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Bicycles

Josh Hadar's electric three-wheeled masterpiece

By Bridget Borgobello
October 19, 2010
Josh Hadar's electric three-wheeled masterpiece
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Josh Hadar's electric trike
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Josh Hadar's electric trike
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Energy is stored in four 12-volt lead-acid batteries
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Energy is stored in four 12-volt lead-acid batteries
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Cutting edge New York artist Josh Hadar has created a three-wheel electric bike that is sure to turn heads. Based around a sprawling, chopper-like frame similar to that used in his earlier pedal powered designs such as "Uncle Stew's Trike", Hadar's new creation has a range of up to 30 miles and puts out 15 kilowatts at its peak, which, when combined with the weight of four 12-volt lead-acid batteries and two chunky wheels at the rear, is reportedly more than enough to put you on your derriere.

The jet black, carbon steel framed trike measures 8.4 feet (2.6m) long with a 20 inch front wheel and two 26 inch wheels at the back.

To keep the electric engine under control (and the front wheel on the ground) Hadar has added a an Alltrax programmable controller and in keeping with the designer's green philosophy, the three-wheeler gets its juice from solar panels on the roof of Hadar's workshop.

Josh Hadar's electric trike
Josh Hadar's electric trike

It might not be the most practical three-wheeler to have crossed our desk, but it's certainly a thing of beauty – although the exposed lead acid batteries do take a little of the edge off the aesthetics. Perhaps Hadar's proposed addition of a more powerful lithium nano-phosphate battery pack will kill two birds with one stone.

Hadar's design portfolio extends to sculptures and environmental installations and he hopes to continue to create new modes of alternative drive systems and power sources for bikes and trikes.

Hadar Metal Design via Wired.

Photos: Peter Reitzfeld

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BicyclesThree WheelSolar PoweredElectric VehiclesBikesArt
8 comments
Bridget Borgobello
Bridget Borgobello
Bridget is an experienced architecture, travel and design writer who has been contributing to New Atlas since 2010. Based between Melbourne and Rome, she and has a keen eye for innovative design, green technology and space saving solutions. Bridget is fluent in Italian and enjoys covering major events in Italy, including the Milan Design Week and Venice Biennale.

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8 comments
Michael Mantion
It doesn\'t really impress me.
From an engineering aspect it is nothing new, not elegant, 3 wheels are always better with a single rear wheel.
As far as an artistic masterpiece it seems unoriginal and forced. I had a cheap one speed growing up that was more artistic.
Look I don\'t make bikes, I am not saying it is easy, nor am I the final word in what is artistic. My problem with the article is why?
So any piece of metal with an electric motor deserves my time? Its a over priced batter powered kids toy. My friend had one of those batter powered 4 wheelers that you could rid around the lawn. Its really the same thing.
How is an electric toy good for the environment. For something to be environmentally friendly it should displace something that is environmentally harmful. I am guessing the average petal bike is faster, cheaper, more convenient, easier to store, provides must needed physical fitness, does not need to be insured, does not require a license and doesn\'t waste a single kWh of electricity.
This serves no useful purpose and I assume would only be used for leisure. I am sorry where is the storage for my stuff? Do I have to put my work and laptop in a back pack? Am I protected from the wind? rain? bugs?. From what I see the front wheel lacks a mud card so you are going to get dirty and anything over a couple mph.
Is there a spot to plug my phone in? is there a place to mount my phone or gps? Oh and a range up to 30miles wow... So I can go 10 miles and then turn around and hope I make it home? Speaking of which are there even lights or indicators to make this street legal? Where do I put the license plate? does it have a speedometer or an odometer so I know when I have to turn around? Is there even a simple voltage meter?
I doubt my comment will be posted... So Gizmag why waste my time with this. Its absurd, he used heavy steal pipes, not aluminum, not titanium, not carbon fiber, not bamboo. This is 1900 technology. I mean come on a lead acid battery? Oh that\'s right he proposed a nano lithium battery. Proposed... um? why not purchase it and put it in? A 3 wheel, pretentious, lead acid battery, kids toy made of steel pipe is not new, its not interesting, is not why I come to your website. I am glad the article is small as I didn\'t have to waste too much time reading it.


Mr Stiffy
This makes me want to piss bricks - at the Australian road traffic regulators...
\"Oh no - you cannot have anything over 200W stuck on a bicycle - otherwise it\'s a VEER-KILL, and you have to get an engineers report, a certified welder, with all the welds x-rayed, and a registration application, and a letter from your mum, you banker, your priest, and stern leather clad disciplinarian, to say it\'s SAFE, then you have to pay a million dollar certification test ---- blah blah blah blah blah ...\"
Sigh...... on a dying polluted planet, these idiots still equate transport as a ratio of the fuel needed to get the weight of ones self in Kg x 20, just to get around.
Oh no you can\'t ride that, you\'d have to get it registered, cause it has over 200W - it\'s a Veer-Kill......
Scott_T
Its ugly
Jay Lloyd
I am with Mr Mantion. It\'s great he made a toy for himself, but why is this news? It\'s not even good technology... Is he selling them? I mean it WOULD look nice if it had some kind of functional fairing.
Wesley Bruce
So if another cyclist gives you grief on the bike path do you stick to point at the front into his spokes or his shin. Ouch. Some designers like pointy things without considering the injuries or the law suits that may result.
Bob Poor
Mr. Mantion hit the nail on the head. For some reason everyone thinks that in order for alternative transportation to be recognized it has to be packaged in a Buck Rogers format.
I feel that anything in the 20kw range and below should have a workable human drive train with gearing that will aid the motor while the motor aids you. It extends range and also provides the rider with at least the option to turn the cranks and get a little, or as much as they want, exercise.
But seeing as federal regs here in the US set the power limit at 10kw and most a 7.5kw to fit in to the moped/motorized bike category something like this as pointed out would need lights and a lot more than the pretense of style that it shows here because it would be rated as a motorcycle.
It is time to get rid of the wrapper on single person/single purpose type motor assist transport and all these really expensive e bikes on here are not the answer. But without a viable market those that have the ability to bring these about can\'t because they at least have to make a decent ROI. But how do you get the market flowing without a model that works and costs what the potential consumer is willing to bear? You lose money trying to make money and these times financially don\'t make that an easy pill to swallow.
Roger Chan
I look at Hadar's works and they almost always provoke an unsolicited whimsical smile on my face. I think a sense of humor is a sign of intelligence and irreverence is proof of said intelligence. Hadar's works are brilliant. From what I've read in the comments most of the critics who poo poo his works sound like, at best, idiot savants. Although, in defense of savants, even they have a sense of humor.
Jim Sadler
Obviously a single speed bike with a coaster brake will always have a simple and elegant appearance but that is not the way to judge a transportation device. We need electric bikes that are inexpensive and durable under wretched conditions and flexible as well. For example a school kid might travel 12 miles one way and have to carry books and a trombone back and forth. To do that without turning into a beat up bag of sweat requires a lot more than a bare bones bike.