Tilting Electric Three-Wheeler
Electric mobility start-up Leaf Energy has produced a funky-looking all-terrain tilting three-wheeler dubbed the D05.
The reverse trike e-scooter rocks independent front suspension (allowing riders to lean into the corners) and a self-balancing mechanism, meaning riders won’t have to kick out a stand every time they park. When stopping, a flick of a switch on the handlebars locks the front wheels to prevent rollback.
The D05 specifications and features include:
- A customized Bosch rear-hub motor provides up to 1.2 kW of peak power, 94 ft. lb. (128 Nm) of torque, and maximum speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h).
- A 1.25 kWh removable Li-ion battery pack that should get you up to 45 miles (72.5 km) of per-charge range, with motor braking potentially adding more capacity by topping up the battery.
- Hydraulic disc braking on each wheel reportedly offers “1.5 times the braking force of a two-wheel scooter,”
- Adaptive LED lighting in the front and a Summit LED rear/brake light,
- An LCD display with a built-in Bluetooth to sync with a smartphone running a companion app for vehicle status, GPS tracking, and more,
- A storage cubby in the front to store a phone, with a USB port to keep it juiced up.
According to Leaf Energy’s website, the DO5 is going for $4,295. Check out the three-wheeler in action in the video below.
Modular E-Quadricycle
Traditional three-wheeled cargo bikes can carry a lot of stuff, but you need four wheels for some loads. However, that doesn’t mean the vehicle can’t be partially pedal-powered, as with the modular electric-assisted SUM-X quadricycle.
The quadricycle, built by Italian mobility company SUM Solutions, consists of two main parts. First, there’s the carbon-fiber-framed front end, which includes the handlebars, seat, crankset, battery, drivetrain, bottom bracket motor, and front wheels. Second, that front end gets coupled to the rear end (obviously).
It is fundamentally a flatbed cargo unit that’s available in long, medium, and short versions. In addition, buyers can choose an insulated cargo box version with a footprint that matches the dimensions of the bed for loads that need to be kept cool or enclosed. For example, an insulated cargo unit is ideal for food delivery.
The SUM-X also features:
- Hydraulic disc brakes,
- LED head- and tail lights,
- Front and rear suspension (coil spring in front, leaf spring in back),
- And a roof and windshield are optional add-ons.
The quadricycle reportedly weighs 46 kg (101 lb) and can carry a maximum cargo of 300 kg (661 lb). In addition, one 5-hour charge of its lithium battery should be suitable for a motor-assisted range of 60 km (37 miles).
Watch the SUM-X being tested in a project to deliver urban mobility to wheelchair users in this video below.
Four-Wheeled Scooter Powered By Rockin’ Deck
Is it a scooter, a skateboard, or a bicycle? It’s Drezina. Unlike a scooter usually propelled by kicking one foot against the ground, Drezina moves along by rocking its curved skateboard-like deck up and down, like a seesaw.
Drezina, designed by Bulgarian entrepreneur Angel Stoyanov, is foldable, light, and compact. You can take it everywhere – from your car to the subway, the store, in a coffee shop, the university, or office.
Drezina features:
- An aviation-grade aluminum frame,
- Dual polyurethane front and rear wheels,
- Adjustable-height fold-down handlebars,
- And an oak- or beech-veneered curved plywood deck.
A pivot attaches the middle of that deck to the scooter’s frame. The deck’s front end is connected to a dual-chain drive mechanism in the scooter’s “tower.” As a result, the rider stands on the deck and rocks it to move its front end up and down, causing the chain drive to spin the front wheels.
While cruising along, riders can turn by shifting their weight to the left side or the right, causing the front wheels to simultaneously turn in the same direction. A spring-loaded link between those wheels keeps them secure. Stopping is accomplished by squeezing a bar-mounted brake lever, which activates a brake in the rear wheels.
The entire vehicle reportedly weighs 8 kg (17.6 lb) and can reach top speeds of up to 25 km/h (16 mph) – needless to say, however, that depends on the rider. Users can either ride with one foot on the front of the deck and one on the back or place both feet in the center and flex their ankles to move the deck back and forth.
In addition, Stoyanov suggests that two kids can ride the scooter together, one with both feet on the rear of the deck and one with both on the front. The vehicle’s maximum rider weight is 100 kg (220 lb).
Drezina is currently running an Indiegogo campaign, where a pledge of US$249 will get you one. Assuming it reaches production, the planned retail price is $629. You can see Drezina in action (which looks like a lot of fun) in the video below.
