It’s called a Hypercycle.  The world’s first fully programmable, highway speed pedal assist electric vehicle. AND possibly the most efficient car ever made.

It has pedals like a bike and the pedals make you go, but they are connected to a generator-accelerator system, not the wheels. Your physical work goes into making electricity and forward motion indirectly by contributing to the battery and hence, the motor. When you pedal, the system multiplies, or boosts your pedal effort to automobile/motorcycle speeds.

Because when you pedal it, you go as fast as a car.

No.  You pedal as you would an ordinary bicycle; the system boosts your input/effort. You can set the boost level you want to be; minimum boost – harder pedal effort; maximum boost – less pedal effort. And you never have to pedal the Hypercycle if you don’t want to – it will still function as an electric vehicle.  It has a throttle always available on the steering wheel.

The Hypercycle is a motorcycle with the safety features of a car. Some people are referring to this kind of new class of vehicle as a “Cabin Cycle”, or “Auto Cycle”. We call it a “Transcycle”.

Yes, the first prototype has a 4.5 kWh lithium ion battery pack and electric motor. The production model will have a 14-15kWh battery.

Yes, very fast. It’s an electric vehicle, so acceleration is quick with top speed up to 95 mph.

If you are moving, the motor will eat up any power you create and it will go into extending your range. If you are stationary and pedal, you will charge the battery.

This is a highly variable number, dependent on many factors and we would be dishonest if we made big, definitive  claims.  If you work hard, you may contribute between 3% and 8%. Once we have further testing of a true production vehicle, we will have more accurate numbers. The long term goal of our company is to constantly push the boundaries of the engineering to increase the efficiency & output of the generator. There are exciting advancements taking place in materials technology and software that will meaningfully increase efficiencies.

In the prototype, It’s in the rear wheel, it’s a hub motor, 19hp.  The production model may have the motor mid-mounted with a belt, or shaft drive.

About 730 pounds – it’s roughly the weight of a big Harley, or Honda.

Yes, remember the pedals are not connected to the drivetrain (wheels), so it will go whether you pedal or not. Pedaling extends the range of the car.

There are 2 modes to choose from when you drive the Hypercycle: Transcycle Mode and Xmobile Mode.

In Transcycle Mode, the pedals respond to pedal input from your legs just like a conventional bike, only multiplied many, many times. Remember, the pedals are not connected to the wheels. The computer in the Hypercycle calculates your pedal input, multiplies it and sends the information to the motor controller. It’s a” fly by wire” system.  The amount of boost is completely variable like the volume knob on your stereo.  In Transcycle mode, you can tell the system to follow the actual terrain and the pedal resistance will vary according to the geography of where you are actually driving, or you can set it to a pre-programmed profile, which brings us to Xmobile mode.

Xmobile mode is a new, sophisticated transportation mode when you want to get a specific, timed workout. With it, you can run an exercise profile program, much like an electronic exercise bike at a health club. This is why the Hypercycle is known as the “drivable exercise machine”. In Xmobile Mode, you choose a virtual terrain program and the car will run that program no matter the actual terrain you’re on. You pedal your virtual world and the car will accelerate and decelerate based on the real terrain. So, for example, you’re on a flat highway and you’ve chosen a program that runs intermittent hills. The Hypercycle will compensate your increased and decreased pedal effort and keep you at the posted, or pre-set speed. You will still have an active throttle to adjust your speed when you want.  The program runs and you pedal as you drive. All of your energy is captured by the generator system, none of it goes to waste and all of your workout data is reported to you in real time.

Kronfeld Motor Company is a technology company. We employ hardware, software, photovoltaic, air pressure, generators and other systems to capture, recapture and maximize every drop of energy. You’ve probably heard of regenerative braking, (brakes that use generators to slow a car down and put energy back into the battery); regen is one of many tools and design elements we use, in addition to proprietary tech we develop to make our vehicle radically efficient. So to make a long story short – yes.

The Hypercycle has a reinforced fiberglass body, roll cage frame, anti-lock brakes, seat belts, traction control, full automotive grade lighting and more because safety is our most important priority. It may not be an SUV, or truck, but the Hypercycle is much safer than a motorcycle, or a bicycle on a busy street. For those who may say it’s not safe; they haven’t tried bike commuting on busy streets, in rain, in the cold, and/or at night. Bicycles are pushed to the curb, always having to doge traffic; the 2nd class citizens of the road. The Hypercycle is a car, it moves at the speed of traffic, WITH traffic.

Between $24,000 and $29,000.