Connect with us

Published

on

Nat King Cole may have had Daisy swooning on his bicycle built for two, but that’s hardly a practical family vehicle. What happens when you have a few rugrats and need to transport the whole brood? That’s when it’s time to switch to a bicycle built for four. And I’ve found just the thing for this week’s Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week.

I love me a tandem electric bike as much as the next guy.

I’ve even found an affinity for three-person e-bikes. A little cyclage à trois, if you will.

But four people? Now that’s a party!

I had hoped to find a traditional two-wheeler e-bike with four seats, but apparently the whole rigidity problem means that few engineers want to take on that kind of liability.

So instead, we’ve got ourselves a four-wheeled four seater, surrey style!

And I’m convinced that this is the ultimate family vehicle, ready to replace just about any minivan or SUV out there.

So you know how when you’re driving your kids around town and they’re just sitting in the back not contributing anything? (I’m assuming – I don’t actually have any kids of my own, at least that I know of.)

Well what if instead of just taking up space, those little backseat moochers could actually contribute?!

Just put ’em to work, pedaling away and propelling the family car electric surrey bike. You’re the one paying for those snack packs; you might as well get some benefit out of all of that kiddie fuel.

C’mon, it’s good for them! Plus it’s not like they’ll have to pedal that hard. There’s a 1,500W motor in one of those rear wheels that will be doing the brunt of the work. Everyone else could pretty much mime pedal and the effect would be nearly the same.

Running on a 60V system, this four-person electric bike-car seems to have a pretty powerful setup. And with a 32 Ah battery packing just shy of 2 kWh, the thing even gets a reported range of 80 km (50 miles). The battery is an old-fashioned lead acid pack, unfortunately. But that’s nothing a few hundred bucks and a few minutes on Amazon can’t solve. While you’re at it, might as well grab some cheap solar panels to throw on top too!

There’s even a hidden feature to this fun-mobile. I thought this was just a four-person e-bike, but there are actually two kiddie seats up front to stash another couple tiny passengers. I have to question the placement of those seats, though. Positioned directly in front of the driver, they seem to do double duty by ensuring the flailing toddlers obstruct the driver’s vision as much as possible, then serving as the most poorly thought-out crumple zone ever during the inevitable crash they cause.

But the baby bumper up front isn’t the only safety feature found on this thing. You also get some old-timey headlights and not one but two brakes! Both rear wheels feature drum brakes, which are hopefully enough to bring this 190 kg (419 lb) careening family wagon to a halt.

What did I tell you? The perfect family vehicle!

Alright, so maybe it’s not the best way to bring the kids to school. But it would certainly be one of the most unique.

And while you’re killing time waiting for school to end, you’ve got a whole new career on your hands renting out your wheels to tourists on vacation. This thing practically pays for itself. Which is good, because you’ll have to fork over $2,145 for the contraption. Though as I learned when I bought a mini electric truck on Alibaba, you should expect several more charges along the way before it finally arrives at your door.

Despite having bought a few of my weird Alibaba finds in the past, I’m going to have to sit this one out. But if anyone does decide to pull the trigger on a four-person electric bike, I call shotgun!


Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Burning Man: Dead body found ‘in a pool of blood’ at festival

Published

on

By

Burning Man: Dead body found 'in a pool of blood' at festival

A man has been found dead “in a pool of blood” at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, officials say.

The man’s body, described as a white adult, was found “lying on the ground” after 9pm on Saturday at the art and music festival in the Black Rock Desert, roughly 110 miles north of Reno, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said.

They said he was discovered while the festival’s large wooden effigy of a man at the centre of the festival was engulfed in flames – a tradition during the annual event.

Officials said a festival goer flagged down a sheriff’s deputy and reported seeing “a male subject lying in a pool of blood”.

The sheriff’s office set up a perimeter at the scene and has been treating it as a homicide, interviewing several participants.

The body, which has not been identified, was taken to a medical examiner’s office, while the festival continues until 6pm local time on Monday (2am Tuesday UK time).

“Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances,” the sheriff’s office said.

More on Nevada

Officials say the crime scene is being preserved, but that the case is a “complicated investigation” as the makeshift Black Rock City where the event is located will be gone by the middle of the week.

