Podbike prototype review & test drive 

First, I respect that someone has gone through the hundreds of hours and tons of money to make their idea into something that actually works. I am sure they will continue to improve on it. Kudos to them. Second, to the developers, Don't give up or be frustrated by any negative critics. Keep up the good work guys!!!

1000 km challange when?

Finally someone that reviewed this thing, it's about time, been waiting so long to see a test drive out in the streets. I hope Bjørn will test the final production version as well.

It seems most people in the comment section haven't driven a bicycle in years or don't even know what it is. All those commenting "blah blah a car is better" you are completely missing the point...

Thank you for this video. Hopefully we get anotherone when the production version is out!

Love seeing these innovative products, thanks!

Bjorn and his E-toys! We need a banana box test. This could be a nice tourer bike, especially for colder countries.

I love your pronunciation man 😂❤️ bike is dope af also

So fun to hear Björn. I heard you when you did Tesla reviews. The velomobile world is a sportive intake on how to be clean, make speed and have a lot of fun. Try even those which do not have any engine than pedals, so fully driven human powered. It becomes in between a car and a bike.

Ambitious bike project... keep going on!

That thing is sooo cool 👍 I'm really looking forward to seeing these on german cyclepaths 🚲

Great idea, I've been waiting for someone to do this. BTW, I think a reasonable output for someone who's in decent shape is more like 200-250W.

That's nice man.! Wow!

Now that is the future. How cool would a line up of those be haha. I want one

i preordered one a year ago. very nice to see this here.

Awesome 🤩I can’t wait to buy one!

classic bike design with two wheels is just perfect

strap some larger batteries and some better motors and you've got yourself the best ride sharing city bike in the world

I'll get 3 of those and will bring them with me to my trip to the mountains!

Tinted glass and some kind of air cooling system would be nice as an option. In the winter you’ll have to take care of frosty windscreen caused by your own breath. I like the concept.

Luv it! Hope it's within most reach 👍

Looking forward to the Geilo test!

Initial launch from standstill is too dangerous. It needs a lot more power! It's so much slower than a person on a regular bike when taking off!

Ha ha! Thanks Bjorn! Great video!!! Really interesting "vehicle"

Glad you rode the Podbike to give some independent views and footage. Been waiting to see more about it for some time. Still some concerns but good to see they have belt drive and a few other great features. Will they let you try a production-ready model once they've got to that stage, for a full review? ;)

Neat! Thanks for posting, I hope they do well with it!

I think something the engineers might consider in the final product is some way to ventilate with necessarily using power. Could just be a little flap that opens and lets air in at speed.

I fell in love with this thing... although the first thing I would do with it when I got my hands on it is install a larger (at least 40Ah) battery pack and possibly a stronger (at least 1kw) motor with a throttle. It might make it illegal in the EU, but E-bikes are all about comfortable riding, why not give the driver a little more comfort and possibility of resting without having to stop? That's how I ride my current E-bike, when I get sore legs, just hit the throttle and keep going until I get back to pedaling again. And sure I will get pedaling again, as the bike goes faster that way...

Video was quite interesting to me. I'd very much like if I see content similirar to this in future.

I would like the padals to be directly connected because motors even with 90% efficiency will loose more than 20% because of double conversion and the batteries inefficiency before energy is becoming movement.

I think, the blue indicator-light at the handle-bar´s end is for the high beam. The visibly from inside is incredible! I wish other vehicles have at least a little bit from that.

Looks Amazing

You made me choke on my tea. You are so funny.

nice, here you can see in what a bad shape of bicycle roads are , the crossings, the repairs, manhole covers etc. We have to take them all. Here is al lot of work to do!

this instantly reminded me of the scene in Ace Ventura 2 when he is in that robot Rhino lmao

It's really nice. It just needs a few refinements -- a quieter belt like you said -- maybe some gauges or HUD on the windscreen, bigger battery, safety features like a strong, but lightweight roll bar and/or seat belt, braking lights when pedaling backwards, etc.

