No, this is not a simple pedal boat. Indeed, New Zealand start-up Manta5 has developed a real bicycle that can move on water! This device, as surprising as it is strange, will be available in our country from the beginning of the 2021 school year.
A real “bike of the seas”
When we go on holiday to the sea, it is not uncommon to see people windsurfing, water skiing, kite surfing or even jet skiing. A few weeks ago, New Zealand-based start-up Manta5 communicated about the XE-1, which is none other than a bike that can go on the water. However, you should know that this “sea bike” was first presented to the general public at CES 2020 in Las Vegas (United States).
By discovering the images visible in the video at the end of the article, using this machine seems quite safe and pleasant. very handy thanks to the steering rudderThe bike picks up the waves well, of course, but also lets you away from the shore in a fairly consistent way. It is also possible to walk long distances along the coast and explore coves, caves and more. corners that are usually difficult to accesseven with a small boat.
A well-known operating principle
As Manta5 explains, the XE-1 bike is: only made of carbon and aluminum, making it ultra-light. The latter mainly uses foils, a technology that is already present in sailing boats. These are wings whose position allows the creation of a lift force. The same force that takes shape thanks to displacement in water acts simultaneously on the stability of the machine and its speed. In addition, this sea bike is based on the same principle as that of the electrically assisted bicycle. The system makes it possible to force required to activate the propeller and therefore essential for movement in water. The foils make it possible to lift the bike out of the water to increase the lift and speed at the same time.
Introduced a year and a half ago, the Manta5 XE-1 was available fairly quickly in New Zealand and the United States. Yet this sea bike will also be on the market very soon in France. A launch to take place during the Cannes Yachting Festival on September 7, 2021. In terms of price, the purchase of the XE-1 still requires a significant investment: 7,990 euros. However, it may well be that in the fairly near future some companies will offer it for rent!
Here is the presentation video of the Manta5 XE-1:
