It seems like there’s no shortage of plans to save the planet these days. One of the latest comes from Mikael Kjellman, a design engineer based out of Ostersund, Sweden, who developed a fully enclosed, fabric-bodied electric bike-car loaded with features normally reserved for traditional automobiles. It’s called the PodRide.
As a biking enthusiast, Kjellman says the idea was originally a way to combat the less-than-ideal Swedish weather. Now, however, he’s facing a much bigger undertaking – maximizing the environmental benefits of the bike-car by increasing its popularity. The strategy? Make it more like a car.
Also called a velomobile, the PodRide is similar to a recumbent bicycle in its operation. The human pilot can pedal the four-wheeled vehicle forward, but there’s also a 250-watt electric motor onboard for on-demand acceleration. With electric power alone, the PodRide can reach speeds up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph), and go a distance of 60 km (37.3 miles) on a single charge.
It’s not too low, either, with the rider sitting roughly at the same height as a driver in a road car, which means good visibility. Designed for practicality and everyday use, there’s a small trunk for groceries, plus the option for a tow bar. There are even headlights, turn signals, and a manual windshield wiper, not to mention a fully enclosed body to protect the rider from the elements. And as evidenced by the slick donuts executed in the accompanying YouTube video, it looks pretty fun too.
The PodRide can be used on the road, but it’s also narrow enough for the bike path. Kjellman says he’s driven his creation to work every day for a year without issue, and he’s currently seeking funding through Indiegogo to develop a kit based on his prototype with the intention of selling it to at-home builders.
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