EX - the screwdriver-powered tricycle

Electric bikes, eh? All bulk batteries and upright riding positions, worthy rather than fun. If that's what you think of when you think of e-bikes, then you should take a look at this. Okay, it's a trike, but you have to admit: it's a pretty cool trike.

The EX – for that is its name – is clearly mental, but there's some interesting tech going on. First of all the power plant: the trike is propelled by two 18V cordless screwdrivers, powered by a hand throttle, which will purpotedly wind the EX up to 30km/h. That doesn't sound like much, but given that you ride the thing face first we're guessing it feels pretty fast. There's no word on the range, which we're assuming is fairly small from our experiences of cordless screwdrivers...

The other unique aspect of the EX is the steering system, which is based on a flexible spine: you basically have to use your whole body to move the trike from side to side. The spine is constructed of CNC-milled struts bolted together in a criss-cross formation which tilt the rear wheel to turn the vehicle. It looks superbly engineered and the steel space frame is certainly pretty.

Is it the future of urban transportation? Well, no, clearly. You'd have to be certifiable to head out on the mean streets of more or less anywhere on this. On the other hand, it does look like a lot of fun, and we'll be looking at our cordless screwdrivers in a new light...

see more at http://www.nilsferber.de/ex.html