Thats awesome!

Very cool concept

I sure hope they fine tune the electronic transmission to make it feel more direct. The electronic transmission isn't ideal but after reading Per's thesis "velomobile redefined" I realized the generator / series hybrid drive is a very smart way to go: * A geared hub motor for e.g. the front wheel costs about $100. So about $200 for both generator and second wheel. This is really cheap. * No need for a freewheel or differential * A derailleur gear type thing would require much more manual labor for the installation (production cost and overhead) and have more maintenance with a chain * An integrated gearbox like the Pinion would be nice, but then you still need to combine it with a motor for e-assist * There are bottom bracket motor / gearbox combinations now but they are expensive (e.g. Kervelo Quartz-12, Continental 48V revolution). So all in all they can tune how direct and good this drive will feel. In the video it did look somewhat terrible but I'm sure they can fix that. It's probably by far the cheapest option to build like this. This is important to get the Podbike cheap enough to mass manufacture, and get people to actually want to buy and use bicycles that offer weather protected instead of heavy cars. There are big transmission losses with this hybrid so you won't be able to go faster than 25km/h on even road. And you'll use more batteries. While that isn't great, it's also not a huge problem for replacing a bicycle since few people will drive faster on a bicycle anyways. The other smart thing done here was building with a cheap to make and assemble folded aluminum frame and rivets, and a thermoformed plastic hood. But I too am hoping for a "GT" version (gear transmission). All in all it's a brilliant design. Now if the governments would just easy the legal restrictions to allow e-assist up to 50km/h in cities!

6:30 A Taycan made a cameo. Nice. I’ve yet to see one on the road.

More content like this please!

When will you do the banana box test?

Exciting! I hope it will have DIY repairability and easy yet secure parking. Those could be a big advantages over cars in cities.

Podbike ดีไซน์สวย สัดส่วนดีครับ เห็นแล้วสะดุดตาเลย

Thankyou Bjorn, the best review so far for the Podbike! 1:07 There are 3 motors.....Not really, the first is a GENERATOR which is charging the batteries As far as the test is concerned, it seems: very NOISY, quite RIGID and very HOT inside 😎

Nice review. I guess mainly appealing to recumbent bike fans.

If someone can bring out a less rough edged version of this, quieter, easier in and out, summer running with the hood open, with a longer range and a little bit better security for around €30 lease per month you could start to transform transport in towns that haven't welcomed bikes. Some work on the 28kph EU limit needs to be done though. In the UK bikes that go above this need licensing and plates, plus car like insurance (that very few people offer) and you're also not allowed to use cycle lanes as a result, which is bonkers. If the bicycle categorisation can be moved to 50kph, perhaps with some cheap mandatory insurance the world could be a nicer, and more equitable, place.

Shieeet, I should be testing that 😄

The guy that made that Bike is my naiboor

The pedaling and the noises of the plastic chassis rather reminds me of paddleboat-ing 😁

3:33 Left hand blue light would be to flash "head-lights" at car or slower bicyclists :)

Sinclair C5 from the 1980's with a hood :)

I like it, and very well priced, I have more money into my recumbent FatTad Trike then it's cost. Needs a better suspension setup and more positive pedal engagement at low speeds. Cool product!

Man. This is perfect for my 10 years old kids that don’t have driving license yet😂

I'd use one. It's brilliant.

Really cool!!!

Fantastico ! Questo veicolo !

With that you got a pretty good fitness condition

Excellent!

Looks amazing I want one

I loved the original 4 wheeled version but dumb laws at the target market mean it has to be 3 and lose a fair bit of boot space. Glad to see they've got a mass marketable version out at last it looks good

LOVE this concept. Wish they would make and market them in the USA. Hopefully they will be affordable. I would even go for a regular pedal car/bike with electric assist. Would love to see a tandem version. I am in my mid 60s and love bike riding. I could use one of these.....

