This is the VOOK e-trike and its creators hope that it’ll become the next big thing in personal electric vehicle transportation. It sports at least 80 miles of range, a robust and classic design, and a top speed of 40 mph. The only real question, other than if it’ll get made at all, is who will buy one for $2,300 over on Indiegogo?
At its core, the VOOK e-trike is a classically styled trike with a pair of electric motors at the rear. Buyers can choose from either a 30Ah battery or a 50Ah battery. Range estimates sit at 80 miles and 110 miles respectively. That’s a long way to travel on a trike and VOOK says that one can recharge the battery in as little as 2.5 hours given the right charger.
The trike features four modes, Safe (10 mph), Eco (15 mph), Sport (20 mph), and Boost/Extreme (40 mph) though it doesn’t get into range estimates for each. The frame is made from 6061 aluminum and you’ll find “puncture-proof” tires at each corner along with hydraulic disc brakes to slow things down.
Read: E-Bike Battery Explodes On Video While Charging At Home
The seat is fiberglass and behind it is the battery storage area along with just enough space for a tiny 14-inch laptop. Buyers will start the VOOK with either an integrated smartphone app or their fingerprint. The trike leverages a waterproof LCD display along with two cameras to help riders stay aware of their surroundings.
Despite all of this ‘innovation’ we get the feeling that some buyers might find pain points with the VOOK e-trike. We mean that literally too as this thing doesn’t have a suspension. How it’ll feel going over a bad pothole at 40 mph is anyone’s guess but it doesn’t sound fun.
Those “puncture-proof” tires are a tad concerning too as VOOK doesn’t say exactly how they manage to be so tough. If the rear ones are rubber that would likely only increase the transmission of vibrations through the frame. Finally, the seating position is quite close to the ground so simply getting into that position and back out of it could prove difficult for some body types or those with significant joint issues.
Pricing starts at $2,300 for the 30Ah version and bumps up to $2,500 for the 50 Ah. Keep in mind that VOOK says this is only “super-early bird pricing” so it’s subject to change.
$2,300 seems like a steep price for something that appears to have a number of compromises over a similarly priced e-bike. We’ll keep tabs on the VOOK and let you know how things go as they approach their goal. Should all things fall into place it says it’ll begin shipping trikes in December of this year.
Update: VOOK got back to us on some questions we had surrounding the etrike. It has a rider weight limit of 120kg or 264.5 pounds. In addition, it doesn’t have any suspension. VOOK says that the fat tire on the front and the seat are designed to provide a comfortable ride.
