There’s definitely a gap between small, simple e-bikes and larger, costlier electric cars. The new-and-improved Veemo velomobile is intended to firmly fill that niche.
We first heard about the pedal-electric Veemo back in 2016, when it was being developed by Vancouver-based startup VeloMetro. Although that firm ended up going bankrupt, Canadian company Envo Drive Systems acquired the rights to the vehicle earlier this year.
Whereas VeloMetro was putting all its eggs in one basket (the Veemo), Envo has a considerably wider range of micro-electric mobility solutions to its name. These include various ebikes and e-trikes, along with things like a SnowBike, an e-ATV and even a Water Bike.
For this reason, the company’s founders believe that they have the experience, resources and diversified portfolio necessary for making the Veemo into a successful commercial product. They’re confident enough that they invited members of the media to ride a prototype version of the velomobile last week at the company’s headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia.
For readers who aren’t familiar with velomobiles, they’re essentially recumbent tricycles that are enclosed within a streamlined shell that reduces wind drag and provides protection from the elements.
The Veemo is no exception to that design, although with its relatively tall stance of 150 cm (59 in), it’s definitely made more for comfort, rain protection and visibility. In fact, one of the target markets is seniors looking for a comfier and more stable alternative to an ebike.
Read more about the Veemo in this article by Ben Coxworth from New Atlas.
