Karbikes

Founded by the engineers Lucas and Gaëlle, Karbikes is developing a cargo bike that is a hybrid between a bicycle and a car: four wheels for stability and a convertible body for riding in all weathers, plus top-of-the-range electric assistance and a solar roof panel for carrying heavy loads over long distances. The two-seater Tandem model is aimed at suburban families wishing to do without a car, while the professional models target last-mile logistics. The project relies on two industrial partners: SME, a specialist in industrial boilermaking and pipework for 40 years, and Alchimies, a 3D printer designer brought in for bespoke additive manufacturing. The first compact prototypes are designed to travel in low-emission zones such as Strasbourg.