The Bike-Car of the Future

For some people, it can be hard to choose between a motorbike and a car. Cars are generally safer, and don’t require you to wear a helmet or protective clothing, but tend to be much more expensive to buy and run than a motorcycle, not to mention slower! However, a new vehicle called the VentureOne promises to bring you the best of both worlds.

This is not the first time that motor manufacturers have attempted to crossbreed the car and the motorcycle. Back in the 1970s, the three-wheeled Reliant Robin, which was essentially a small car with three wheels instead of four, was heralded as the future of personal transport. In the 80s, Clive Sinclair introduced the battery-powered C5. However, both vehicles suffered from safety and stability issues, and failed to catch on with the public on mass.

The manufacturers of the VentureOne, however, are confident that it will not suffer the same fate. This three wheeled vehicle, which corners like a motorcycle but drives like a car, features a gyroscopic tilting mechanism which allows it to lean over to 45 degrees round a corner without falling over, even at low speeds. It features a hybrid petrol/electric engine, as found in cars such as the Toyota Prius, and can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in less than six seconds with a top speed of 100mph. The battery can be charged from a wall socket in just 18 minutes, or via the petrol engine, although it is more eco friendly(and cheap) to use the electric motor the majority of the time. Without additional charging, it can manage around 100 miles to the gallon, an impressive statistic by any standards.

At the moment it is unclear whether the VentureOne will be classed as a bike or a car for insurance purposes. As a rule, motorcycle insurance tends to be cheaper than car insurance, although if you shop around, you will find cheap car insurance quotes with firms such as Kwik Fit Insurance, who offer an additional 20% off for purchasing online.

The vehicle is around 11 foot long, and is just over half the width of the average small car, which will make it very easy to park. The manufacturers also believe that its small footprint could ease congestion problems, although it would need to become very popular indeed before anyone would notice the difference. It has space for the driver in the front and one passenger in the back, and the occupants of the vehicle are protected from the elements by a glass bubble which enables visibility all round the vehicle. So is this the future of transportation? Only time will tell.