The variety of velomobiles and light electric vehicles (LEV) make the SPEZI International Special Bikes Show in Lauchringen a must-attend event for anyone who wants to experience the future of mobility today. An extended test track offers ideal conditions for trying out the innovative models from the world's leading velomobile suppliers.

"New mobility needs new vehicles. If you want to experience the future of bicycles today, test out velomobiles at SPEZI ," advises Gabriel Wolf, co-organizer of the special bicycle trade fair. For him, velomobiles close the gap between bicycles and cars: pedal drive, usually with electric assistance, a small footprint and comparatively low weight are reminiscent of bicycles, while weather protection, aerodynamics, storage space, mirrors and indicators are reminiscent of cars. The boundaries to the LEV are fluid. Obviously, velomobiles effortlessly leave the categories of bicycle, motorcycle, scooter or car behind them. They combine the respective advantages of the traditional forms of mobility without the disadvantages. "You are protected from wind and weather like a car and at the same time have the unique glide of cycling," says Wolf enthusiastically.

High-tech: construction beyond the wire wheel

Instead of a bicycle frame to which the various components are bolted, most velomobiles use a chassis, often made of lightweight fiber composite material, on which the body sits, which usually provides storage space ("trunk") and weather protection. Most velomobiles are so-called multi-track vehicles with three or four wheels. The components used originate from the bicycle, scooter and automobile sectors, and often include elaborate in-house developments.

SPEZI is the hotspot of the velomobile world

The who's who of velomobile suppliers will be exhibiting at SPEZI 2024. For example, the "Vigoz" from French company Cixi, which relies on the "bike-by-wire" principle instead of chains or belts and promises speeds of up to 120 km/h with a closed body. Series production will begin in 2025. Norwegian manufacturer Podbike is already starting to deliver its bikes in Germany this year and will be showcasing its "Frikar" velomobile at SPEZI, in which the riders sit protected from the weather under a glass dome. The Pedilio velomobile from German developer Thomas Viebach has solar panels integrated into the bodywork and thus promises partial freedom from the power socket at home. Belgian manufacturer Quadvelo even has its roots at SPEZI itself. The idea for the velomobile was born at the exhibition in 2017. Today, Quadvelo is presenting the production model.

Velomobiles have a history

The idea of crossing a bicycle with a car is not new. The first velomobiles were already rolling along the roads of Europe in the 1930s. The "Velocar" designed by Frenchman Charles Mochet was a hit in everyday life and in bicycle races on the road and cycle track. In the 1970s and 1980s, designs such as the "Windcheetah", "Leitra" and "Veleric" took up the idea again. Velomobiles have benefited from the rapid development of bicycle technology over the past 30 years, the introduction of electric assistance and the change in people's usage behavior. Today's models are diverse, ranging from complex high-tech to simple and robust solutions: "E-Velo-Cabrio", a comfortable everyday vehicle with pragmatic weather protection solutions, "VeMoo", a new French development of a Neige trike with three-quarter fairing or the legendary "Alleweder" velomobile, whose development dates back over 30 years.

External success factors

The exhibitors at SPEZI will show how sophisticated velomobiles are and what contribution they can make to the ecological transport transition. "For this to succeed, the framework conditions for velomobiles must be created," explains Wolf and adds: "The standards and approval procedures must be adapted to velomobiles and velomobiles need adequate space in the traffic area." The framework conditions for S-pedelecs in Switzerland and Belgium demonstrate the immediate success of a means of transport. There, fast pedelecs, which provide assistance up to a maximum speed of 45 km/h, already account for around 20 percent of all e-bikes sold and are replacing car journeys in rural areas.

Extended test course

The opportunity to test ride bikes and vehicles remains at the heart of the exhibition. The test track has been extended once again for 2024. Trying things out is part of SPEZI.

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