The Faraday is our vision of the ultimate utility bicycle for all—a beautiful, everyday vehicle that works whether you’re seeking a healthier commute, transporting your child to school, or carrying boxes 20 miles in the dark. The innovative design combines the functionality of a cargo bike with the power of an electric bike and seamlessly integrates all electronics into the frame.

Millions of Americans want to live healthier, more sustainable lives, but don’t think of themselves as cyclists. The nonprofit Oregon Manifest challenged us to create a utility bike that could change people’s minds by integrating seamlessly into everyday life, regardless of the rider’s fitness level or cargo-carrying needs. Essentially, our challenge was to create a transportation mode of the future with mass appeal.

We aimed to create an everyday performance machine that marries electric assist tools integrated seamlessly into the bicycle frame with cargo-carrying capabilities formerly reserved for advanced cyclists.

The team drew inspiration from both history and childhood to create an everyday performance machine. A mantra for the team was, “You loved bicycling when you were a kid — why stop?” The bike’s name, the Faraday, pays homage to 19th century scientist Michael Faraday, whose work in electromagnetism helped pave the way for today’s safe electric motors (the “y” in the Faraday logo ends in a whimsical electrical plug).

We incorporated a human-centered research approach and rapid design iterations to make cycling accessible to people of varying fitness levels across a broad geographic range. Inspired by the classic delivery bikes of the 1940′s and 50′s, updated with state-of-the-art components and construction techniques, the Faraday allows novice and experienced riders alike to go farther, faster, with ease.

The Faraday’s value is environmental, sustainable, paradigm-shifting, cultural, and gladdening.

The bike inspires a healthier daily commute by providing the rider with everything a commuter needs to ride safely and comfortably, including a sturdy front rack, fenders, accessory bag, and 11-speed internal hub. Front and rear lights are built into the frame and controlled by a sensor that turns on in low light conditions. Riders can easily recharge their bikes using a small AC adapter that plugs into the wall. The quick release rack system makes it easy to customize one’s bike and quickly add a child seat or grocery basket, or remove the rack entirely to make the bike lighter, more nimble in traffic, and easier to load onto public transportation.

The electric assist on the Faraday engages smoothly and subtly, providing a sensation more like a delightful tailwind than a jerky moped. The custom electric controls on the handlebars are designed to maintain the minimal aesthetic of the bike, while being comfortable and intuitive to use, a counterpoint to the overly instrumented cockpits of many off the shelf e-bikes.