With the explosion in demand for personal transportation caused by the pandemic, thousands of new proposals are coming to the market seeking to fish at an exciting time for this type of initiative. One of the latest is a proposal by a group of Canadian designers who have presented their VEGAN project, which seeks to launch a transport solution in a closed cabin and with a demolition price.
The VEGAN is a light tricycle equipped with solar panels that recharge its battery, where the propulsion can come from both the driver’s pedaling and a lithium battery. A true self-recharging hybrid that has some very striking characteristics.
It will have a body made of fiberglass and aluminum, which weighs just 175 kilos, and there is space for between three and four people depending on the finish. It can also be adapted for logistics tasks by eliminating the passenger seats to have more cargo space, but always with a closed structure that will protect the occupants.
A motor carries out the propulsion with a maximum power of 1 kW located in the rear wheel, which will propel you up to a maximum speed of 18mph in normal mode, reaching 45mph in the most performance. There will also be a cheaper 500 W version designed for markets with regulations on these vehicles’ homologation.
The battery for its part is a 48 V and 22 Ah pack, which according to its developers, will allow it to reach a range of up to 60 miles with each charge, which can be increased to 75 miles by adding the contribution of its photovoltaic panels.
It is equipped with a GPS tracking system, a 12V AC outlet for devices such as Bluetooth speakers, and the charging of electronic devices.
The vehicle’s total weight is 175 kg; the payload is 320 kg, while the battery charging time is 4.4 hours from a power outlet, and 10.2 hours if we leave it in the sun using its solar panels.
One of the key things will be its price. During the financing campaign, it will be available at a cost, 1,400 dollars, after which it will cost $3,500 once the financing phase is over.
Prices that its managers indicate they achieve thanks to its production in an important industrial center in Pakistan, where they assure they will have access to low-cost materials and labor, facilitating the launch of this model to the international market with a price without competition.