Electric Motorcycle Manufacturer CAKE and Vattenfall Develop First Truly Fossil Free Vehicle

Electric vehicles have boomed and are often viewed as completely sustainable, however even electric vehicles have emissions that are hidden in the production phase. Now, a truly fossil free vehicle is looking possible. The Swedish electric motorcycle manufacturer CAKE and the European energy company Vattenfall have been united in their purpose of a fossil free future, to face this challenge together.  

CAKE has a mission to reach a fossil free society and produces motorcycles that are fully electric and emissions free when used. Now, CAKE, together with expertise from Vattenfall, is aiming to make their popular off-road motorcycle Kalk OR truly fossil free by decreasing its carbon weight of 1,186 kg CO2e in the production phase to an absolute minimum by 2025. This means reinventing the wheel, the suspension, the saddle, and every other part of the bike.  

“Vattenfall works to achieve fossil free living within one generation and is dedicated to finding partnerships that inspire and break barriers. This is one such project, where our main contribution is the broad knowledge in fossil free solutions and electrification of industries that  we have acquired over decades”, says Annika Ramsköld, head of corporate sustainability at Vattenfall. 

When CAKE and Vattenfall initiated a dialogue on how to best provide purpose by a collaboration, the Nordic full-service agency NORD DDB proposed to go beyond communication and set goals for making real impact based on a long-term campaign that follows the development of a truly fossil free motorcycle.  

“Vattenfall is deeply committed to their goal of fossil free living within one generation. This project manifests and proves that commitment. CAKE is also incredibly innovative within their field. At NORD DDB, we are really excited that this collaboration aiming to build the first truly fossil free vehicle is now happening. This project puts focus on the role of creativity and how it can be a catalyst for real change”, says Simon Higby, Nordic creative director at NORD DDB. 

The making of a vehicle involves many parts which makes it difficult to achieve complete freedom from fossil fuels in every line of the production chain. To demonstrate the challenge ahead NORD DDB has also created a digital campaign. The campaign aims to show the importance of going back to the production chain when creating truly sustainable solutions. In the campaign units we see a smoke-filled cube displaying CAKE’s electric dirt bike, with a volume corresponding to the bike’s current production emissions. The digital campaign is launched in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and Germany and consists of video and stills run in social media platforms Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat. 

“The partnership between CAKE and Vattenfall is making a real impact in the transition towards fossil free production. By inspiring others, leveraging bold campaigns and sharing our progress, we’re able to help accelerate the development further”, says Isabella Pehrsson, head of sustainability at CAKE.  

As the project evolves, CAKE and Vattenfall will share their journey and breakthroughs with the rest of the industry and other interested parties. The vision extends beyond the motorcycle. The partners hope to inspire the automotive industry as well as others and show that fossil freedom through the whole production chain is possible.