FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We do not yet know what the price of PodRide will be, but are working to make this known as soon as possible.

We plan to offer PodRide at a range of price points depending on the configuration that you choose. PodRide options will include with or without motor, options on gearing, etc.

At this stage we believe we will have the 4 wheel version of PodRide for sale around mid 2021.  The 3 wheel version would likely be at minimum 12 months after the availability of the 4 wheel version. (Please note: These estimates will be affected positively or negatively dependent on the amount of resources we can garner moving forward.)

Depending on where you live, please also see the FAQ item "PodRide for USA and Canada", or "PodRide for Europe".

If you haven’t already done so, please join our mailing list to be informed when we have pricing available.

We plan to offer the 4 wheel non motorized PodRide, and the 3 wheel motorized PodRide for customers in USA/Canada.

The classification of ebikes and other forms of transport is a complex matter in the US. There are federal rules and lots of different regulations at state and city level.

A four wheel non motorized PodRide is classified as a bicycle in many jurisdictions. But adding a motor of any size or configuration would mean PodRide is no longer classified as a bicycle.

To comply with regulations we will produce a 3 wheel motorized PodRide for USA and Canada, which be classified as an electric bicycle in most jurisdictions.

The US allows up to a 750W motor, and Canada allows 500W. See more details regarding US/Canadian ebike regulations.  You should review regulations in your country and local jurisdiction to ensure you can legally use PodRide where you live.

The 3 wheel motorized PodRide for North America will come out some time after the 4 wheel PodRide has been released.

We plan to offer the 4 wheel non motorized PodRide, and the 3 wheel motorized PodRide for customers in USA/Canada.

The 4 wheel 250W motorised version of PodRide will be offered for sale in Europe. PodRide will be classified as an ebike in the European Union. (As a pedal assist configuration as defined in EN15194.)

Laws and regulations can differ based on location. You should review regulations in your country and local jurisdiction to ensure you can legally use PodRide where you live.

You will be able to buy PodRide directly from us (or via Indiegogo) when we have it ready for sale.

We anticipate that it will take time to ramp up to meet demand and our current Indiegogo supporters will be given priority.

We have received many enquiries from people wanting to sell and distribute PodRide in their country.

We plan to sell and distribute directly to our end customers Europe & North America. This will allow us to keep the price lower as we scale to higher production volumes. When we have higher production runs we will have lower production costs, at that point we will  add distributors and/or dealers in  other countries.

Yes it will be possible to adjust the amount of power assist provided by the motor.

This allows you to adjust the ease at which you pedal and the level of effort/exercise to get where you're going.

The number of levels available will depend on which electric motor and control system that we select for our production unit. We are evaluating various options, and will choose the best mix of performance, quality, value and functionality.

The seat is 380 mm wide, and there is 500 mm of free space between the steering levers.

It is absolutely possible to ride your PodRide with no motor assisting you, and PodRide will be offered for sale in a non-electric version too.

Our focus is entirely on delivering version one of the 4 wheel PodRide as soon as we can, followed by the 3 wheel version for USA/Canada.

After that we will examine the possibility of a two seat version. (2 adults)

The first version of the 4 wheel PodRide will have an option to allow a small child to sit behind the rider.

For the 4 Wheel PodRide the motor only works when you are pedalling. This is called Pedal Assist.

PodRide has pedal assistance through an auxiliary electric motor (which has a maximum continuous rated power of 0.25 kW), of which the output is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h, or sooner, if the cyclist stops pedalling.

This setup is required to meet EU requirements as a bicycle/pedelec. This does not stop the rider from travelling faster than 25km/h using human pedalling power alone after 25 km/h.

Although we have not begun work on the design of the 3 wheel PodRide for USA/Canada, because of different regulations there, it will likely have a larger motor (eg 500W), and support both pedal assist and throttle only mode.

The batteries are removable and can be re-charged by plugging the charger into the AC wall outlet.

Today there is no option to convert pedalling, forward motion (eg downhill) or braking into energy to recharge the battery. This may come in a future model.

We estimate that the maximum driver size will be around 1.90 m (6ft 2 inches), 120 kg (265lb). This is subject to change and is provided as a guide only.

This is the PodRide Technical Data (as per our prototype).

It is subject to variation. We will provide an updated spec sheet when the production model is finalized.

Length: 180cm

Width: 75cm

Height: 145cm

Seat Height: 50cm

Weight: 70kg

Wheel: 20inch tires

Wheelbase: 88 cm

Turning circle: 3,5m

Motor: 250W electric

Gears: Internally Geared Hub

Range: 60km

Speed: 25km/h (with motor)

Lights: LED headlamp, indicators and brake lights

Co2 emissions: PodRide: 7g/kilometre (EU-electricity mix)

(Electric car: 70g/km, Car: 140g/km,)

PodRide comes with a secure locking point that allows you to use a security chain or similar to secure it to a fixed object.

In addition each PodRide will have a unique serial number to make them identifiable.

We plan to manufacture PodRide in Taiwan as it has an excellent eco system for cost effective bicycle production. Taiwan has a large base of bicycle component manufacturers and suppliers and is known for producing high quality bicycles for most of the world's leading bicycle brands.

To keep cool in a hot environment there is the simple option to open the base of the windscreen to allow ventilation through the cabin. The side windows can also be opened to maximize ventilation.

A low cost cooling option would be to self-install a small battery operated fan in the cabin.

For extremely hot environments you could utilize an amazing new technology that is being developed that will produce a lightweight battery operated, personal air conditioner such as MiClimate which provides up to 18 degrees of cooling.

