Mixture of e-bike, e-car and solar power plant: Here comes the Hopper from Augsburg

• The Hopper is said to combine the best properties of a car and a bicycle.
• The covered electric tricycle has a maximum speed of 25 km/h and can be driven on cycle paths.
• The roof houses solar cells. A large part of the required electricity is to be generated in this way.

Covered e-bikes, which are technically a bicycle and can therefore be used anywhere, are becoming a trend. Recently, the Podbike and Canyon projects have been the talk of the town. The start-up Hopper Mobility from Augsburg, which has been working on the traffic turnaround for years and whose product, the hopper, is slowly reaching market maturity, is taking a similar line.

Introduction Hopper

In terms of looks, the hopper doesn’t have much in common with a classic e-bike, or rather a pedelec – and that’s exactly why it could move even more people away from cars and towards more environmentally friendly solutions.

No insurance, no license plate, no driver’s license, no socket

Because the concept, like the AllWeatherBike, offers complete weather protection, but can be ridden without insurance even on cycle paths and in car-free cities. With a width of 88 centimetres, it is no wider than most cargo bikes. You don’t need a driver’s license either.

According to the manufacturer, the range is between 60 and 120 kilometers, depending on the driving style and the selected support level. You have to pedal yourself, but there is a starting aid that works up to 6 km/h.

The battery can be removed with a flick of the wrist and charged at home. The solar modules integrated into the roof should generate five bonus kilometers every hour in good conditions – i.e. in full sunlight. In this way, 70 percent of all typical journeys should be made independently of sockets.

A reverse gear makes maneuvering easier. In any case, the electric speedster is very manoeuvrable thanks to a rotating rear wheel. The turning circle is only two meters! There’s no small car with you.

Up to three people can ride

In contrast to the e-bike or the cargo bike, with 220 liters of storage space, even large purchases fit in the vehicle. It was designed for two adults or one adult who can take up to two children with them.

price and availability

Anyone interested in the concept can sign up for a newsletter on the Hopper company website. Pre-orders should be possible in the next few months, Hopper expects the first deliveries from mid-2023.

A final price has not yet been determined. According to the manufacturer, it will settle between 7,000 and 8,000 euros. We will introduce you to other e-bike innovations at this point.

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