TWIKE: The Vehicle Of The Future?

from JoeUser Forums
These look pretty awesome. It's a bicycle/electric driven hybrid vehicle. It looks like a pretty steep price on them right now, but perhaps they'll come down if they catch on. I'd love to try one out.

Link
misc
3,145 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
OMG, Mason, that thing is HIDEOUS. Really, really bad.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
#1 by Texas Wahine
Sat, August 19, 2006 8:48 PM



[Texas Wahine]
OMG, Mason, that thing is HIDEOUS. Really, really bad.


Really? I think it's pretty cool. The idea of not buying gas should be pretty attractive to a lot of people. With a top speed of 53mph and a range of 80 miles between charges it would be a great commuter vehicle.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reminds me of the flintstone cars.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
#3 by Dr. Guy
Sun, August 20, 2006 0:54 PM



[Dr. Guy]
Reminds me of the flintstone cars.


Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Wouldn't it have the same propensity to lean and roll the way offroad threewheelers do? Imagine hitting your brakes hard at 10 or 15 miles an hour and turning the steering wheel. I bet it would roll a long way before it stopped.

It seems odd they'd take the three wheel route at all. Why not four? A hundred years of vehicle technology is pretty sound to build on. The French made silly little three-wheeled cars, and they were only good for Clouseau movies.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
#5 by BakerStreet
Sun, August 20, 2006 3:39 PM



[BakerStreet]
Wouldn't it have the same propensity to lean and roll the way offroad threewheelers do? Imagine hitting your brakes hard at 10 or 15 miles an hour and turning the steering wheel. I bet it would roll a long way before it stopped.

It seems odd they'd take the three wheel route at all. Why not four? A hundred years of vehicle technology is pretty sound to build on. The French made silly little three-wheeled cars, and they were only good for Clouseau movies.


I've ridden a lot of trikes, both V-twin powered and Volkswagon engine powered and they were always quite stable. No reason to think this wouldn't be as well. You have to remember that it has the weight of the batteries and electric motor in the rear which adds some stability.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
It looks like a little bug! I showed my hubby the pic he said that was just for going around the block! I would worry how they would handle a corner though. The roads here are so curvy in places.

I do like the concept of it though, they should have made it look more appealing.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Where do you all live? I might be getting one in a couple of months.... I would go into it a little more but tell me what city you live in if you are in texas and I will let you see it when it comes in. I spend $140/month to go to work (not to mention everywhere else close to home and electricity is much less than the cost of gas... not to mention the cost savings of less insurance costs, maintenance (no oil changes, wheel alignments (easy to do yourself), emissions inspections (sometimes no state inspection at all), easy to park in crampt areas, low cost to take a simple cruise around town like people used to do when low cost gas was plentiful...