Mikael Kjellman really likes to bike, but where he lives (in Sweden) the weather is not always conducive to biking. Fortunately, Kjellman works as a design engineer, so he made himself a four-wheel bike with a fabric cabin “to keep dry and warm in all-weather.”
“I have driven it to work every day for a year now and it has proven to be a very practical and comfortable little vehicle,” he wrote on his IndieGoGo page.
Aside from being arguably one of the cutest cars to ever hit the road, PodRide, as Kjellman named it, offers a number of perks, demonstrating that its designer put quite a bit of thought to its usability. It’s powered either by an electric motor or by pedaling, and can handle some harsh winter conditions.
PodRide is a velomobile that is meant to be a practical every day vehicle.
It has approximately the same seating position and seat height as a small car, allowing easy access and good visibility in traffic. It has four wheels to be narrow enough for bicycle paths but still be stable in the curves. It has a full waterproof body to keep you warm and dry in any weather, heated windshield, soft seat with back support, air suspension and studded tires in winter. A small trunk for your shopping bags and a tow bar for a bike trailer when you want to bring your kids. The motor and control system are from a standard e-bike system and should make it a street legal bike in most countries. And may then be operated on bicycle paths and without a drivers license.
“It is a fun vehicle to drive and I really like to build things,” Kjellman wrote. “But the big reason for me has been the environmental benefits these vehicles could have if they were made more popular.”
If he raises enough money, he plans “to make an easy to build complete kit, no fabrication needed (like IKEA Furniture).”
Specifications:
Length: 180cm Width: 75cm
Height: 145cm Seat Height: 50cm
Weight: 70kg Wheel: 20inch tires
Wheelbase: 88 cm Turning circle: 3,5m
Motor: 250W electric Gears: 14-speed hub
Range: 60km Speed:25km/h (with motor)
Co2 emissions: 7g/km(EU-electricity mix)
(Car 140g/km, Electric car 70g/km)