Cool wagon!!!

Looks alot safer than the 80's Sinclair C5.

I definitely want one

I needed this when, I was 12 or 13. I wouldn't have had to worry about dogs biting me. Dogs were able to run free when, I was a kid and they were outside.

So Cool I want one!

This will be the most affordable velomobile on the market, 5K€ they are promising, compared to the 8k that most other costs, and 4 wheel versions are closer to 10k

Nice concept

In Europe like in Ireland, it's called motor propelled vehicle. Not allowed on pedestrian area and needs documents if you are going to use it on public roads; like insurance and certificate of confirmation that it's safe to be used on public road like some kind of vehicle registration document. That's why the electric boards didn't succeed as you can only use them on private property/land

Cool comme voiture!!! Ma TM3 sr+ est presque aussi bien!!!! je vais acheter ce VE et rouler sur les piste cyclable prés de chez moi Merci beaucoup Bjorn

Battery made in Canada! It's about time to build own cars here!

These will be the competitors: IRIS e-Trike (3 wheels, so legal in the USA and available with 1000w. About same price as Podbike and with similar features) Schaffler Bio-Hybrid (you sit tall and visible in traffic, but it is heavy and slow uphill and super expensive) Podride (will be the most affordable and easy to upgrade to more powerful motors. Will also be the lightest, so fastest uphill. It is also quite tall and visible.) Podbike (will be somewhere in between in price, but will be faster than both on the flats because of its aerodynamics.) Canyon Future Mobility Concept (super expensive, but fast and a great design)

Hope the soften the suspension and/or fit schwalbe balloon bike tyres. They would really help smooth out the bumps and jolts.

Really cool 🤩

... more on this please ! 👍🏻🤗🖖🏼

A Higher Offroad Version would be fine and a sunscreen. Looks very cool!

I just love it.

It's awesome!

Wow you really put it through its Paces. There was no curb or pothole you missed. LOL if it could take a beating like that I may buy one.

You finally found the really smart urban transportation! The "serial hybrid" is however a no no! Too much losses. You need direct drive (chain) to make it really usable. I got a similar velomobile with 3 wheels 10 years ago with a hub-motor in the back. Electric consumption (measured at the mains outlet) in summer is around 6-8 Wh/km and in winter with moderate snow 12-15 Wh/km. (Compare that to the Ioniq at 120 Wh/km...) Typical range with medium assist 60-80 km but if you turn the assist down and peddle more you can go really long distances. I once drove 180 km with 25 kg camping gear and had something like 10% charge left when I arrived. It is powered by a 550 Wh Bionix assist.

Need a banana box test!

sick

Its a fast convenient commuter, that would make up to 10 mile trips around congested towns and cities a lot faster than a car. I'm a serious cyclist, but even I have to admit that getting wet and cold/hot and sweaty before a day in my work/leisure clothes is not great. This will surely be developed more but the ideas around the variable electric drivetrain are very good and better than the other designs I've seen. Charging and distance between charges are not an issue for a commuter like this. It only needs15- 20 miles range, which will vary depending on how much pedalling you do. FYI - an unfit leisure cyclist can comfortably produce 100watts for 20 minutes or so, as long as there is some cooling in warm weather.

Awesome 👍🏻

When it grows up it will be a Smart car

Oh I want one, very cool

The Sinclair C5 is reborn!

I'm waiting for 1000 km challenge of this thing ))

Love it. Just need to tint those windows.

Bjørn is a legend🤣

I Enjoy this video

thats the size most vehicles should be. At least in cities.

Cool bike,,, wona buy it cuice

Boy this is slick...

After a few drives in this, Bjorn will start pedalling in MC HAMMER and wonder why it doesn't move...

I see this is going to be a huge success in US. Especially in Texas.

That’s so coool

Cool ✌️✌️✌️

Hope they make an offroad version of this. With higher ground clearance, larger dampers and fatbike wheels.