Review: I tested the Viribus SC5 fat tire electric trike, and it’s more capable than I expected
When I first saw the Viribus SC5 electric trike, I figured it would be a budget-friendly utility trike with basic features and limited performance. I’ve tried a Viribus e-trike before, and while it got the job done, it was a fairly basic and entry level model. But this time, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the SC5 delivers more than just the basics.
I’ve been testing it now for various errands, grocery runs, and casual rides around the neighborhood. After logging some decent miles on it, here’s what I’ve learned about this three-wheeled e-bike, and why I think it’s a strong contender in the growing world of electric trikes.
Viribus SC5 Electric Trike video review
Want to see what it’s like to hop on the SC5 and go for a ride? Watch my video review below! Or keep reading for my complete review.
Viribus SC5 Electric Trike tech specs
- Motor: 500W front geared hub motor (750 W peak)
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle or 24 mph (38 km/h) on pedal assist
- Pedal-assist range: Up to 65 miles (104 km)
- Throttle range: 38 mi (61 km)
- Battery: 48V 15Ah (720 Wh)
- Max load: 395 lb (180 kg)
- Rear rack max load: 110 lb (50 kg)
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes with 160 mm rotors
- Price: $1,299
- Extras: LED display, 7-speed Shimano shifter, big rear basket with tail gate and side panels for flatbed-style carrying, plush comfort seat with backrest, LED headlight and tail light, electric horn, right-side half-twist throttle, and three color options
Power that holds up in the real world
Let’s start with the motor. The SC5 uses a 500W front hub motor (750W peak), and while that’s not mind-blowing power on paper, it actually feels pretty solid out on the road. I was able to cruise comfortably at 20 mph using the throttle, and even got up to 24 mph with light pedaling assist.
A front hub motor is less elegant than a rear motor mounted in a jackshaft style to drive the rear axle, since it can mean that too much torque causes front wheel slippage, but the SC5 seems to have found a good solution in modest torque that prevents the wheel from spinning under normal operation. If you’re going full-throttle in wet leaves or other loose terrain though, you can bet that you’ll get a bit of front tire burnout, so be aware of that.
The modest 500W motor also means that the trike is not a rocket ship, but it doesn’t need to be. I found the acceleration to be smooth and predictable – exactly what you want from a utility-focused trike. The half-twist throttle is removable, but I left it on during testing because let’s be honest, it’s nice to have that instant go-power when you’re loaded down with cargo.
I don’t have many hills to test it on in flat Florida, so I can’t say for sure how well it climbs up anything super steep, but that front mounting location for the motor isn’t going to do it any favors on steeper hills where you have less weight (and thus less traction) on the front tire.
Big battery, decent range
The 48V 15Ah battery (720Wh) is mounted in the downtube for better weight balance and is rated for over 38 miles of range on throttle, which is true if you’re going somewhat slower. If you’re blasting around at 20 mph all the time, you’re not going to get 38 miles of range. But even if you’re snagging the mid to high 20s of miles, that’s still plenty of range for a day of errands or a few days of casual riding without recharging. Few people are commuting long distances on e-trikes; they’re more common for leisurely riding, and 20 miles is a lot of leisurely riding.
And just remember, higher ranges are absolutely possible at slower speeds, and trikes love slower speeds anyway to remain stable in turns, which brings me to the next section.
Surprisingly comfortable ride
Stability and comfort are both important for trikes, and one of the big selling points of a trike is that it offers better stability at low speeds since you don’t need to balance or put your feet down. You do need to be careful turning at high speeds though, since sharp turns at high speed can make trikes tippier.
I tend to ride with my seat lower on a trike than on a bicycle since the lower center of gravity makes them less tippy, but obviously you don’t want to go too low or it will give you issues trying to pedal. If you’re not pedaling though, feel free to treat it like a low-rider and drop that seat way down.
