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"One example is the recently released Ca Go, featuring an electronic gearbox, a crash cushioned box, cable steering for tighter turning and folding seats with v

by Tade0 5y ago

"One example is the recently released Ca Go, featuring an electronic gearbox, a crash cushioned box, cable steering for tighter turning and folding seats with vibration absorption and adjustable headrests. With all optional extras it costs more than €10,000." Is it me or are these vehicles gradually evolving into kei-cars, just from the other end of the spectrum comparing to the original?

diblasio 5y ago
Well in Netherlands we also do have cars similar to kei-cars called brommobielen (micro cars). Canta is a good example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canta_(vehicle) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canta_(vehicle) These things are allowed on some bike paths too.
wyclif 5y ago
How much of this is social signalling instead of practical transport? At some point, people are going to say to themselves, "I have a 100 mile trip to make so yeah, might as well buy a car."
- gpvos 5y ago
  Almost no-one will make a 50 km trip with a cargo bike. But it's quite likely they don't own a costly and space-hogging car, but will rent one for the few times they need one. (Note: 50 km is the equivalent of the 30 miles in parent's original comment.)
  - Xylakant 5y ago
    Note: GP edited up to 100km, then 100mile. I do trips in that range for weekends and holidays. Kid loves sitting up front and 70-90km is definitely an achievable distance - about 5 hours of riding time.
- Xylakant 5y ago
  I have a similarly priced model, but from a different brand. Some of the extras are definitely debatable, but convenient. A second battery, belt drive, Rohloff electronic gear box. A chain with a derailleur definitely does the job, but belt and Rohloff need much less maintenance and I’m bad at maintaining chains. Second battery is useful since we actually do trips that go past 50 miles. So even if both are not strictly needed, this bike replaces my car. And it’s pretty bad at social signaling, most people don’t realize what the ride costs.
- PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
  These are for the times when someone says "I have to deliver some stuff N miles/km across town, why would I use a car?" N is likely to be single digits, though not necessarily. It's a somewhat similar rationale for why many big cities have bicycle couriers - it just makes more sense for a bunch of stuff to move it this way. That doesn't mean that your 100 mile journey is also an obvious candidate for a bicycle (though it also doesn't mean that it isn't).
detaro 5y ago
In a way, maybe? Although weird small electric cycle/cars have been a thing for quite a while.

by Tade0 5y ago

diblasio 5y ago

Well in Netherlands we also do have cars similar to kei-cars called brommobielen (micro cars). Canta is a good example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canta_(vehicle) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canta_(vehicle) These things are allowed on some bike paths too.

wyclif 5y ago

How much of this is social signalling instead of practical transport? At some point, people are going to say to themselves, "I have a 100 mile trip to make so yeah, might as well buy a car."

gpvos 5y ago
Almost no-one will make a 50 km trip with a cargo bike. But it's quite likely they don't own a costly and space-hogging car, but will rent one for the few times they need one. (Note: 50 km is the equivalent of the 30 miles in parent's original comment.)
- Xylakant 5y ago
  Note: GP edited up to 100km, then 100mile. I do trips in that range for weekends and holidays. Kid loves sitting up front and 70-90km is definitely an achievable distance - about 5 hours of riding time.
Xylakant 5y ago
I have a similarly priced model, but from a different brand. Some of the extras are definitely debatable, but convenient. A second battery, belt drive, Rohloff electronic gear box. A chain with a derailleur definitely does the job, but belt and Rohloff need much less maintenance and I’m bad at maintaining chains. Second battery is useful since we actually do trips that go past 50 miles. So even if both are not strictly needed, this bike replaces my car. And it’s pretty bad at social signaling, most people don’t realize what the ride costs.
PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
These are for the times when someone says "I have to deliver some stuff N miles/km across town, why would I use a car?" N is likely to be single digits, though not necessarily. It's a somewhat similar rationale for why many big cities have bicycle couriers - it just makes more sense for a bunch of stuff to move it this way. That doesn't mean that your 100 mile journey is also an obvious candidate for a bicycle (though it also doesn't mean that it isn't).

detaro 5y ago

In a way, maybe? Although weird small electric cycle/cars have been a thing for quite a while.