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Source, all images | RadiciGroup, Acerbis, Genny 

 — a self-balancing, two-wheeled, electric personal transport vehicle that is partially constructed from glass fiber-reinforced composite materials — has been recently launched through a collaboration of high-performance materials supplier (Gandino, Italy), sporting goods manufacturer Acerbis (Albino, Italy) and mobility company Genny Factory SA (Ticino, Switzerland). 

With Genny Zero, Genny Factory SA aims to launch a new era of electic mobility. CEO Paolo Badano says, “Currently, over 20 million wheelchairs are produced worldwide every year. By introducing Genny Zero, we intend to revolutionize this market with a product that merges cutting-edge design and pioneering technology, thus redefining the standards of the sector.”

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How was the vehicle designed? Badano says, “Inspired by the concept of a self-balancing mobility vehicle driven standing up, we created a product that surpasses conventional limits, making the technology accessible to people with reduced mobility.”

Early prototypes of Genny Zero included mostly metal components; the goal in the next design phase was to replace metal parts with lighter weight composite or polymer alternatives, while continuing to meet resistance, safety and aesthetic standards.

RadiciGroup’s Radistrong glass fiber-reinforced polyamide materials and Radilon polyamide engineering polymers were used to manufacture the vehicle’s structural and functional parts, and Radilon Mixloy materials were used for aesthetic components. RadiciGroup also supported the vehicle’s design through its engineering services division.

These materials contributed to a weight reduction from 110 kilograms to 60 kilograms.

Claudio Ghilardi, marketing sector focal team leader at RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers, says, “The polymers helped make the vehicle dynamic, stable, safe and resistant to the various types of stress it was subjected to. Great attention was also given to aesthetic appearance, particularly to the fairings and rear, for which we chose materials that guarantee excellent surface appearance, hence avoiding the need for final painting. Additionally, the materials were stabilized against UV rays and developed to resist exposure to weather conditions.”

RadiciGroup worked closely with Acerbis through all the stages of the industrialization process, developing specific solutions from material formulation to mold design, injection molding and testing of the various components. 

Genny Zero was recently presented at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France.