For those living in cold environments MiClimate also allows for up to 36 degrees of heating.

We are in communication with the developers of MiClimate and will keep you posted on their progress.

These are unknown at this moment. We are refining the design to optimize it for a kit, and to keep the size as small as possible, but it will be some time before we know packaging dimensions.

We will pre-assemble as much of PodRide as we can prior to packing, to make it easier for you, but the amount of pre-assembly will be limited by what makes sense in keeping the pack size smaller, to reduce shipping costs.

Regarding the weight, the prototype weighs 70kgs. We are hoping to make the final product lighter than this. But there will also be the weight of the packaging to consider as well.

For the foreseeable future PodRide will be only be available with an electric motor having a maximum continuous rated power of 0.25 kW (250w), as this is the maximum allowed in the EU and many countries around the world - to be classified as an ebike/pedelec.

When we produce a 3 wheel PodRide for the USA and Canada, this will likely have a larger motor such as 500w, as the regulations are different there in comparison to Europe.

The current design does not allow PodRide to be a convertible as the front lights and other components are fitted into the top part of the shell.

It is possible to remove the front windshield and lower the 2 side windows, so that on lovely days you have maximum airflow and still have protection from the sun via the roof.

UPDATE: We are considering the ability to provide PodRide with a "Buggy Mode" option, where you can quickly and easily remove the upper body to enable a very different look and feel for when the weather is great.

YES, you will be able to purchase the 4 wheel PodRide without an electric motor. This configuration will allow PodRide to be classified as a bicycle in many parts of the USA and Canada.

(The motor less option will also be considerably cheaper to purchase than the motorized PodRide due to all the other items required to work with the motor.)

We will offer additional gearing options to make the motor less version of PodRide more practical and easy to climb hills.

If the laws in the US and Canada change in the future and allow 4 wheel bikes to have a motor, it will be a relatively simple matter to add a motor at that time.

The number of color options that we are able to offer will come down to what is economically feasible. We do not yet have that data.

But we have asked our supporters and the most popular colors in order are Blue, high visibility Yellow, and Red.

We have had a number of people ask if it is possible for us to customize PodRide to certain one off needs. Unfortunately this is simply impossible for us.

We have limited resources and the task ahead of us in manufacturing a standard PodRide vehicle with a few options will be difficult enough.

It may be possible for you to take the standard vehicle and modify it to suit your needs. Of course we cannot guarantee or warrant such modifications.

We are working hard to make PodRide kit as simple to assemble as we can.

We will provide more information on this as we progress the refining of the design.

NOV 2019 UPDATE: The revised design of PodRide means assembly of PodRide will be greatly simplified versus the original design.

This is a great unknown at this stage. We won’t be able to answer this until we are much further down the track with the development of PodRide. The refinement of the design will affect this, as will any decisions we might make to pre-assemble any sub-assemblies.

Rest assured, our aim is to make it as cost effective and quick and easy for you to assemble as we reasonably can.

To reduce costs and make it easier to service, PodRide utilizes a lot of bicycle components in it’s construction.

This means that many PodRide owners will choose to service PodRide themselves, or they have the option of taking PodRide to a bike shop to have a bike mechanic work on it.

Beyond the documentation that will come with PodRide, we plan to make plenty of videos available online to assist and make it easier for owners or bike shop mechanics in the setup and servicing of PodRide.

Unfortunately the laws and classifications for a vehicle like PodRide (having 4 wheels) vary from country to country, and even within states and sometimes cities. In some geographies PodRide will be classified as a bicycle, like Sweden, which means you can ride it on bike paths or the road and no license or other special obligations apply.

We believe a classification of bicycle is most appropriate, however we don't write the laws. In other locations PodRide may be classified as some other kind of vehicle requiring it to be registered or have other obligations.

Because PodRide has 4 wheels, as crazy as it seems, in some locations PodRide might be legally classified as a motor vehicle, and be required to meet all of the extensive and expensive demands that apply to motor vehicles. In these locations PodRide will not be sold, as it would be completely unviable.

Depending on the amount of locations where such an onerous classification would apply, we may produce a 3 wheel version of PodRide, which would more easily conform with the laws for these places.

Seeking clarity on the legal classification of PodRide for many countries is on our ToDo list, but it is a task made very difficult by laws that are vague, outdated or cryptic, many languages and many countries.

SOME GOOD NEWS: We believe that in the UK and all EU countries that PodRide will be classified as an e-bicycle/pedelec. (This is based on our interpretation of regulations but needs to be confirmed by authorities.)

Please note: Whilst we will do our best to provide accurate information concerning the classification status for PodRide, it is the sole responsibility of the user/owner of PodRide to determine what legal classification PodRide will have in their Country, State or City.

If PodRide is classified as a bicycle in your country, the same rules that apply to an e-bicycle will apply to PodRide.

If PodRide is not classified as an e-bicycle, then whatever obligations apply to the classification will apply.

Please note: Whilst we will do our best to provide accurate information concerning the classification status for PodRide, it is the sole responsibility of the user/owner of PodRide to determine what legal classification PodRide will have in their Country, State or City.

We have received many enquiries from people that ask if they can invest in the company that will produce PodRide.

We are seeking further investment to finalize PodRide development and get PodRide on the market!

We are keen to speak with angel and other investors. So, if you're an investor with €$50,000 or more to invest please contact us via email with the Subject Line: “Qualified Investor” along with your contact details. We will contact you to discuss further.