Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News! This electric trike is small enough to fit in bike lanes and bike paths, has an enclosure that offers some protection from the weather, and includes a variety of car-like features such as headlights ... [continued]
I don’t see the point of this. It takes up more space than a bicycle or an electric kick bike, it’s less portable and will be tougher to park than either of those. What benefits do you get from these trade-offs? Marginally better weather proofing? A more seated position? At least make it fully enclosed.
Weather proofing ins the only advantage I can see.
Im a bit torn. This will shelter for light rain and snow. Basically for precipitation without heavy winds. It would seem to be better if it at least had some sort of removable side. On the other hand without climate control completely enclosed becomes problematic. You need good air flow. Also im betting in most cases where this version becomes unacceptable a lot of folks would still want to go with fully enclosed. Also there is large benefit to the profile assuming they have done the work to make it properly aerodynamic. think about dry eye and wind burn and such that you get when cycling or how cold can be amplified from the wind. I sorta would prefer almost a bike cab so you could transport people or goods but it does have “60 Litres of onboard cargo storage”.
Coming at it from a perspective as a Swede who used to bike 16 kilometres as a daily commute all year round, the conditions for it to actually be weather proof is so specific. If there’s even a little bit of wind coming from either direction, or you god forbid don’t drive in a straight line parallel with the rain/snow, you’ll still get wet.
On the other hand, if it is windy, and the wind is blowing in the right direction it could catch on the shell of it.
Though, in the late summer season when you frequently get bugs in the eyes while biking, unless you wear goggles or sunglasses, I can definitely see a point to the shell. It is also a very cute vehicle, the design is appealing. Though if I wanted something like this for cargo, I’d opt for one of these instead I think.
Oh certainly the one you linked allows for much more cargo but looking at the little space for the topic one it would seem decent for little store runs to to hold laptop bag and clothes changes or such for work. The site does not give any specs though that I could see. Im getting older and have been seriously considering a recumbent with a more seat like config and the seat height seems to be about at the height of the tire so I would like to know its size. My wife as a lot of medical issues so im learning for future to have something you don’t have to fall to far down onto as well as not have to climb up onto.
Storage space is one, and a more stable platform. Without having to balance it’d be easier to eat food, or text while driving too.