|
The Twike was first developed by a group of Swiss students for the 1986 World EXPO in Vancouver. (Canada). It also won the “Functionality Award” for the best ergonomic design in Innovative Vehicle Design competition and first price in the International Human Powered Vehicle Speed Championships. The first Twike was driven by human power. In 1991 an electric version (Twike II was created that featured a belt pedal drive with variable mechanical transmission and a DC motor powered by NiCd batteries to help power the vehicle.
In 1992 the newly founded Twike Ltd developed the vehicle into a production vehicle and production began in 1995. In 1998 a production line was launched in Germany by FINE Mobile GmbH who became the exclusive producer of the Twike after taking over the rights of the SwissLEM AEG in 2002.
The latest Twike, the Lion Twike, is powered by a 5kw electric motor powered by a Lilon Mn 353 20AH battery pack and has a range of 125 miles with speeds up to 53mph(0 - 40mph in 9 seconds). The body is covered by covered by ® Luran S, a thermoplastic resin made by BASF attached to an aluminium frame to give a total weight of 170kg (without batteries). The batteries weigh 35 - 100kg,
The Twike is currently in production.
|
