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Tech Hunters: Feeling the need for speed with the Sinclair C5
Sometimes, technology can be too far ahead of its time. That's the excuse many people will give for the Sinclair C5 electric tricycle, which appeared 30 years before car makers like Tesla and Nissan made us believe in an EV future. Launched in 1985 by Sir Clive Sinclair, the C5 featured a injection-moulded polypropylene shell and a chassis developed by Lotus. Its on-board battery could deliver up to 19 miles of range and propel the tricycle to a whopping top speed of 15 miles per hour. Front-mounted handlebars allowed the rider to steer as they reclined. At launch, the Sinclair C5 received mixed reviews. Some saw it as the future of personal transport, while other dismissed it as a toy. At £399 (£1180 in today's money), the rideable certainly wasn't cheap, especially for a vehicle that required its owner to pedal when they wanted to go uphill. Its low profile also made it difficult to see oncoming traffic and it didn't require a license or a helmet, meaning anyone over the age of 14 could operate one on Britain's roads. About six months after launch, Sinclair ran into difficulties and production of the C5 stopped, leaving a large number of vehicles unsold. Still, a lot of people still have a fondness for the battery-powered pedalling machine, like Vicky who shows Julia Hardy around Blackpool in the diminutive motor.
Sinclair C5 gets a modern reboot as the IRIS eTrike
Before the Toyota Prius and Tesla Model S, there was the Sinclair C5. Launched in 1985, the electric tricycle was supposed to be the first of many battery-powered vehicles from inventor Clive Sinclair -- renowned for developing personal computers such as the ZX Spectrum. The ambitious product was a huge flop due to its short range, low top speed and other limitations, selling only 5,000 before manufacturer Sinclair Vehicles folded. Perhaps it was ahead of its time, or at least that's what Sir Clive's nephew Grant Sinclair must be hoping, as he's created a 25th century reimagining of the C5 called the IRIS eTrike.
