Brompton reveals glowing bike + video

London-based folding bike brand Brompton has produced a concept bike that uses the world’s first sprayable electroluminescent coating. Although there is no planned production date at the moment, the aim it to release the bike within 18 months.

Brompton has partnered with Darkside Scientific to produce the bike. Darkside’s LumiLor emits light when it’s subject to an electric current from a battery that’s housed within the frame, just in front of the hinge. When the hinge is closed, the main frame of the bike glows.

Interest in LumiLor as a functional and decorative light source has attracted attention from a wide spectrum of industries including automotive and aerospace.

Brompton says that LumiLor has enabled it to introduce a night time safety feature that combines aesthetics with function.

“The LumiLor is well perceived by the eye at night and its single frequency monochromatic light is visible from a great distance,” says Brompton.

“The eye catching nature of this Brompton bike ensures it is visible to all those traveling in cities. This is a concept to test the feasibility of a light up bike.”

Check out the video and tell us what you think. Is this the shape of things to come in urban cycling?

In other Brompton news, the company is moving to a new facility in Greenford, London to help fulfil its aim of producing 100,000 bikes per year by 2021. The new site is nearly twice the size of Brompton’s current four operational locations and will be large enough to house all processes of the business in one facility.

“The unified site will enable the company to improve efficiency, increase production and bring together its 240 staff under one roof,” says Brompton.

www.brompton.com