- Urban mobility doesn’t have to be boring, and an electrified trike with motorcycle-style controls and amenities is attention-grabbing.
- Produced by Vook, the e-trike is its first offering for the mobility space and is aimed at hooligans as well as bored commuters.
- At an MSRP of $2500, the Vook e-trike is similarly, if not better, equipped than many of its two-wheeled e-bike competitors.
Remember when Razor launched an electrified drift machine known as the Crazy Kart? If you don’t, it’s probably because you’re more mature or more careful than me and my fellow staffers at Autoweek.
But that doesn’t mean you’ve missed out on the chance to have some mildly irresponsible fun, as Vook is launching a fleet of electrified trikes for hooligans and commuters alike.
The startup electric mobility company is approaching a deeply crowded segment with something unique, if not entirely new. At its core, the Vook looks like a fancy, aluminum-framed version of a Big Wheel, as its 20-inch fat front tire does the steering and two 6.5-inch rear tires trail behind. But there aren’t any pedals for self-propulsion on the Vook.
That’s because the three-wheeled machine is powered and propelled by your choice of battery and an electric motor: 30Ah 62V or 50Ah 62V batteries charge a set of 3000-watt rear-drive brushless hub motors.
Should you choose the 50Ah battery, Vook says you can go as far as 110 miles on a single charge (as compared to 80 miles on the 30Ah battery), with a claimed top speed of 40 mph.
Riders wanting to eek out the maximum range should stick to an economy-calculated speed of 15 mph. With a claimed 12-volt charging speed of 2.5-4 hours, Vook says this trike serves as a drift-ready toy or a novel commuting solution, as the company plans to offer a 200-pound capable cargo trailer. It even has cruise control and optional reverse gear!
And it’s fairly well optioned for an e-bike competitor, with a water-resistant LCD monitor, front and rear hydraulic brakes paired with regenerative braking technology, as well as front and rear cameras.
Keyless access, smartphone integration, and vehicle-to-load charging are also standard, allowing for GPS navigation and simultaneously phone charging on your commute.
Of course, this all comes at a price, with Vook charging $2300 for 30Ah versions and $2500 for the 50Ah version, with deliveries slated for December 2023. That’s on par with the average price for an e-bike, according to REI.
It’s arguable whether or not this is less practical than an e-bike, with fewer options for frame bags or panniers. Even so, Vook’s electric trike clearly isn’t for the practical among us, meaning it could amass a cult following if production levels can support it.
As a car enthusiast, do you have any other wheeled hobbies you enjoy? If so, which ones? Please share your thoughts below.
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