MONTREAL, July 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first ever ENCS Entrepreneurship Award for Capstone Design in District 3, established by Concordia University and Montreal entrepreneurs Stephane Manos and Ouissam Youssef, has been granted to an innovative electric carbon fiber (ECF) skateboard. The long board was created by a team of six students, led by Cédrick Lévesque-Baker and Joshua Zimet, as an alternative solution to urban travel in a market currently overrun by fossil fuel vehicles.
The skateboard improves on several features of existing models to encourage consumers living in congested urban areas to utilize it as a primary or secondary means of transportation. The upgrades include a lighter, easier-to-carry carbon fiber frame; an open differential gear system to enhance acceleration, braking, and power; and the deployment of a mobile phone application and mechatronic system to manage several skateboard functions, including speed, battery life, and distance traveled.
“The goal of this project is to apply mechanical engineering disciplines to design, produce, and market a tool for travel that will better serve the public’s desire for affordable, convenient, and eco-friendly transport alternatives,” explained Joshua Zimet. “We aim to attract consumers by creating a better version of a familiar device and improving on its qualities.”
Following the announcement of the award, Stephane Manos met with the winners and began discussions to support their efforts to get the product to market. “Ouissam and I are thrilled to support this alternative transportation project. We brainstormed ideas to make a trendy design, to define the target age group, and to set a retail price point,” said Manos.
Cédrick Lévesque-Baker and Joshua Zimet’s ECF skateboard project was selected by the director of District 3 and Capstone board faculty members. The students will immediately begin work at District 3, a Concordia hub dedicated to collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship, to develop their concept into a commercially viable product.
Manos and Ouissam have committed to support the $10,000 annual ENCS Award for five years. It will be open to students enrolled in any department within the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science’s fourth-year Capstone Design.
Sources: Valsoft Corporation and Concordia University