KAERU

Led by the industrial designer Philippe Riehling (Artenréel) with Émilie Mathis (KAERU-Opalion), the KAERU project addresses a very practical constraint for kayakers: getting to a river by car involves heavy, polluting shuttle logistics. KAERU is a removable electric module that attaches to a kayak so it can be wheeled to the water, then detaches for paddling, removing the need for a shuttle and decarbonising the activity. The Tango&Scan project funds the move from the prototype, already tested, to a marketable product, with the support of the industrial designer Benjamin Bohrer (BHC) and the product designer Alix Videlier for ergonomic and manufacturing iterations. The solution targets both individual kayakers and canoe-kayak clubs and hire companies, for whom the module simplifies transporting their fleet and makes them more self-sufficient.