Comfort is one of the biggest selling points of any electric trike, and this one really leans into that. The seat is wide and cushy, with a supportive backrest that makes longer rides feel relaxing instead of rigid. The front suspension fork isn’t the most advanced suspension I’ve seen, but it does help smooth out bumps when you’re cruising over uneven pavement or sidewalk transitions.
And the fat 20×3” tires do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to absorbing road chatter. I rode over grass, gravel, and cracked city streets, and the trike handled them all better than expected.
Built to haul
One of my favorite parts of riding the SC5 was using it like a mini cargo hauler. I loaded up the rear basket with groceries, bags of gear, and even a couple of super-heavy portable power station batteries, and I had no problems. The rated payload capacity is 395 pounds (rider plus cargo), and it felt stable even when I was near the limit. The rear basket’s weight limit is 110 pounds, which I absolutely exceeded, and it did just fine.
I also really like that the basket has those two wings that go out over the wheels and give you a sort of flat bed-style support for carrying larger objects. I’m not saying you should move a washing machine on the trike, but at least you have the option of doing it thanks to that cool flat bed setup of the basket.
Oh, and there’s even a tailgate to the basket too, which is just another cool feature to see included. That’s very rare on trikes, but it means you don’t have to lift as high to load something heavy back there.
Final thoughts
The Viribus SC5 isn’t trying to compete with high-end cargo trikes or performance e-bikes. It knows what it is: a solid, approachable, and surprisingly capable electric tricycle for everyday riders. I’d say it does that job quite well.
It has the power most people need, the range to make errands easy, and the cargo capacity to replace a lot of local car trips. Is it perfect? No. It’s a bit bulky to store, and like any trike, it takes a little finesse in tight turns. The mechanical disc brakes are more maintenance-prone than hydraulics, especially on a heavy trike that is going to stretch those cables over time. It also has a sub-ideal motor layout and lacks some of the more refined features on higher-dollar e-trikes. But for $1,299, it delivers a ton of value!
If you’ve been on the fence about trying an electric trike, the SC5 is a fantastic entry point. It’s stable, comfortable, practical, and fun to ride. And if your goal is to get out of the car and into something more eco-friendly (without giving up utility), this might be your fully-accessible ticket.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Electric logistics company Einride is set to go public through a SPAC merger deal with blank-check firm Legato Merger Corp. that values the Swedish brand at a staggering $1.8 billion. (!)
A SPAC deal is a transaction in which a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), which is effectively a publicly-traded shell corporation that’s formed solely to raise capital, merges with an operating company to bring it into a public trading market. It’s a process that was popular in the heady, “draw a truck, make a billion dollars” era that saw recently pardoned criminal and alleged sex offender Trevor Milton launch the now-defunct hydrogen truck brand Nikola, and one that offers a faster and sometimes more flexible (read: less regulated) alternative to a traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO).
This week’s deal, however, follows hot on the heels of major autonomous trucking milestones and a solid, billion dollar vote of confidence in Einride — both of which serve to make this deal’s valuation to seem more credible than most.
“We’ve proven the technology, built trust with global customers, and shown that autonomous and electric operations are not just possible, but better,” says Einride CEO, Roozbeh Charli. “This Transaction positions us to accelerate our global expansion and continue to deliver with speed and precision for our customers. The foundation is built, the demand is clear, and our focus is on execution and delivering the future of freight.”
We’ve written about Einride’s electric fleet operations in Europe a few times, but it’s worth noting that the company is rapidly expanding its human-operated decarbonized logistics operations as well (the company announced a 150-unit Peterbilt 579EV truck order last summer).
Peterbilt electric semi trucks
“Our proprietary technology stack, purpose built for autonomous operations, combined with our vessel-agnostic approach, provides significant competitive advantages,” comments Henrik Green, CTO of Einride. “With our demonstrated safety record and established ability to operate autonomous vehicles commercially, we are well-positioned to capture the significant market opportunity as the industry transitions to electric and autonomous freight.”
The Transaction values Einride at $1.8 billion in pre-money equity value and is expected to generate approximately $219 million in gross proceeds before accounting for potential redemptions of Legato’s public shares, transaction expenses and any further financing. Additionally, the Company is seeking up to $100 million of private investment in public equity (or, “PIPE”) capital to accelerate growth.
