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It's a bit reminiscent of a soap box, but if it were up to its inventor, it should be the future of e-mobility.
Aerodynamic, light - and above all climate-friendly.
This vehicle is a mixture of bicycle and car, a so-called velomobile.
Graham Browne, founder of Northern Light Motors
»It's all about bridging the gap between bikes and cars. I think the key elements are, as I said, the luggage storage, the safety element and also the aerodynamics. A closed body with low air resistance has enormous advantages
.«
The British startup wants to launch three different bikes - with and without additional pedals.
The fully electric version is said to be capable of speeds of up to around 45 km/h, but has so far only been approved for the UK market.
With the 48 volt battery, which can be charged at conventional sockets, you can travel around 64 kilometers.
Despite the low height of the velomobile, safety should be guaranteed.
»All contact surfaces are well above the bumper height, which is another important aspect. It has massive crumple zones, especially at the rear wheels, for example. And then there are bulkheads, internal bulkheads that are set back and inward so there's extra security here too. In the composites are core materials. So it's a lot safer than riding an e-bike or a moped, somewhere between a moped and a car.«
How well you can be seen on the road with it is another question.
The manufacturer also promises protection from wind and rain with the help of a removable roof and rain hood, but there is no windshield.
The vehicle, which weighs 55 kilos, should cost from 6,000 pounds, i.e. almost 7,000 euros.
Although this is relatively cheap compared to a car with an electric motor, it is still a proud price for the intended mass market.
"If we can sell 12,000 of them, then I'll be very happy. We'll see how we get on."
This goal seems optimistic - for a niche product of this kind, half of the copies sold would be decent.
Production is scheduled to start this summer.
