Could a 2015 Sinclair C5 type vehicle actually deliver?

[ufkacbln]

Surely tinned beer is the biggest innovation disaster ever.

Totally off topic and pointless, but did you know that one of the contemporary records of the escape of KIngg Charles into the oak tree referrs to him carrying "cans" of ale?

 

[ufkacbln]

Going back a few years, there were two of us (later three) with wierd transport at Culdrose air station.

I had an early Trice, the Principal Medical Officer a C5 and the Deputy Medical officer bought a TRice just before I left!

We used to have great fun rolling up at meetings!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Why try and solve something that cannot be beaten/bettered? - the humble bicycle.....

the bike can't be bettered? That would be why there is queue of cars outside my window, most folk seem to think powered vehicles are better than bikes.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Sir Clive was due to launch one in 2011, but it doesn't seem to have made it to production:

http://www.sinclairzx.com/spec-x-1.html

on cycle to work!

I like the idea thaht "Front and rear disc brakes provide 100% stopping power"

 

[MarkF]

Has the tech involved, batteries, motors, electronics, etc., moved on enough in the intervening 30 years such that a C5 type vehicle could be a go-er today. If not, what's missing and why?

A C5 now would certainly be more reliable (electrically), better built and with a useful range, wasn't it only 10/12 miles? But a C5 a-like today would still be limited to 15 mph to avoid the need for insurance, road tax and a license. Combine 15 mph and the inability to take swift evasive action and I'd want good "danger" money to ride one.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

If anyone's looking for one, Ben at Kinetics in Glasgow has an 'as new' example on eBay now.

GC

 

[Over The Hill]

I think the public have a bit of an issue sitting almost on the road with your head at the level of cars bumpers.
Anything that is some sort of glorified bike or trike is a bit of a non-starter with people simply for weather protection and safety. They want something that does what their car does.

So that then leads you to a Smart car with an electric motor and batteries in.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

BMW C1?

Why did it fail?

 

[classic33]

How could a chap be careless enough to get himself into a situation where beer is unavailable in bottles or on draught.

Beer in bottles! Watch out for Weils Disease.

 

[mickle]

The Sinclair C5 three-wheeler from 1985 has been voted the greatest innovation disaster of all time in some poll.

Has the tech involved, batteries, motors, electronics, etc., moved on enough in the intervening 30 years such that a C5 type vehicle could be a go-er today. If not, what's missing and why?

The C-5 itself could have been a cracking product if Sinclair had bothered to research what was then occuring in the world of Human Powered Vehicle racing. But no. He did irrepairable damage to the public's perception of HPVs/Velomobiles. If he'd done it right he might have paved the way for a new era of micro/eco personal transport. Cycle cars for the modern age.

Twat.

 

[slowmotion]

Sinclair's products all seem to exhibit the same flaws....brilliant innovation but a terminal lack of quality. Amplifiers, calculators, personal computers etc were all very clever for their era, but utterly unreliable for the consumer. Tragic really. He's a very clever man and I still admire him for his enthusiasm about technology.