Car + e-bike = ?
CityQ may look like a car, but it's not much bigger than a cargo bike. It is 87 cm wide and weighs around 70 kg. The vehicle is designed to bridge the gap between an e-bike and a car. It took four years to develop. The Oslo-based company is now launching it on the German market as a new mobility solution for urban transport.
Various partners and experts from the automotive, bicycle and IT industries were involved in the development. The company, founded by Morton Rynning in Oslo, recently welcomed former Norwegian transport minister and e-mobility expert Ketil Solvik Olsen to the Supervisory Board as a prominent new member. Together with Chairman Morton Wiese, he will act in an advisory capacity for CityQ in future.
Four wheels and three seats
CityQ runs on four wheels and offers space for up to three people plus luggage. The vehicle has pedals, but no chain, sprockets or gears; instead it has an electric drive. The electric motor is limited to 250 W and provides assistance up to a speed of 25 km/h, just like a conventional pedelec. The corresponding functions are performed by a software-controlled drivetrain. It makes it possible to programme various practical riding modes such as reverse gear, cruise control, regeneration breaks, heavy-duty mode or automatic gear shifting. The vehicle can be tracked and upgraded remotely via the CityQ Cloud.
The equipment includes two batteries that can be charged at home via the socket. The range is 70 to 100 kilometres.
"As it is classified as an e-bike with three to four wheels according to European regulations, the CityQ can also be ridden in car-free zones, for example on cycle paths or in green spaces," says the manufacturer.
The pre-sale of CityQ has already begun. According to the company, almost 500 so-called CityQ ambassadors have already registered for the purchase. The manufacturer quotes a sales price of 7450 euros. The usual national VAT and freight costs must be added. An advance payment of 99 euros must be made.
Service partner concept in planning
Work is still underway on an important component of the CityQ concept, the organisation of service and maintenance. "We are planning local service and maintenance offers throughout Germany. We will be setting up some CityQ centres ourselves in the coming year. But we are also looking for contractual partners," says the manufacturer, who also wants to establish partnerships with companies from the bicycle industry in Germany.
You can find more information about CityQ here.
