Vrachtfiets and the Cradle-to-Cradle islands - Ameland

Vrachtfiets and the Cradle-to-Cradle islands - Ameland

Sminia, O.

Brezet, J.C. (mentor)
Silvester, S. (mentor)

Industrial Design Engineering

Industrial Design

2010-03-26

During this graduation project, ‘Vrachtfiets and the C2C islands – Ameland’, the applications for Vrachtfiets that fit in the philosophy of the Cradle-to-Cradle islands project have been explored. Ameland was chosen as the context for development. Vrachtfiets is a modular transport bicycle that enables the creation of custom made mobility solutions. This includes the possibility to design Product-Service Systems in which different Vrachtfietsen with different purposes work together as an integral solution to local transport needs. The dematerialization of products into services create user sacrifices in our consumer society. Therefore it is vital to adapt a product to a local context and lower this sacrifice. The combination of the modular Vrachtfiets which is adaptable to local contexts and PSS creation in practice provides an interesting case. The project started with the development of a ‘Vrachtfiets module and Product-Service System (PSS) creation Methodology’. This methodology has been used throughout the project to aid the creation and communication of ideas. First an analysis of the specific context was made including material flows and stakeholders. From this analysis, conclusions about possible Vrachtfiets applications were drawn and translated into scenarios. These scenarios were ideas and concepts for Product-Service Systems based on the Vrachtfiets and its customizable modules. Meetings with local actors and discussion of these scenarios resulted in the collaboration with a holiday park on Ameland. This holiday park was interested in Vrachtfiets mobility solutions for both its internal and external transport needs. The internal transport needs are the movements of the park its employees including the cleaning ladies, the technical service department, the park manager and the animation team. The external transport needs are the transport needs of their guests that arrive by boat. Analysis of these transportation needs resulted in the design of three different modules and a PSS in which these modules work together. The different transport needs have a fluctuating demand. By interchanging the modules on the Vrachtfiets however, its application can be changed to meet the transport need of the moment. One of the designs is a Tourist Vrachtfiets on which tourists are able to transport themselves, their family and their luggage between the ferry and the holiday park. This service can be booked on beforehand and provides the tourists with an alternative to bringing their car along to Ameland. This reduces the amount of cars on Ameland, saves money by not bringing your car on the ferry and creates a unique and fun experience. As a visible and comprehensible example of a ‘green’ product it inspires people and communicates the relationship between Ameland and the environment. The design of the Tourist module has been prototyped and tested in user test on Ameland in February 2010. The tourists react enthusiastically and eager to use the service when it becomes available. The employees of the holiday park are enthusiastic as well but they will need some time to adjust. The prototype has been made possible by the province of Fryslan.

design
modular transport bicycle

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9598ff57-61a1-4ff3-8a03-9d1e6edd0644

2011-03-26

Campus only

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2010 Sminia, O.