We’ve covered a few 250W electric four-wheelers, but we have to say this one has the best name. Produced in Bedfordshire, DryCycle is a fully enclosed electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC) aimed at the rain-averse among you.
As with the CityQ we covered late last year, you can use a DryCycle anywhere you would use a normal bike and you won’t need a driving licence for it.
As far as the law’s concerned, it’s basically an e-bike with double the wheels.
The idea for the vehicle came about after DryCycle founder Andy Murphy started commuting by e-bike.
“What I learned most from the e-bike is that top quality electric bicycles with the very best mid drive motors have more than enough power to get them quickly up to their top speed of 15.5mph before the motor then cuts out,” he said.
“In fact it seems a bit wasted really. Surely it would be better to accelerate a bit more slowly due to added weight but use that weight to have an enclosed vehicle so that it’s useful in all weathers and offers crash protection.”
Commuting seems to be the primary use envisaged for the DryCycle. It’s being presented as an alternative to a second car for those who don’t ever want to ride in the rain.
As such, it has fully enclosed bodywork, an air heater, heated handlebars and a windscreen wiper. (You can even opt for a heated seat.)
More predictably, it features the Shimano Steps E8000 motor system; two 504Wh batteries, which are said to be good for 50 miles of range; Shimano Di2 electronic shifting; integrated lights; and hydraulic disc brakes.
All of that shunts the weight up to around 120kg with a maximum payload for rider and cargo that is also 120kg. (Bags go behind the seat.)
The full price for a DryCycle is £14,995 plus any extras you go for and delivery.
Production is underway and the first units are due to ship this month.