely with Acerbis through all the stages of the industrialization process, developing specific solutions to carry out the ambitious Genny Zero metal replacement project — from material formulation to mold design, injection molding, and usage testing of the various components. The all-Italian supply chain contributed to implementing a technologically advanced solution with an innovative design.

Wheelchair alternative

“Currently, over 20 million wheelchairs are produced worldwide every year,” Paolo Badano, CEO of Genny Factory SA, pointed out. “By introducing Genny Zero, we intend to revolutionize this market with a product that merges cutting-edge design and pioneering technology, thus redefining the standards of the sector. Inspired by the concept of a self-balancing mobility vehicle driven standing up, we created a product that surpasses conventional limits, making the technology accessible to people with reduced mobility. We recently presented Genny Zero at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games in Paris, where it stirred up the enthusiasm and curiosity of a vast and diverse public. The product is a state-of-the-art solution for increasingly more sustainable urban mobility,” stressed Badano.

About the Author

Stephen Moore

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking is bike on overseas business trips, and proud dachshund owner.

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