Home » Waiting for velomobiles, more than an e-bike, less than a car

Waiting for velomobiles, more than an e-bike, less than a car

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MILAN – The mobility market is a big greedy cake and each slice makes the manufacturers appetite, who continually update the catalogs with increasingly performing and avant-garde models. Then there is a substantial portion, which concerns the means destined for micro-mobility, which in the last two years in terms of sales and products shows us not only what we want to drive, but which means we will favor in the future.

Thus, among bicycles, scooters, single wheels and electrified skateboards, velomobiles peep out. Precisely the latter, due to their technical characteristics, are conquering the countries of Northern Europe and soon, at least so some brands promise, we will see them also run on our roads. So let’s see what these curious vehicles really are and what their origin is.

The Velocar by Charles Mochet

More than a century ago, Charles Mochet built a bike-car for his son, as soon after the First World War, there weren’t many bicycles for the boys to play. Here, this four-wheeled vehicle is considered the first velomobile in history. After the success obtained, Mochet started the production of “Velocar”, then later inherited and continued by his son Georges. As the years progressed, to keep up with the times, the company began to produce cars and that vehicle that gave prestige to the family ended up on display among the memorabilia, but that’s another story.

Returning to velomobiles or velocipedes, they are practical, economical vehicles with a small footprint and zero impact on the environment. Technically, these are human-powered vehicles related to bicycles and equipped with a body that gives comfort, protection from atmospheric agents and has a space, albeit reduced, dedicated to luggage. Aided by the aerodynamically shaped bodywork, a velocipede is capable of reaching speeds of 30 – 50 km / h, on flat, obstacle-free terrain. Given the temperatures and the routes, the velomobiles, as already mentioned, are among the most loved vehicles by the inhabitants of the countries of Northern Europe.

Furthermore, unlike the bicycle, it is driven sitting with the back resting, a bit like the latest generation exercise bikes. For some time now, some start-ups have begun to electrify them so that they can effortlessly travel along happy roads, climbs and bumps, thus making it easier for the driver to drive.

The public and lovers of the category have not only welcomed the novelty, but have begun to make it as the primary means to replace the car. In fact, one of the missions of this vehicle category is to offer the driver the advantages, the benefits of the automobile and the electrified bicycle at the same time.

On the market we begin to see the first models, which in a handful of years have gone from being admired as prototypes of the future in some trade shows, to seeing them turn on the street. In the limelight, we point out the Twike 5 model, the number indicates the fifth generation of the vehicle, considering that up to the fourth it was an experimental vehicle.

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