Mercuri

Delivering the future.

Company

Edison Electric Bike Co. × GT BSID

My Role

Industrial Designer (Team of 4)

Tools

Fusion · Keyshot · Figma

Timeline

Feb 2024 - May 2024

Description

A streamlined future of last-mile delivery on e-bikes.

Context

Finalist of 2025 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). After traversing vast distances, the concluding phase of the process bears a disproportionate burden of expenses and obstacles. To tackle this problem, we joined forces with Atlanta-based startup Edison Bikes, to explore how electric bikes can transform this final stretch to be cheaper, smoother, and greener.

Studio render of the Mercuri e-bike in profile: a gray and black frame with a green stripe, an extended rear rack, and a red tail light

‘Last, but not least’


The concluding phase of the parcel’s journey bears disproportionate expense and environmental impact.

Three statistics on last-mile delivery. Over 4,490,000 tons of CO2 emission in the last-mile delivery annually, sourced to CMC and Stand.earth. Over 16 percent of delivery vehicle capacity wasted when departing, sourced to the American Productivity and Quality Center. And 41 percent, the last mile’s share in total supply chain cost, sourced to Capgemini.

Our team reached out to 30+ delivery professionals, from bike couriers to app-based delivery drivers. Through affinity mapping and why/how ladders, we identified four key pain points and opportunities within the current delivery ecosystem.

An affinity map of colored interview notes and photographs, synthesized into explicit needs, with four guiding insights on a green panel

Initial Concept + Geometry

Three labeled concept sketches, MaxHaul, Cyberbike and Gyrobike, beside bike geometry drawings and a green geometry spec table

Three pilot concepts were created in response to our insights. We combined the MaxHaul and the Cyberbike and set down the basis of a rear load setup with an extended wheelbase. Rounds of benchmarking and fit bike testing provided us a unique geometry, balancing agility, stability, and potential for load capacity.

A person looking at three printed bike geometry drawings on a wall, beside four photographs of people riding an adjustable fit bike

Developing in Side View

24 pencil side-view sketches of cargo and delivery bike frames in a grid, one marked with a green asterisk

With the direction and geometry settled, we started development from the side view. Parcel arrangements on the vehicle were the first things we explored, ranging from home goods and documents to fountain drinks.

The visual language revolved around a balance of technicality, agility, and ruggedness, embracing courier culture and a future empowered by electronics.

The concept of the Backbone, a horizontal beam slashing through the frame, stood out for its versatility, load-bearing potential, and dynamism.

Mercuri | The Concept

An annotated concept illustration of the Mercuri e-bike in orange and black, with callouts for Back Rack (mounting large packages with elastic cords), Backbone (precise parcel sorting and indexing), Integrated Lights, Front Rack, Mid-Drive and Suspension Fork. At upper right, a second view labels Soft Goods + Latching System and Smart Panel. Below that, a set of small orthographic side and front drawings.

As an e-bike purposefully designed for delivery, the Mercuri concept addresses all four primary pain points found in research through systems of physical and electronic features.

A gray render of the Mercuri bike in profile, beside two photographs of the team presenting and building models

Mercuri | The Outcome

Studio render of the Mercuri e-bike in profile: a gray and black frame with a green stripe, an extended rear rack, and a red tail light

Load Capacity + Versatility


No other bike can carry parcels while staying nimble on the streets like Mercuri. The Backbone and three different attachment points unleash the potential of two wheels for load capacity and variety. The back rack with cords is the platform for oversized packages. All documents are held in the front rack with elastic bands, always visible and never crumpled. The rail system in the Backbone collaborates with a quick-release latching system and soft goods. With a simple twist, the rider can take the bag to load or hand off parcels. Indexing and finding packages are easier than ever.

A render of the bike with green-shaded bags and parcels on its racks, beside a photograph of a courier loading a cardboard box onto the physical bike

Indexing + Tracking


The storage system, scanner, and rail indicator work together to guide the delivery experience. After the rider scans the package with the handheld device hidden in the smart panel, the lighting on the Backbone and the device will lead them to the optimal attachment point for the package based on its size, weight, and destination. Meanwhile, thanks to the onboard electronics, Mercuri can plan the routes, show the load status, and indicate the right packages to deliver upon arrival. Sharing tracking and routing information lowers the cost of communication for all stakeholders involved.

Three photographs of the bike’s handlebar screen and frame panel, with hands gripping the bars and tapping the display

Credit


Team Member

Iretomide Olayeye, Mohen Li, Kush Vakharia


External Partner

Edison Electric Bike Co.


Special Thanks

Kevin Shankwiler