A child trailer with a built-in electric motor capable of pushing a bicycle at up to 19mph has gone on sale for less than £500.
The design is an evolution of the original RideKick powered bike trailer – a clever alternative to a conventional e-bike that gives any bicycle a boost of battery power without the need for modification.
A throttle mounted on the bicycle’s handlebars controls the speed and the trailer can be uncoupled in 15 seconds. The trailer can push a bicycle for between 8 and 12 miles before it needs to be recharged.
Electric motors and batteries add weight whatever their configuration, but the makers of the Ridekick argue that conventional Ebikes place the heavy battery on the bike frame and the motor within the wheel hub, causing the bike to be heavier and the distribution of the weight unfamiliar. The Ridekick trailer pushes on the rear axle, so power is applied to the bike in the same way as pedalling.
Ridekick Child Trailer – power that pedals for you from Mark Ridekick on Vimeo.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “It is unfortunate that the 500w Ridekick child trailer exceeds the current power limit for electric bicycle motors sold in Britain (250w) and its top unassisted speed of 19mph is higher than the legal limit of 15mph. The electric child trailer might fall foul of current restrictions placed on electric bicycles in this country but it demonstrates perfectly the potential of this technology and the need for the law to be more accommodating.”
Powered bicycles
The idea of getting a little help with the pedalling is nothing new – the earliest motorcycles were bicycles fitted with tiny petrol engines. But the challenge of adding power to a bicycle without adding too much additional weight is something that still occupies the designers of today’s electric-assisted bikes.
One solution to the problem of a heavy motor is to carry it on a trailer and only hitch it when it is needed.
In 1948 this meant attaching a petrol engine, but the electric motors of today are quieter and cleaner.
More recently, American cyclist and engineer, David Meyers was unable to find a trailer for his bicycle that would not weigh him down on hills, so he designed his own. So successful was the electric bicycle trailer that Mr Meyers now offers build plans so that cyclists can build their own.
The Electric Powered Bicycle Push-Trailer uses a brushless hub-motor drive system that is widely available online to provide powered assistance for up to 25 miles on average terrain and at speeds of up to 30mph on flat paved surfaces.
Cycle insurance from the ETA includes new-for-old, cover for accidental damage, third party insurance, personal accident cover and if you breakdown, we will even come out and recover you and your bike. Covers electric bicycles, too. From 40p per week.
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