It is one of the most polluted countries on the planet, but a new project hopes to use pedal power to help free China of its smog-filled air.
The Smog Free Bicycle will absorb carbon and other particles from the atmosphere in major cities like Beijing.
The plans are part of a wider project that includes towers which use the technology, with the pollutants they collect then turned into jewellery.
Dutch artist and designer Daan Roosegaarde who kick-started the scheme has signed a deal with Chinese bike-sharing startup OFO to make the Smog Free Bicycle a reality.
The innovative bike will feature a front facing module that inhales polluted air, cleans it, and the releases clean air around the cyclist.
It is hoped it will provide a healthy and energy friendly option for city dwellers, which will help to combat both traffic congestion and pollution.
The partnership was announced at the World Economic Forum, held in Dalian in China last week.
The bikes are currently in the first stage of development, but further details will be released about its design and implementation in the autumn.
During the summit Mr Roosegaarde emphasised his vision for Schoonheid, a Dutch word meaning beauty and cleanliness.
‘True beauty is clean air and it should not be taken for granted’, he said.
‘Beijing used to be an iconic bicycle city.
‘Together with Chinese and Dutch expertise we will bring back the bicycle as a cultural icon of China and as the next step towards smog free cities.’
Mr Roosegaarde also announced the next stages of development for his Smog Free Tower at the summit.
The towers provide parks with cleaner air than the rest of the city, acting like giant outdoor vacuum cleaners.
The Project began life in 2007 and opened last Autumn in Beijing, drawing thousands of visitors.
The smog which is harvested by the machine is compressed into cubes that are used to make quirky jewellery.
Each cube is made from smog collected from 35,315 cubic feet (1,000 cubic metres) of poor quality air.
Rings made from the smog, for example, have a clear cube of acrylic fixed to them with a floating cube of black smog inside.
The effect of the Smog Free Tower has been validated by the results compiled by the Eindhoven University of Technology.
Studio Roosegaarde is now planning to open a Smog Free Tower in India later this year,
Versions are also expected in Columbia and Mexico in the near future.
The technology could become integrated into numerous elements of the urban environment, from buildings to public transport.
Daily Mail
UM– USEKE.RW
