Looking like a cross between a pedal dump truck and a modern motor vehicle, the new Intelectra from German startup Dynamic Drives Giessen is a truly powerful cargo transporter for cities.
Its pickup truck-like bed can swallow half a dozen Eurocrates and carry around 1,000 lb (454 kg) of payload, allowing businesses to haul serious loads in a much smaller, cleaner space than a traditional delivery truck, electric or not.
The Intelectra was one of the real eye-openers at last month’s Eurobike show. It looks much less like a regular bicycle, tricycle, or quad bike than the other electric cargo carriers occupying the show floor, thanks to its slightly forward-sloping 4-foot-long (1,215mm) rear cargo box sitting inside a beefy aluminum frame. Those square aluminum tubes are solidly supported at the corners by surprisingly long, thin plastic-rimmed wheels.
Dynamic Drivers Giessen
The only part of the Intelectra that extends far beyond its 64-inch (1,625 mm) wheelbase is the pedal drive, which allows the rider to sit upright in the full seat, grip the side-mounted handlebars, and muscle forward. The adjustable rear suspension can be adjusted for load to provide a smooth, cushioned ride. The boat carries up to 992 lb (450 kg), including the rider's weight, and is designed to carry both passengers and cargo.
Of course, leg power isn’t the only thing that propels the 270 lb (122 kg) Intelectra truck bike forward. In fact, leg power doesn’t propel it directly at all.
Instead, the rider’s pedaling power is converted into up to 250 watts of electrical power by a generator between the cranks. This nominally charges a 1,400 Wh+ battery that directs power to a pair of 125 W rear hub motors. The rider’s pedaling power and cadence control the motor output via a clever multi-control system, so pedaling harder moves the quad faster, but it’s all electronically operated.
Dynamic Drivers Giessen
Dynamic Drives’ powertrain configuration eliminates the need for chains, belts and other mechanical drivetrain components, helping to reduce system wear and tear and maintenance requirements. The company estimates that the drivetrain can go 30,000 km (18,640 miles) without maintenance.
In everyday use, Intelectra can travel up to 58 miles (93 km) per charge, depending on powertrain configuration and load. Its battery charges in about an hour and a half, minimizing downtime during the workday. Regenerative braking helps maximize range during travel.
The standard Intelectra does not include a throttle for pedal-free acceleration and is therefore classified as a pedelec bike with a top speed of 15.5 mph (25 km/h). Dynamic Drives says it can equip the vehicle with a throttle for customers who request it, but that would push it into the electric scooter category, which requires registration, license plates and a driver's license to operate legally.
Dynamic Drivers Giessen
While Dynamic Drives sells the Intelectra as a complete quadricycle, the company also appears to be using it as a promotional tool for its modular pedal-by-wire electric drive, which it calls the Intelectric Serial Hybrid System (SHS). By eliminating mechanical linkages, the Intelectric drive is an ultra-versatile component group designed not just for quadricycles, but also for electric bicycles and trikes.
Bike manufacturers can enjoy the freedom to fit one or more motors and battery packs into their own frame designs, and Dynamic Drives says it can customize the system's features to suit each large-volume buyer's needs.
Dynamic Drivers Giessen
Dynamic Drives plans to begin deliveries this fall (Northern Hemisphere). It’s currently accepting requests for Intelectra bikes from both private consumers and businesses. These bikes start at €9,250 (about $10,171 USD) before you choose one or two batteries and options. Available add-ons include a passenger seat for one or two people, a tonneau cover for safety, and a covered canopy that makes the Intelectra look a lot like a 21st-century covered wagon.
Alongside the announced large model, Dynamic Drives also offers a larger and more powerful XL model and has shown photos of a smaller mid-range version that is in testing.
Source: Dynamic Drives Giessen