The Bike Of The Future
Riding into the future with subscription service
Inspired to move away from the disposable economy, VanMoof, a European based bike company, is exploring a new subscription service business model that allows their bikes to stay in service for as long as possible. Subscribers get to use the bike as if it is their own (as opposed to, say, the rent-by-the-hour model popular around cities), and get access to a number of novelty services such as theft recovery, complimentary maintenance, and access to VanMoof’s fleet of bikes whenever they travel — all for a reasonable monthly fee and no long term commitment.
Their mission has always been to make bikes that last and make them smart. Some of their awesome features include an anti-theft alarm, bike tracking, auto locking, integrated automatic lights and a maintenance-free drivetrain. They also offer an amazing electric pedal assist bike, though not part of the subscription service yet.
Known for delivering on progressive design at a reasonable price point, VanMoof is continuing to disrupt the bike industry with their new subscription service by making a great bike even more accessible.
Circular Economy is More Than Just Eco Materials
VanMoof is a reminder that the Circular Economy means much more than just utilizing environmentally friendly materials. Rather, it’s an entire ethos that extends into all functions of a business in which extracting and creating as much value as possible is the core focus. Adopting this approach allows for products that are not normally tagged with the ‘eco’ label to extend value to more consumers, responsibly utilizing natural resources and extending their functional life.
This can be accomplished when design, technology and Circular Economy concepts are utilized to create more value. For VanMoof, they extended the usable life of a product by deploying cutting edge technology to ensure that their product never gets lost or stolen, executed on a product design that will withstand decades of use and developed an innovative business model that allows a single product to be owned by several customers by rethinking ownership. VanMoof is a great example of how Circular Economy principles can be used to make a good business.
