From Bike To Automotive & Again Once more: The VIGOZ Is A New Type Of Automobile

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The VIGOZ is a hanging try to reinvent what private transportation could be. Created by the French firm CIXI, this “energetic automobile” goals to bridge the hole between a bicycle and a automobile — letting individuals transfer quick, comfortably, and safely, whereas nonetheless partaking their our bodies within the course of.

CIXI describes the VIGOZ as a machine constructed for the way in which we should always transfer — actively, effectively, and sustainably. As an alternative of sitting passively in site visitors, drivers turn out to be riders once more, producing a part of the automobile’s power via a brand new chainless pedaling system referred to as PERS.

The Philosophy Behind Lively Mobility

At its core, the VIGOZ isn’t only a machine, it’s additionally a philosophy. CIXI believes trendy transportation has made us too passive, and that we’ve misplaced one thing very important within the course of. The VIGOZ is designed to revive that connection, turning day by day commutes into mild bodily exercise with out forcing riders to sacrifice consolation or time.

Pierre Francis, CIXI’s founder, envisioned a automobile that mixes the enjoyment and engagement of biking with the safety and comfort of a automobile. The result’s one thing that may sustain with site visitors, defend its passengers from the climate, and nonetheless make them really feel like they’re taking part in their very own movement. Each facet of the VIGOZ’s improvement displays this “energetic mobility” mindset, from its modern, aerodynamic physique to its clever pedaling interface that adjusts to the consumer’s most well-liked effort degree.

Constructed In The French Alps

The VIGOZ is designed and assembled in Haute-Savoie, France, close to town of Annecy. CIXI’s facility in Poisy serves as each its analysis hub and its manufacturing website. The corporate highlights the significance of native craftsmanship, regional experience, and sustainability — not simply within the supplies it makes use of, however in how your entire lifecycle of the automobile is managed.

The purpose is longevity: a 15-year life cycle, with replaceable physique panels, repairable elements, and software program updates that hold the VIGOZ related over time. As an alternative of throwing automobiles away, CIXI needs them to evolve with their customers.

The Expertise: The place Pedaling Meets Energy

On the coronary heart of the VIGOZ is the PERS system, brief for Pedaling Power Restoration System. In contrast to a bicycle, there’s no mechanical chain or belt. As an alternative, the rider’s pedaling is sensed electronically and translated into propulsion.

The pedals are extra than simply health instruments — they’re management inputs. Pedaling ahead accelerates the automobile, and pedaling backward helps it decelerate and even regenerate power. As a result of there aren’t any gears, the expertise is easy and steady. Riders can set how a lot effort they need to contribute, from a mild help to a difficult exercise, whereas the system intelligently balances energy between human enter and electrical drive. This setup not solely engages the rider but in addition helps lengthen vary, making the VIGOZ extra environment friendly than a totally electrical automobile of comparable dimension.

Energy, Vary, & Actual-World Efficiency

Regardless of being human-powered partially, the VIGOZ is constructed for real-world journey, together with highways. CIXI claims a high pace of 120 km/h (about 75 mph) and an efficient vary of 160 km on a full cost.

The battery, rated at 22 kWh, can recharge in roughly six hours utilizing a typical 220 V family outlet. Regenerative braking, coupled with power enter from pedaling, helps get well energy throughout journey.

At 165 cm tall, the automobile is designed for highway visibility and security, whereas an energetic tilting system retains it steady in corners and at pace. The result’s one thing that feels agile like a motorbike however grounded like a automobile.

Consolation, Security, & On a regular basis Use

Though its expertise is futuristic, the VIGOZ is supposed to deal with on a regular basis life. Its extendable rear trunk can carry baggage, groceries, or sports activities gear, and it’s IsoFix-compatible, which means a toddler seat could be safely put in.

The cabin is enclosed and weather-protected, that includes sliding home windows and a full HVAC system for consolation in all seasons. CIXI emphasizes ergonomics — controls are straightforward to achieve, and visibility is optimized for drivers of various heights. The VIGOZ additionally contains connectivity instruments for sharing, fleet administration, and over-the-air updates. For adventure-minded customers, elective equipment like ski mounts increase what the automobile can do.

From Concept To Actuality: The Growth Journey

CIXI has outlined a multi-stage roadmap for bringing the VIGOZ from idea to manufacturing:

• Idea creation: defining the energetic mobility philosophy and assembling a multidisciplinary crew
• Analysis and prototyping: creating and testing the chainless pedaling system and automobile structure
• Driving efficiency prototype: combining all main methods right into a working automobile examined at speeds as much as 100 km/h
• Design integration: refining aerodynamics, consolation, and aesthetics to create the “looks-like” stage
• Certification and industrialization: making certain compliance with highway laws and getting ready for large-scale manufacturing
• Supply: bringing the primary licensed automobiles to customers and fleet operators

Testing has taken place within the French Alps, the place steep climbs, curving roads, and lengthy distances assist CIXI consider efficiency below demanding situations.

Possession & Subscription Mannequin

CIXI isn’t planning to promote the VIGOZ within the conventional method. As an alternative, it proposes a subscription mannequin, letting customers entry the automobile with out long-term commitments. Subscribers can return it anytime and even earn loyalty rewards, comparable to a 1% low cost for yearly of continued membership. This strategy helps flexibility, reduces the barrier to entry, and suits with CIXI’s concept of shared, sustainable mobility. Fleet managers and communities might additionally deploy teams of VIGOZ automobiles for shared use.

The Challenges Forward

Whereas the VIGOZ’s idea is daring, it faces vital hurdles earlier than it may well rework mobility at scale. Gaining regulatory approval for freeway use is a posh course of that includes security, classification, and crash-testing requirements. Manufacturing complexity is one other problem: integrating a high-capacity battery, energetic tilting, and chainless pedaling in a light-weight physique requires exact engineering. Prices and subscription pricing haven’t but been made public, and consumer adoption will depend upon affordability as a lot as innovation.

There are additionally questions on how the pedaling expertise feels at excessive pace — whether or not it’s intuitive, secure, and rewarding, or just novel. However CIXI seems assured that their testing and design iterations will refine these particulars.

The Larger Image: A New Mobility Class

The VIGOZ doesn’t match neatly into current classes. It’s not precisely a automobile, not precisely a motorbike, and never precisely a bicycle. As an alternative, it’s making an attempt to outline a brand new area — a human-electric hybrid automobile designed for day by day life. If profitable, it might enchantment to commuters who reside too far to cycle however nonetheless need to keep energetic, in addition to sustainability-minded customers who need the effectivity of a small electrical automobile with out the passivity of driving one. CIXI’s imaginative and prescient reaches past a single product. It’s about rethinking what mobility could be — energetic, private, and environmentally accountable.

Wanting Ahead

As of now, the VIGOZ is shifting towards highway certification and small-scale manufacturing. CIXI encourages customers to join updates or be part of the “VIGOZ Membership” to observe its progress. The following few milestones will reveal whether or not this idea can transition from innovation showcase to real-world product. Certification, pricing, first deliveries, and public critiques will all decide how disruptive this new type of mobility could be. However even in prototype kind, the VIGOZ challenges how we take into consideration motion. It suggests a future the place vehicles don’t simply transfer us — they transfer with us.