Falmouth-based IceTrikes has launched a ride-by-wire recumbent tricycle, where pedalling generates electric power for the rear-mounted hub motor.
The system eliminates the chain, which is often an awkward component of recumbent bike design because it needs to be ultra-long to turn the rear wheels, while front-drive systems have to deal with rotation when steering.
IceTrike’s system also eliminates gears and the associated maintenance, and is claimed to be clean and silent, with no maintenance needed for up to 50,000km. It's a similar idea to the Schaeffler system we covered in 2022.
Regenerative braking helps conserve the energy you’ve generated by pedalling, with IceTrikes claiming you can add up to 25% to your range. There’s built-in anti-theft technology, and a control panel and phone app to help you manage the system.
IceTrikes claims a 0 to 20mph speed of less than 3 seconds, while the system changes the trike’s speed based on your pedalling speed. The trike will also reverse if you backpedal.
The motor itself has 75Nm of torque and the 250 watts of power output that’s the legal maximum for ebikes in the UK. There’s a 700Wh battery located under the seat to back up your input and five power settings, offering a boost of up to 400% of your input.
You can order the new chainless drive tricycle now from IceTrikes on its Adventure, Adventure HD and Sprint X Tour models.
