Inventor Rich Kronfeld explains it quite accurately, there’s a disconnect between the idea of riding a bike for pleasure and riding a bike to work. One evokes sunny days, the other pouring rain and a sweaty arrival.

But what if you could transform a bike commute into more of a car commute – faster, more protected and weatherproof? That was the prompt behind Kronfeld’s latest invention, the Raht Racer. It’s a pedal-powered electric hybrid vehicle, and if it goes into mass production, it could change the way modern commuters zip around.

Like a mechanical bicycle, riders create forward motion by pedaling away. However, unlike a bicycle, pedaling in the Raht Racer charges a 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery which in turn drives a 19 horsepower electric hub motor in the rear wheel. The result is a “pedal-boosting” effect that can shuttle the vehicle around at highway speeds.

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So far, the company has produced two highway-ready prototypes that have been able to achieve top speeds between 90 and 100 miles per hour, and can travel approximately 50 miles on a single charge. And these aren’t just hopped-up bicycles.

The Raht Racer features seat belts, air bags, air-conditioning, a roll cage, head and taillights, as well as a weather-resistant composite body. There’s even a workout setting which increases the pedal resistance.

Currently you can’t go out and buy one yourself. The company is working to develop production versions, but when they do arrive, the firm estimates the first generation to retail in the $35,000 to $45,000 range. That’s a significant ask, though it might allow you to forgo driving a car.

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