Velomobile

​When it comes to weird little old cars, the Messerschmitt Kabinenroller was one of the delightfully weirdest. Five years ago, we heard about a new pedal-electric version of the vehicle, known as the Veloschmitt. Although that model is no longer available, its successor has now entered production.

​Although velomobiles could generally be defined as recumbent tricycles enclosed in an aerodynamic shell, we're seeing an increasing number of more stability-oriented four-wheeled variants. One of the latest is the Pedilio, which could ultimately go as fast as 28 mph.

​Last week at CES 2019, Kia showcased a system that tracks passengers' state of mind by monitoring facial expressions and other biomarkers. The futuristic fun didn't stop there, however, as the automaker also unveiled an electric-assist pedal car that could find use in the smart cities of tomorrow.

​When we think of velomobiles (for those of us who think of them at all), we typically picture recumbent trikes with rigid aerodynamic shells. The Lightning F-22, however, is a little bit different – it's a recumbent BIKE, that has a full-body shell made from stretchable spandex.

Forty-four-year-old endurance athlete Nicola "Nici" Walde has beaten the women's world record for the greatest distance traveled in a human-powered vehicle in 24 hours. Using a streamlined recumbent tricycle, Nici managed 227 laps of the Opel Test Center for a total of 1,088 km (676 mi) in 24 hours.

​It was last November that we first heard about the Podbike, a velomobile being developed by Norwegian firm Elpedal. At the time, it only existed as a rolling chassis. Recently, however, the first complete prototype was presented at an event in Norway.

​​Former bike shop owner Fabrizio Cross once asked himself, what would it take to get more people out of their cars and onto bicycles? His answer was "A bike that could do more, go farther, and take less effort." That vehicle now exists, in the form of the Electrom LEV (light electric vehicle).

Velomobiles usually take the form of a recumbent tricycle enclosed by a streamlined body, that MIGHT have a motor to augment the rider's pedalling power. The Podbike, however, is a little different. It has four wheels, two motors … and no chain.

Perhaps you like the idea of cruising down the road sitting in something sleek and Italian, yet you're not really a "car person." Well, if that's the case, then the pedal-electric Barbagallo X01 might be for you.

While fully-enclosed velomobiles offer excellent foul-weather protection, they can get too hot when it's warm outside. That's why the Cabriovelo was created. It's a convertible velomobile, which stores its own folding roof and sides when they're not in use. ​

​Perhaps you're one of those people who doesn't own a car, but who sometimes needs a vehicle that's a bit "more" than a bicycle. If you are, then better.bike's PEBL velomobile might be what you're looking for.

With so much focus on sustainable urban transport, there are numerous vehicles that split the difference between the bicycle and the motorized vehicle. One of the latest additions to this growing category is the Schaeffler Bio-hybrid, a pedal-assist quadricycle concept with convertible roof.