Pod Bike

[maddisod2]

A pod bike is an enclosed Ebike. I'd like a quadricycle pod bike so I can sell my car and drop my car insurance. I could sell my car anyway but then I'd have to buy a cargo trailer for my regular pedal bike and sometimes have to bike in the rain. I'd rather go in comfort in a pod bike. I'd like to popularize pod bikes in my small town.

But there aren't any pod bikes on sale in the USA in 2022 except for the ELF and the PEBBLE, so far as I can tell. They're maybe both fine but are overpriced for what they are. So I'm looking into making something myself. While that'd be a big hassle maybe I could build more and sell locally to make it worth the effort.

So here's my question: How would someone go about building a quadricycle pod bike? Anyone think about this before? Is there a basic kit that could be adapted to work? Maybe buy some quadricycle kit and fit 4 aluminum poles to the corners and drape a plastic transparency over it to shield the rider? Is there some reason pod bikes aren't popular yet? Seems like they combine most of the benefits of an Ebike with most of the comfort and convenience of a car. If I had a good pod bike I could rent a car for those few times I need to drive long distances out of town. And drop my car insurance.

 

[ZeroEm]

Well this is not simple. Enclosed bike/E-bike, trike and or Quad. HEHV - Human–electric hybrid vehicle would be closer description.

Wanting one myself to replace my car. Have a early model Leaf so mostly there already. Have not decided what features are needed to make me happy and what can be done away with.

The cheapest would be to build a tent cover around a trike or quad. Not sure if you can get an Elf anymore they were going bankrupt. Ok, update Solo bought ELF so now it's ELF SOLO
The Pebble would be a good one but don't have any experience with it. It may seem expensive until you try to build something like it.
The only kit in the USA that I know of has disappeared and the kit is now sold by a Dutch company. Can buy a cover for a trike, Velocity. Things change year to year so a search would not hurt. The options in the USA are limited. Most will be in other countries.

There are some Building Instructions in PDF's. Will need to locate them again.

First issue would be weight most bike like objects are rated for one person nothing else. Next big issue is laws. Most areas limit to 750w, 20-28mph and no more than 3 wheels. This varies so learn your local laws so you can know what you can get away with.

We have members that have built, modified and bought these. Search!

 

[Chalo]

Note that many states have no legal category for a quadricycle, so you may be in violation to operate one on public streets. Also using four wheels adds a lot of weight and complexity compared to a three wheeler, without contributing much of anything in return.

Maybe you should try to answer for yourself why enclosed cycles (with any number of wheels) have never become popular anywhere in the world at any time, before you throw much money or effort at acquiring one of your own.

 

[99t4]

What's old is new!

You could start with one of these:
https://www.treehugger.com/quadracycles-four-wheeled-bike-round-up-4858643

or these:
https://cycleqmx.com/qmx

or these if you want to take a passenger:
https://parbikes.com/

Here is a turnkey solution:
https://electrek.co/2019/11/23/drycycle-electric-bicycle-quadricycle/

 

[ZeroEm]

Think this one is homemade?


Twike, prefer two front wheels


Cover is made of wood on a metal back bone.


This is my favorite. Pedals do not drive the rear wheel, runs a generator. Can call it pedal by wire.

It's hot and humid where i'm at. If I wanted to have one and use it more than three months a year, would need AC. Nissan heat pump would work. Driving it in the rain windows would fog up with out something.

 

[amberwolf]

WoodenShell.jpg
Cover is made of wood on a metal back bone.

That's this one here by tahustvedt:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=62827
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=38127

 

[ZeroEm]

Goatman a member also put a tent like structure on his trike to ride in the winter.

 

[PaPaSteve]

Kits designed in Eugene Oregon

https://www.bugev.net/

https://www.blueskydsn.com/catalogue-2022.pdf