From the inventor of the C5 mobility scooter, a new urban transport solution has recently surfaced. British inventor Clive Sinclair has recently announced the X1, an electrically assisted buggy-looking vehicle, with a full rollcage and an acrylic bubble shell designed to offer some weather protection.
Details are a bit sketchy, but what we do know is that the Sinclair X-1 weighs 30 kg (66 lbs), comes in at 209x140x69 cm (82-55-27 inches) , and deliveries are expected to begin in July 2011.
The X-1 packs a 24v lithium-polymer battery which drives a 190-Watt motor via a fixed-gear drivetrain. Disk-brakes front and back provide stopping power, while the lower shell is made from carbon fiber, and chassis is made of steel.
So far, the three-quarters CGI image only allowed us to see that the bubble canopy is open on both sides... and this pretty much ends here. Adjustable handlebars covered in suede and a reclining seat made of nylon are also among the highlights. The built-in lights reportedly provide strong visibility to other road users.
Also, the company’s website says that it costs a penny per mile to ride (based on an average weight passenger using pedal assistance).
Finally, the most doubtful aspect of the X-1 are those little 16-inch wheels which, combined with that extremely low riding position and no side fairings, could come as a safety issue.
The Sinclair X-1 will retail for GBP595 ($968), but UK residents could get a price reduction of up to 50 percent via the Government’s run, cycle to work scheme. It also requires no driving license to be road legal.
Details are a bit sketchy, but what we do know is that the Sinclair X-1 weighs 30 kg (66 lbs), comes in at 209x140x69 cm (82-55-27 inches) , and deliveries are expected to begin in July 2011.
The X-1 packs a 24v lithium-polymer battery which drives a 190-Watt motor via a fixed-gear drivetrain. Disk-brakes front and back provide stopping power, while the lower shell is made from carbon fiber, and chassis is made of steel.
So far, the three-quarters CGI image only allowed us to see that the bubble canopy is open on both sides... and this pretty much ends here. Adjustable handlebars covered in suede and a reclining seat made of nylon are also among the highlights. The built-in lights reportedly provide strong visibility to other road users.
Also, the company’s website says that it costs a penny per mile to ride (based on an average weight passenger using pedal assistance).
Finally, the most doubtful aspect of the X-1 are those little 16-inch wheels which, combined with that extremely low riding position and no side fairings, could come as a safety issue.
The Sinclair X-1 will retail for GBP595 ($968), but UK residents could get a price reduction of up to 50 percent via the Government’s run, cycle to work scheme. It also requires no driving license to be road legal.