During the test drive of Twike 3 and 4, I was able to learn a lot about the Twike’s technology. After the test rides, which must have lasted at least 30 minutes in total, Mr. Moescheid asked us into his “office” to explain a few more details.
His “office” was one floor above the showroom, which was impressive in itself. The entire building is an energy-plus building in purely mathematical terms, meaning that it “generates” more energy (from the sun) than it “consumes”. Attention was also paid to the use of ecological building materials – a lot of wood is visible. And it was not “his” office, but that of the entire team. It housed several PC workstations (5 people work there), a large meeting room, a full-size cardboard model of the Twike 5, a kitchen and a parts store.
The conversation about a few details turned into about 2.5 hours because I kept asking questions. I also didn’t want Mr. Moescheid to “waste” his time with us without getting anything out of it. I gave him a few suggestions outside his area of expertise because I think that the Twike is still far too unknown. The mere fact that there is a vehicle manufacturer within battery range deserves support. If the result is such an ingenious vehicle, I think it is definitely worth supporting.
What we both noticed during the conversation: Mr. Moescheid is not “salesman-friendly”, but stands fully behind his product with his conviction, but never tried to manipulate us into making a purchase or even impose his opinion regarding ecology. The conversation was characterized by the exchange of specialist knowledge in the respective field. I really enjoyed listening to his explanations about the Twike 5 and only then realized how complex the development of such a supposedly simple product as an electric car actually is. I also really liked his dog…
Here are a few excerpts of the information that I can remember:
- the batteries are the same as those installed in the Tesla
- the performance of electric motors is not comparable (in terms of horsepower) with that of diesel or gasoline engines.
- the range of the Twike 5 can be up to 500 km, depending on the battery configuration
- the maximum speed of the Twike 5 can reach 190 km/h with 3 batteries
- Nevertheless, due to the special chassis and the low center of gravity , it will be very stable, even at high speeds
- all parts used are standard car or motorcycle parts, so that local workshops(hello Detlev and Bernd!) can also carry out the repairs
- there will also be the “human” auxiliary drive again
We then also talked about prices. Because every Twike 3 is unique – each one is built individually – the calculation is of course different to that of other vehicles. There is also no price list to guide you.
Prices for the Twike 5 will start at 30,000 euros (without battery). That sounds a lot at first, but new Polos are only available from 15-16,000 euros – and I would definitely include a Twike in this class.
It also has the registration of a light electric vehicle (both the 3 and the 5), so it can be driven by people aged 16 and over, is tax-free for several years when newly registered and then there are the lower costs for refueling.
I did the math on this last point: If I were to” diesel” with my Touran between Aue and Lennestadt, the cost would be € 4.07 – with a Twike, even under the worst conditions (battery would be completely empty as soon as I drive the garange ) – just € 0.50 – with muscle power I could then drive even cheaper.
Two further plus points: The taxes for light electric vehicles are of course lower than for “normal” cars – and not by much. I looked it up: Third-party liability insurance for light vehicles is between €50 and €150, partial coverage between €60 and €120 – per year, mind you!
The longevity of the Twike also speaks in its favor. There are now vehicles that are 20 years old or more and still ride very well. Of course, the battery is worn out after 20 years, but you can still drive (or replace the battery). (Perhaps another topic from practice: In my time as an industrial electrician, I have seen electric motors that were more than 60 years old and were still able to do their job. Not much has changed in an electric motor).
Even though I still want to have a look at the Twizy, one thing is already clear to me: my next car will be a Twike. I’m not sure exactly which one. The only certainty is that my journey with Twike will not end here.
And for those who always complain about the battery production of electric cars (extraction of raw materials, durability), I can only say that the extraction of fossil fuels is even more ecologically questionable. And the ageing of batteries is no longer as much of a problem as it used to be.
Source: linuxundmehr.de