Other notable SPAC deals in the EV space include Lordstown Motors, Proterra, and Volvo spinoff Polestar, all of which have either gone bankrupt or seen dramatic market cap reductions over the last few years.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Einride.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
BYD is bringing its most affordable EV to the Land Down Under. The Atto 1 arrives as Australia’s cheapest new EV, just as BYD is finding its footing.
BYD reveals Atto 1 EV prices in Australia
The Atto 1 is a rebadged version of BYD’s compact electric hatch, sold as the Seagull in China, the Dolphin Surf in Europe, and the Dolphin Mini in other overseas markets.
BYD’s low-cost electric car arrives as the Chinese auto giant closes in on Tesla, which has dominated Australia’s EV market thus far.
Starting at just $23,990 before on-road costs, the Atto 1 is now the cheapest new electric vehicle in Australia. The electric hatch is available in two trims: Essential and Premium. The Atto 1 Premium, priced from $27,990, before on-road costs.
The base Essential model is powered by a 30 kWh BYD Blade battery, providing a WLTP driving range of 220 km. Upgrading to the Premium trim gets you a larger 43.2 kWh battery, good for a WLTP driving range of 310 km.
Inside, the Atto 1 features a 10.1″ floating infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 7″ driver display cluster. The higher-priced Premium trim adds a wireless phone charger, heated front seats, and a 360-degree camera.
BYD also revealed that the Atto 2 SUV starts at $31,990 before on-road costs. The Premium variant is priced from $35,990.
“The Atto 1 and Atto 2 represent the next step in BYD’s vision for accessible, premium electric mobility for Australian drivers,” according to BYD Australia COO, Stephen Collins.
Both will begin arriving at dealerships next month and are expected to see strong demand as some of the most affordable EVs on the market.
BYD is closing in on Tesla in Australia after going back and forth as the best-selling EV brand over the past few months.
Through October, BYD sold 19,248 electric vehicles in Australia, according to data from The Driven. Tesla, on the other hand, has sold 23,569 vehicles.
BYD is already outselling Tesla in the UK, parts of Europe, and other overseas markets. With two new low-cost models rolling out, Australia could be next.
Source: The Driven, BYD Australia
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Tesla is working on Apple CarPlay integration inside its electric vehicles, according to a new report.
If it does happen, it would mark a major reversal of Tesla’s in-car infotainment strategy.
In the mid-2010s, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the automaker was working on integrating phone mirroring, such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but that was a decade ago, and it never happened.
Now, half of the industry is moving away from the technology as automakers increasingly seek full control over the infotainment systems in their vehicles.
Today, Bloomberg came out with a surprising report that claims Tesla is currently working to integrate Apple CarPlay:
The carmaker has started testing the capability internally, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the effort is still private. The CarPlay platform — long supported by other automakers — shows users a version of the iPhone’s software that’s optimized for vehicle infotainment systems. It’s considered a must-have option by many drivers.
There are not many details on the report other than it would be integrated as a window within Tesla’s broader interface, and that it could launch within the next few months – though it could also be killed just like the last time Tesla talked about it.
Tesla is also planning to use the standard version of CarPlay, not the newer “Ultra” iteration that can control instrument clusters and climate functions. However, the company is planning to support the wireless version, allowing drivers to connect their iPhones without a cable.
Electrek’s Take
I’ll file this one under “I’ll believe it when I see it.” It would be quite a reversal of Tesla’s strategy.
Of all the automakers turning away from Apple CarPlay, Tesla was suffering the least because its software experience is by far the best, including its voice-to-text, as CarPlay is particularly useful to answer text messages through voice while driving, but there are still many people who would prefer the CarPlay experience.
The way I see it, CarPlay integration is not particularly difficult and should at least be offered as an option for those who want it.
And if automakers want to own the whole infotainment experience inside their vehicles, they have to earn it by making the experience a smooth one.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024