Originally Posted by
chewybrian
These guys have been around for a while.
Organic Transit | Exercise Your Power! ELF Solar Pedal Power
It is a small market, but they sell vehicles like this for about $6,000.
So you have to figure it's pushing ten grand to get something you really want with range, power, durability (doubt you'll ever get a.c.).
At that point, a car does seem to make a lot of sense in comparison, for most people.
Hard to figure out who would spend that kind of money on this limited use item, when there are better alternatives readily available.
I presume the market, such as it is, is a tiny slice of the golf cart market, principally retirement communities in warm weather states with little motorized traffic, and low speed only, if any motorized vehicles are allowed.
20mph powered speed potential would probably prevent this vehicle from being considered a bicycle, but its flimsy construction low top speed may prohibit it from being considered street legal for a powered vehicle.
160 pound weight means it needs to be parked/stored in a location/garage where it does not require being carried at all. Will need a pickup or trailer to take it anywhere; no bike rack carry for this beast.
Even for retirement communities, a golf cart would seem to offer more value and practicality; solar/pedal power vice electric powered might be worth bragging points but not much else in this use.
Industrial/commercial use in large facilities such as manufacturing plant or airport terminal would favor conventional adult tricycles.