Cube Concept Dynamic Cargo
With the Concept Dynamic Cargo, Cube has quite literally put a twist on the traditional cargo trike design
There is a steady movement of automobile manufacturers getting involved in electric vehicles, not just electric cars but also motorbikes and bikes. This is especially the case for BMW, which has joined forces with Cube to create the prototype model cargo trike that is the Concept Dynamic Cargo.
Talking about how automotive design is now influencing bicycle design, Jochen Karg, Head of Vehicle Concepts in the New Technologies and China Division, BMW Group, says: “With the Concept Dynamic Cargo, our engineers are once again demonstrating their ability to transfer know-how from the automotive sector to concepts for micro- mobility vehicles.”
At the front of the Concept, there is nothing out of the ordinary. The main frame section is hydroformed aluminium and it holds a suspension fork to help take the sting out of potholed roads. However, it is behind the rider where things really start to get interesting.
At the rear of the trike Cube and BMW have quite literally put a twist on traditional trike designs. In front of the rear wheels is a pivot, allowing the front part of the bike to be leant into corners like a regular two-wheeled bike for a more natural feel and easier ride, while the rear of the trike that holds the cargo box stays level at all times.
Taking a further cue from BMW’S experience in the automotive world, the Concept has a differential in the rear axle, allowing the rear wheels to spin at different speeds when the trike is being pedalled through tight turns, again making it easier for riders unused to how traditional pedal trikes ride.
To make the Concept as versatile as possible as a potential commercial proposition, a lot of thought has already gone into the adaptability of the design. For instance, the cargo box on the rear is reversable; mount it one way for carrying general loads but turn it around and it becomes suitable for up to two child seats. If you want to take the children to school and carry more luggage too, Cube has built in an interface for a custom front carrier capable of carrying an additional 20kg in a 30cm x 40cm loading area – exactly the right size for a ‘Eurobox’. All of which means the Concept has a potential total load capacity of 220kg including the rider.
► TBC cube.eu