Maybe you like the idea of commuting by bike, but don’t want to be hunched over the handlebars in the wind and rain. If so, the semi-enclosed VeMoo recumbent electric trike may be just what you’re looking for.
Not to be confused with the unrelated Veemo velomobile. VeMoo was invented by French entrepreneurs Sebastian Hurstel and Arnaud Audrezet.
The base of the vehicle is a recumbent tricycle with three suspended 26-inch wheels, the front two of which tilt when the tricycle turns corners, increasing stability and performance. The rider’s pedaling power is transferred to the rear wheel via a 3 x 8 drivetrain and augmented by a 250W hub motor that generates 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) of torque.
The motor is powered by a 460 Wh lithium-ion battery, which is said to have a range of up to 100 km (62 miles) on a single charge. The trike has an electrically assisted top speed of 25 km/h (16 mph) and is stopped by hydraulic disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear.
Vemu
Specifications may change for production models, but current prototypes feature manufacturers such as RockShox (suspension), SunRace (drivetrain), Sturmey-Archer (rear brakes), Schwalbe (tires), and Actia (motor). We source components from.
Like most other recumbent trikes, the rider reclines into a padded seat with a backrest. However, unlike other recumbents, the VeMoo features body panels that provide some degree of weather protection, improve the trike’s aerodynamics, and provide storage space.
DIBOND is made from a composite material consisting of two aluminum layers sandwiching a polyethylene core. These panels do not completely enclose the rider (as is the case with most velomobiles), so ventilation and getting in and out of the vehicle are not an issue.
Vemu
On the underside of the panel just in front of the rider is a 7-litre lockable glove box with built-in lights and a USB port for charging your smartphone. The panel at the very front of the VeMoo is actually the side of a 55-litre lockable cargo trunk that can be removed from the trike and rolled around on its own wheels.
The trike’s panel also features dual side mirrors, along with a complete AXA front and rear lighting system including turn signals. If it starts raining, riders can quickly install the included Rainjoy Bub-up windshield/roof.
Vemu
The latest prototype is said to weigh around 80 kg (176 lb), but the target weight for the production model is significantly lower at 60 kg (132 lb). And if you want one of these retail VeMoos for yourself, be prepared to pay around 12,000 euros (about $12,655 USD). The company is currently accepting deposits of 2,000 euros ($2,109) and plans to start shipping to buyers next year.
You can see the prototype in action in the video below.
VeMoo – Jules de Pruy
Source: VeMoo
