© 2026 New Atlas
Urban Transport

Electric-assist quadcycle might be an actual car replacement

By Ben Coxworth
February 18, 2026
Electric-assist quadcycle might be an actual car replacement
The Elecy e-quadcycle has a top electric-assist speed of 25 km/h (16 mph), and seats two passengers in a weatherproof cabin
The Elecy e-quadcycle has a top electric-assist speed of 25 km/h (16 mph), and seats two passengers in a weatherproof cabin
View 4 Images
The Elecy e-quadcycle has a top electric-assist speed of 25 km/h (16 mph), and seats two passengers in a weatherproof cabin
1/4
The Elecy e-quadcycle has a top electric-assist speed of 25 km/h (16 mph), and seats two passengers in a weatherproof cabin
Tamara Ivancova with her functional prototype
2/4
Tamara Ivancova with her functional prototype
The Elecy can reportedly be parked anywhere that a bike can be parked
3/4
The Elecy can reportedly be parked anywhere that a bike can be parked
Tamara and her prototype hit the University of Southampton wind tunnel for some testing
4/4
Tamara and her prototype hit the University of Southampton wind tunnel for some testing
View gallery - 4 images

We frequently hear about ebikes that are designed to replace cars, but let's be honest … they're still basically bicycles. The Elecy, however, is a pedal-electric vehicle that's much more car-like than most, offering full weather protection and seating for two plus cargo space.

Currently in functional prototype form, the Elecy was invented by British Formula 1 engineer Tamara Ivancova. It's now being developed via her company, Amara Automotive Ltd.

Tamara Ivancova with her functional prototype
Tamara Ivancova with her functional prototype

The four-wheeled, composite-bodied vehicle is made largely of recycled and renewable materials, and utilizes standard bicycle parts wherever possible. It can be legally ridden on the road or in bike lanes, it has a maximum electric-assist speed of 25 km/h (16 mph), and it can reportedly travel up to 80 km (50 miles) per 3-hour charge of its battery.

That battery can be removed for charging. What's more, an extra battery can be added for extending the range.

The Elecy can reportedly be parked anywhere that a bike can be parked
The Elecy can reportedly be parked anywhere that a bike can be parked

The vehicle seats one adult in the front and a child in the rear, plus it offers 300 liters of cargo space. It has a lockable hood, and its weatherproof, aerodynamic canopy can be removed, allowing it to be used cabriolet-style. It does also have air vents, plus an optional climate control system is in the works.

Other features include a mid-mount motor (that can be disengaged for fully manual pedaling if desired), GPS tracking, plus an LED lighting system that consists of headlights, tail lights, turn indicators and brake lights. The whole rig measures 2.5 m long by 0.8 m wide by 1.3 m tall (98.4 by 31.5 by 51.2 inches) and reportedly tips the scales at 45 kg (99 lb).

Tamara and her prototype hit the University of Southampton wind tunnel for some testing
Tamara and her prototype hit the University of Southampton wind tunnel for some testing

We're told that Ivancova plans on embarking on a world tour with the prototype sometime this year. Testing and certification should take place over the next 12 to 18 months, and the hope is that preorders will commence later in 2026. Pricing and availability will be announced at that time.

In the meantime, you can register your interest via the company website.

"I love cars and transport, and I’ve created Amara Automotive Ltd so we can keep enjoying the vehicles we love but without the impact," says Ivancova. "The Elecy is just the beginning."

Source: Amara Automotive

View gallery - 4 images

Tags

Urban TransportVelomobileQuadricyclePedal-assisted
8 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

Most Viewed

Load More
8 comments
Trylon
Sorry, but at 16mph, it's not going to be replacing many cars soon. The Elecy has way too many drawbacks. Look at the greenhouse that will bake you on any warm day. The canopy that will make ingress and egress difficult for all but the most limber. The four-wheel design that means it can't be sold in the US, limiting its market. These are lessons that have been given time and again, Most recently, the Podbike failed, was resurrected as the TwoZero as reported on New Atlas, and is destined to bomb again. With 9 days left in its month-long Kickstarter campaign, the TwoZero has gotten pledges of $22, out of its $262,353 goal.
Username
Everyone who comes up with a contraption they claim will replace cars and every reporter who repeats that claim have clearly never used a car regularly.
MarylandUSA
Cool design, but left unanswered is the most important question: How many cupholders?
freddotu
Unsurprisingly, generalized statements such as "it can be legally ridden on the road or in bike lanes" are not applicable to many states in the USA. The four wheels remove it from the bicycle category. At the very best, it would be considered a NEV or golf-cart type vehicle and restricted to the roads on which it is allowed to travel. @trylon, it can be sold in the USA. Part of the problem with this sort of vehicle is that states have differing regulations; there is no USA-wide governance.
Three wheels makes it a velomobile, an e-assist bicycle and creates something far more compatible with the still-confusing regulations. Three wheels make it no more acceptable to those in automobiles and no more safe due to cell-phone-distracted drivers.
CraigAllenCorson
No photos of the interior. Seems as though they might be hiding something.
johanschaller
I've long thought that a vehicle like this would be really useful in rideable cities (this excludes much of the US of course, as is evident from the negative comments here). Bearing in mind that much of Euro city life requires only short distance day-to-day travel and involves road and cycle-ways that would probably be amenable to such a pedelec four wheeler, I think this has potential. However, price will be the main factor determining its success.
Trylon
@freddotu, you are incorrect. There is federal guidance for electric bicycles in the US. In fact, it far predates state guidance. Federal law 107-319 defined electric bicycles back in 2002. One of the requirements is two or three wheels. Not four. It's just like motorcycles. You cannot have a motorcycle with more than three wheels, which by definition would become an automobile and becomes subject to auto safety standards, like seatbelts, windshields, roof crush resistance, etc.
c w
I'm not looking at the statistics, but I am betting that the pedal industry - particularly the commuter pedel industry - is far from banking its survival on US sales.
Speed is not what makes it a potential car replacement.
There are already pedal quads in the US, this wouldn't have to be registered as a car.