While cargo e-trikes definitely are a greener, cheaper-to-maintain alternative to delivery vans, their layout is limited by having to accommodate a chain-drive drivetrain. The Yakbike takes a different approach, as its drivetrain is electronic.
It’s a viable concept as an EV, so the innefficiency you’re citing is really only applicable to the value added by pedalling… that can be as innefficient as it wants to be, since it’s just extra… it’s still value added…
Electronic drive-trains are absolutely idiotic. They have been tried. They do not work.
The inefficiency is monstrous, if you actually expect to collect the power produced by the cyclist, and transfer it to a motor at the drive wheel.
The only reason this works, is it has a battery to draw power from. This is just an electric trike with extra steps. The pedals are pointless.
Ok, I’ll admit: The word “need” is doing some heavy lifting in the title there…
Don’t pedal then?
It’s a viable concept as an EV, so the innefficiency you’re citing is really only applicable to the value added by pedalling… that can be as innefficient as it wants to be, since it’s just extra… it’s still value added…
No?