The Lighter Bike combines the two most important sources of energy in human history: human power and fire. With these two energy sources, we can always build a new civilisation - without fossil fuels.
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During most of history, humans themselves were the main source of mechanical energy. Our cities and infrastructure were largely built by hand. Food production, domestic and craft work, transport: it relied largely on human power - occasionally relieved by harnessing animal power, hydropower, or wind power. Only for thermal energy did humans rely on fuels. Burning wood and peat provided heating, cooking, and industrial production such as salt and glass manufacturing.
Unlike fossil fuels, human power is an inexhaustible source of energy, which only increases as the population grows. All other energy sources - including renewable ones - have to be distributed among an ever-growing population. Unlike renewable energy sources such as wind and sun, human power and fire are available on demand - they do not depend on weather and seasons. At the same time, humans and fire are independent of any industrial infrastructure. A human or a fireplace do not have to be built in a factory.
Both fire and human power are particularly versatile sources of energy. Human power is not only muscle power (which can be converted into mechanical energy or electricity), but also heat (especially during physical effort). Moreover, our waste products can be converted into biogas and fertiliser. Our ancestors did not only use fire to heat themselves. The fireplace was at the same time their cooking cooker, oven, toaster, lighting, refrigerator and freezer. Fish and meat were hung in the smoke to preserve them longer. The fireplace was also the clothes dryer, boiler and television - the place where everyone congregated.
The lighter bike is powered by human power and makes sparks by short-circuiting. Those sparks can be used to make a fire in the oven mounted on the front of the bike. It also produces a stream of air to fan the fire. The cyclist's "gas exhaust" can be directed to the sparks - with the right diet, making fire just a little bit easier. The lighter bike is independent of fossil fuels and, with proper maintenance, has an almost infinite useful life.
The lighter bike was exhibited at the FAAR book festival in Ostend, Belgium, 2021.