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- Innovative e-trike blends an electric microcar with a bicycle
- A top speed of 120km/h (75mph) means it can drive on most roads
- Helicopter-inspired controls offer a unique riding experience
Blending the worlds of bicycle, tricycle, microcar and the European classification of quadricycle, the Cixi Vigoz aims to be a hybrid future transport solution that combines battery power with human muscle.
Designed by French engineering firm Cixi, which wants to transform passive journeys into something that can keep us fit, the company has used the futuristic extra-urban runaround to develop its clever PERS (pedaling energy recovery system) chain-less drive system.
Essentially, it consists of a fairly standard set of pedals that act as a throttle system, sensing input from the user and signaling the electric motor to deliver power to the wheels.
In early cargo bike applications, the company proved how mechanical energy produced by the rider was transformed into electricity and transferred directly to the motor.
Pedal faster, and the bike speeds up, pedal backwards and the bike slows, with regenerative braking feeding more energy back into the battery packs.
Now, the system has been integrated into a neat, leaning tricycle that sees the two wheels up-front take care of steering and a single wheel at the rear providing the final drive. Think of it a bit like a Can-Am Spyder, but with a roof and seatbelts.
With a 22kWh battery pack, the Vigoz delivers almost 100 miles of range, which can be replenished in just six hours from a domestic plug socket – or boosted by increased human leg power.
What’s more, the electric motor delivers enough grunt to propel the slightly mad machine up to speeds of 75mph, meaning it can keep up with most traffic.
Remember, all the while the ‘driver’ is pedaling, but thanks to the unique drivetrain, the user can select the amount of torque experienced through the cranks, allowing for a super easy commute if the legs aren’t up to it.
Vigoz is controlled via two levers, placed either side of the highly adjustable seat. These are used to steer, leaning the machine into corners much like many three-wheeled scooters on the market.
Traditional brake levers at the end of the controls help bring the Vigoz to a stop, while a small display gives speed read-outs and can sync with a smartphone for navigational duties.
It has also been designed to be IsoFix compatible, so can house most modern child seats, and large enough for a fully-grown adult to jump in the back. Plus, there’s a small cargo area at the rear for transporting kit.
Emissions-free commute? No sweat
Although the Vigoz is still very much a design study for now, the French company behind it says that it is close to putting a production-ready version on the road.
If and when it does finally arrive, Cixi claims that it will be offered as a subscription-only product, rather than offering it for sale privately. This is partly because it has been designed to last 15 years before it is properly recycled and disposed of in-house to improve its eco-credentials.
It might look a little odd, but Cixi says it is important to “reintroduce” just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity into our day for a better quality of life. And what better way to do this than on the daily commute?
According to its studies, the vehicle would suit those living in or around the French Alps, near the borders of Switzerland and Italy, where a lot of people travel from small towns into larger cities for work.
Shielded from the elements and sporting mod-cons, such as heaters, air-conditioning LED lighting and windshield wipers, the Cixi Vigoz could neatly blend the benefits of owning a push bike with the go-anywhere characteristic of a small EV.
Or we may never see or hear of it again…