Twike Velomobile: a Look Inside the Best

Earlier this week, we took a look at a new, enclosed bicycle concept from Virtue Bikes. It was nice-looking enough, and certainly got our attention, but (as I mentioned in that article) it didn’t provide the sort of 360-degree weather protection that you get from a “proper” velo. In light of all that complaining and negativity, it seemed like a good time to highlight something positive – so, here’s a look inside the German TWIKE.

In my opinion, the TWIKE is the best pedal-electric velomobile you can buy today. Between its low weight, fully enclosed bodywork, top-shelf components, and nearly emissions-free operation, the TWIKE has a lot going for it – but that’s not the most impressive thing about the TWIKE. This is: the TWIKE has been in production for nearly 20 years.

That’s right, the TWIKE is not a concept. It’s not some guy asking for your money in exchange for hopes and promises and (if you’re lucky) a refund if it doesn’t work out. It’s a for-real company that will sell you a for-real product. A for-real, 50 MPH human-electric hybrid product that’s good enough to nearly win the Automotive X-Prize. A for-real product that features proven, real-world capabilities in all kinds of nasty weather conditions. A for-real product you can buy, right now, for about $6800 (in “Pioneer” trim, no less).

If, you know, you live in Europe.

In the past, TWIKEs have been offered in the US for more than $26,000 (back in the heady days of 2007-2008, when gas prices first hit $4/gal. and people still had credit), but- for the moment- that barrel is dry. It’s too mad, too, because I think there’s a tremendous demand for a highly efficient, $6800 pedal-electric trike with a 20 year track record of reliability. What do you guys think? Check out the TWIKE’s cockpit and pedal drive, below, then peruse the specs and let us know what you think in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Inside the TWIKE

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TWIKE Technical Specs

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Type of vehicle
EU	Three-wheel motor vehicle (2002/24/EG)
CH	Dreirädriges Motorfahrzeug
US	Motorcycle – Threewheeler
Dimensions / mm
Length x width x heigth	2650 × 1200 × 1250
Wheel base	1870
Wheel gauge	1090
Construction
Chassis	Tube frame and aluminium space frame with roll-over bar, 3-point safety belts
Vehicle body	Thermoplast LuranS®
Steering	Joystick with connection rod and damper
Motor
Type	3-phase-asynchronous motor with integrated reductiongearbox (11,6:1) and differential
Actual power output	3 kW at 2930/min
Maximum power	9 kW
Nominal voltage	230 Volt
Drive system	IGBT Inverter with controller and HMI
Pedal drive	integrated
Driving performance
Drag coefficient	Cw=0,325
Maximum speed	85 km/h
Acceleration 0-60 km/h	9 sec
Range per charging	more than 500 km
Max. climbing ability	22%
Battery
Type	LiMn, 392 cells
Nominal voltage	353 Volt DC
Capacity	4,8 – 5,8 Ah
Energy	1,7 – 2,1 kWh
Weight	19 kg
Energy density	96 – 116 Wh/kg
Charging time	about 1 km/min
Consumption
Efficient	4 kWh / 100km
City-cycle	6 kWh / 100km
Highway-cycle	7 kWh / 100km
Energy equivalent	0,4 – 0,7 l fuel / 100km
Mountains	+1,77 kWh / 1.000 evelation gain
Weighti / kg
Empty weight without battery	220 kg
Permissible maximum weight	505 kg
Axle load limit, front wheel	145 kg
Axle load limit, back wheel	360 kg
Chassis
Independent wheel suspension	On rear and front wheels
Wheels	Aluminum rims, front wheel 1,35“x16”, rear wheel 1,85“x16”
Tire	front wheel 2 1/4 – 16” (20×2,25) or 2 1/2 2 – 16” (20×2,50),
Brake system	2-circuit hydraulic system, front wheel disk break, rear wheels drum break, electric motor brake (recuperation with cruise control)
Luggage space
Dimensions / mm	Length x width x heigth: 400 × 1150 × 650
Volume for luggage	(with 2 seats) / co-pilot seat easily removable

Photos/technical info. courtesy of FINE Mobile GmbH.

Pedal Power: SC-1 Biposto Concept Brings the Sexy

Velomobiles and pedal cars like the Twike 4XP exist to show us that pedal power can be a viable means of urban transport. Companies like Scuderie Campari, meanwhile, exist to make pedal power dreams utterly, totally, and almost inconceivably sexy. This is the SC-1 ultra-luxe pedal car concept for adults, and it is gorgeous.

Intended to resemble pre-war Grand Prix racers from Mercedes and Bugatti, the SC-1 was designed by Christian Grande. As an industrial designer, Grande has “received no fewer than 15 awards for his nautical and automotive designs”, which goes a long way towards explaining the whys and hows of this Velo’s slinky shape.

While still just a concept, it’s worth noting that Scuderie Campari’s primary business is the construction of high-quality, high-end pedal child-size cars that are directly patterned after old Bugattis and the Ferrari-driven, pre-war Alfa Romeo race cars. While I don’t know this for certain, I can’t imagine that the knowledge required to make an electrically-assisted child-sized pedal car is very different from the knowledge required to make an electrically-assisted adult-sized pedal car. So, if there’s any demand, at all, I’m sure we can expect to see a production SC-1.

If that demand does materialize, each SC-1 will be to order, “tailor-made in the Parma workshop, customization options are vast, from the exterior design through colors and equipment.”

What do you guys think? Is the SC-1 a better interpretation of the human-powered urban EV concept than the Twike, or is the whole “pedal power” concept fundamentally flawed? Let us know what you think in the comments, below.

Source | Photos: Scuderie Campari, via TechVehi.

Can You Drive a Twike in Winter?

Of all the oddball green car concepts out there – and, there are a lot of ‘em! – my favorite has to be the Twike 4XP. A human-powered hybrid, the Twike 4XP is a tiny urban runabout that you can pedal like a bicycle, but also drive around like an electric car. If you’re running low on juice, either physically or electrically, you can tap into the appropriate reserves and get home. It’s brilliant, in my never-so-humble opinion, and its most heinous emissions are easily controlled by avoiding Indian food. Still, today’s weather forecast called for “cold and freezing fog” here in Chicagoland, which didn’t sound promising for the little Twike.

Putting it another way: can you realistically drive a 4XP in winter?

Because life can always get a little better, I (sadly) don’t have a Twike to try out on icy roads. That means I had to ask, and the word from FINE Mobil GmbH (the manufacturers of the Twike) was that the little machine “is very suitable for driving on snow as well as on ice. Through the drive with a three-phase motor and due to the narrow tires, the ‘grip’ on snowy roads is very good – by accelerating and recuperating. However, the ‘soft’ snow height should not be more than the ground clearance.” Which makes sense, since the aerodynamically-shaped flat bottom would make it just a sled, at that point.

Here comes the technical explanation for the grip, courtesy, again, of FINE:

The three phase asynchronous motor accelerates the vehicle by increasing the engine speed by a fixed amount per unit of time, limited to a maximum power consumption. This control mechanism during recuperation (electric braking) acts in the same way that prevents indiscriminate spinning of the drive wheels and thus receives the traction capability of the vehicle. Thus, the Twike automatically has a kind of “anti – skid control” and a kind of “ABS” during electric braking. Traction on ice and packed snow is an ultimate experience of the Twike.

So, take that how you will, I guess. Do any of you have a Twike or enclosed Velo of your own? Have you driven it in winter? Let us know how that went in the comments, below.

Source | Photos: Twike.