The Twike Is A Terrifying Three-Wheeled EV With Bicycle Pedals
The Twike Is A Terrifying Three-Wheeled EV With Bicycle Pedals
YouTuber Aging Wheels bought one. With his own money. So that you don't have to.
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I watched the Aging Wheels video a few days ago, thinking about posting it in this community. But the only thing I can think to say about it vis-a-vis micromobility is that it's an example of looking like a duck, but quacks like a submarine klaxon.
At 9 kW peak output from its electric motor, this machine slips well past the line for what can plausibly be called human-powered mobility. And like some of the larger, heavier ebike builds we've seen earlier in this community, this falls well outside the limits of "micro" mobility, coming in at 240 kg (530 lbs) minimum. And it does 85 kph (53 mph)? That's almost an impractical speed for this vehicle.
I think we can say we've found the true answer to the question of "what if we make ebikes faster, more powerful, and bigger?". The answer is not a car, but a Twike.
Not to say that the Twike is a bad EV. Ok, it kinda is, but it's a matter of having the right standard to compare to. As an ebike, the Twike is horrific. As a daily driver car, probably the same. But perhaps, just maybe, the Twike could fill a role akin to the classic Grumman LLV mail trucks used by USPS in rural communities. Or something like that, idk.
Ok, I thought of some more strengths for the Twike, from rewatching the video:
- You're a pilot who wants the same cramped, narrow, two-abreast interior like in a helicopter
- You want to pick up dates by opening up a cockpit canopy like in Top Gun: Maverick
- You've always wanted to drive a Benz Patent-Motorwagen using its tiller, but old cars don't interest you
- You're a gamer who exclusively uses keyboard for driving sims, so now you want something that has a button for the throttle
- You envy the roll stability of a Reliant Robin and the compactness of the Peel P50
/s
Some crazy mofo near where I’m currently living still drives a Reliant that can only be described as a pick-up / ute type vehicle. I’m assuming it’s been modded by the owner because surely Reliant never built something that weird.
That's wild! There's so much that can be done with fiberglass, that perhaps we've forgotten to ask whether it should be done haha
You are not wrong. Fortunately I was psychologically more prepared to see it as over a decade previously I’d already witnessed a 3 (2?) door Vauxhall / Opel Corsa that had been turned into a pick-up. Like you say, just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
Okay that is both slower and heavier than my motorcycle. Plus you can't lane filter in that thing.