Strange coincidence, I was looking at them only the other day. If I had the storage space & time, it would be great to refit one with a modern battery and motor!It was an idea before it's time. It used the largest injection moulded plastic shell ever made. It wiped out a significant proportion of Sir Clive's personal wealth.
Disclaimer: I don't know the seller, but I worked for Sinclair Research briefly, when I was a school. A C5 was the company vehicle to get snacks from the local shops. I preferred to walk.
I don't know that I'd want to be seen driving one in public though! Well, if I had the chance, I'd just have to try it OFF the public road, but I'm sure the novelty would wear off pretty damn quick.Strange coincidence, I was looking at them only the other day. If I had the storage space & time, it would be great to refit one with a modern battery and motor!
I think the C5's time is starting to appear...I don't know that I'd want to be seen driving one in public though! Well, if I had the chance, I'd just have to try it OFF the public road, but I'm sure the novelty would wear off pretty damn quick.
I can't imagine any conveyance in which I would feel less safe. As far as I can see, there are two main problems - it's too wide and hard to manoeuvre to squeeze through really narrow gaps (unlike a bike) but mainly that you're much too low down - visibility would often be compromised as you would never be able to see over almost any other vehicle in the way, and other drivers would stand even less chance of seeing you than they do now.
One other thing - if you normally ride a pushbike or motorbike, you'd have a struggle re-learning those skills, as handlebars switch you into 'balance' mode whereas this thing needs to be steered. I'm old enough to have ridden motorcycle combinations as well as solo motorbikes, and it's quite tricky moving from one to the other.
I've read that the motor had a problem with overheating on hills (aparently that was the main limiting factor for hill climbing), so a more modern design might improve things.As for the electrics, I suspect that the supplied motor would probably be OK but a different battery setup might help with range and power, but see paragraph 1 - who needs it?
Rog.
Not really saying much though. More popular in this case isn't even remotely popular. I'll wager we never see the like of the C5 ever again anywhere.I think the C5's time is starting to appear...
Electric vehicles are becoming more acceptable.
Recumbent cycles (which are very similar) are more popular than they were.
Battery technology has improved significantly.
See my post crossing just before yours!Not really saying much though. More popular in this case isn't even remotely popular. I'll wager we never see the like of the C5 ever again anywhere.