Read more:
Rudy Giuliani rushed to hospital after car crash
Afghanistan earthquake kills hundreds and destroys villages – all we know so far

Burning Man organisers said they were cooperating with law enforcement and asked participants not to interfere with their investigation.

“The safety and well-being of our community are paramount,” their statement said, adding that support services, including a crisis support team, were available and participants had access to free Wi-Fi if they need to communicate with loved ones.

Burning Man is a celebration of self-expression that culminates in the ceremonial burning of its towering 40ft effigy.

Its origins can be traced back to the incineration of an eight-foot wooden “man” on San Francisco’s Baker Beach in 1986, which eventually evolved into an annual gathering in the Black Rock Desert.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Hollywood star Rupert Everett spotted working behind bar of village pub

Published

on

By

Hollywood star Rupert Everett spotted working behind bar of village pub

Hollywood star Rupert Everett has been working behind the bar of his village pub in a bid to keep the doors open.

Everett, known for his roles in Another Country and My Best Friend’s Wedding, has joined a roster of volunteers working to save The Swan, a local pub in Enford, Wiltshire, that is currently under threat of closure.

The pub is staffed by a rotation of 30 people after it was initially closed when the previous licensee left.

“There has been an amazing effort by our community to keep this pub open,” said the 66-year-old Shrek voice actor.

“Times are hard for rural pubs and this is the heart and hub of the village. I think that it is important to express my support. I have recently joined CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – as I know that real ale is the lifeblood of pubs both locally and nationally.

“Our small local breweries need our help, cask ale must survive – it is almost a uniquely British tradition.”

Steve Stringer, secretary of the Salisbury and South Wiltshire branch of CAMRA and an Enford resident, told local media: “I am excited that Rupert has chosen to support the campaign.

“As a lover of cask ales, it is only natural that he wishes to join us and to see him behind the bar serving the locals, shows his solidarity with the community effort.”

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Coldplay reschedule Wembley Stadium shows over Tube strikes

Published

on

By

Coldplay reschedule Wembley Stadium shows over Tube strikes

Coldplay have rescheduled the final two dates of their 10-show run at Wembley Stadium because of strike action on the London Underground.

Rail, Maritime And Transport (RMT) union walkouts next Sunday and Monday make it impossible for fans to get to and from the venue safely, the band said in a statement.

The completion of their Wembley run will see Coldplay become the first act to play 10 dates at the national football stadium in the same year, knocking current joint record holders Taylor Swift and Take That from the top spot.

Both Swift and Take That have played eight Wembley shows in a single year.

Industrial action on the Tube will take place at different times from 5 September for seven days, impacting Coldplay’s gigs – which are part of the band’s eco-friendly Music Of The Spheres world tour – on 7 and 8 September.

A statement from the band posted on social media read: “We’re sorry to announce that, due to planned industrial action on the London Underground, we’ve been forced to reschedule our final two concerts of the current Wembley Stadium run.

“Without a Tube service, it’s impossible to get 82,000 people to the concert and home again safely, and therefore no event licence can be granted for the nights of 7th and 8th September.

More on Chris Martin

“To avoid cancelling the shows, our only option is to reschedule.”

They said the show on 7 September would move to 6 September and the show on 8 September would move to 12 September.

The band added: “We’re very sorry for the inevitable disappointment, frustration and inconvenience that this situation causes.”

Coldplay said tickets would remain valid for their rescheduled date, but any fans who are unable to attend their rescheduled show can get a full refund on their ticket from their point of purchase before noon on 2 September.

Returned tickets are to go on general sale at 11am on 3 September via Ticketmaster.

The band confirmed shows on 30 and 31 August, and 3 September and 4 September would go ahead as scheduled.

Some 10% of the band’s proceeds from the Wembley shows will be donated to the Music Venue Trust to help support grassroots UK venues and upcoming artists.

Fronted by Chris Martin, Coldplay formed in 1997, and have gone on to achieve two UK number one singles and 10 UK number one albums. They are best known for songs such as Yellow, Fix You, A Sky Full Of Stars and Viva La Vida.

Continue Reading

Trending