With its electric drive system, the TWIKE 5 can achieve an impressive acceleration sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3.8 seconds. This value is shown by a simulation tool, which is primarily used to estimate the expected fuel consumption.
But does an electric vehicle that has already been optimized for the lowest consumption of less than 7 kWh/100 km have to demonstrate such brute acceleration manoeuvres at the same time? This question already arose in a similar way when the maximum speed of 190 km/h was announced, which no longer seems and is absolutely out of date as a permissible driving speed.
So why such an emphasis on the performance of this three-wheeled vehicle concept, which is initially associated with a certain instability? And this is precisely the motivation for this balancing act. Because the TWIKE 4 already proves the performance capability of the new axle concept as a “proof of concept”, which has been further optimized in details in the TWIKE 5.
Not everything has to be realized just because it is feasible. And which acceleration value ultimately makes it into series production is not yet determined by the theoretical possibility. But the combination of all the properties (light, aerodynamic, high electrical efficiency, agile and safe driving dynamics) will prove the point and thus whet the appetite for sensible lightweight electric vehicles, which will also make a marketing statement for the entire industry in the spirit of its Swiss ancestor.
The concrete customer benefit will be noticeable in the omnipresent, rich acceleration behavior and a robust design that is gentle on the service life, resulting from the large thermal reserves of the drive system. The attempt to push the system to its limits will manifest itself in tire wear, because the tires will deliberately represent the weakest link in this drive chain, which transmits up to 1,800 Nm.
Being able to draw on this deep torque reserve when needed will be a major part of the driving pleasure, in addition to all the practical benefits of the ingeniously low fuel consumption and the opportunity to keep fit during the journey. In our opinion, TWIKE drivers will not want to measure acceleration. They just want to have enough.
