Brink and you'll miss it

ELECTRIC car manufacturers have explored a variety of ways to overcome the still fairly limited range of batteries - from hybrids like the Prius to range extenders like the Volt. 

With electric motorbikes, you'd assume that range isn't such a problem; if you ran out of juice, you'd hop off and push (wearing a suitably chagrined expression). 

For Californian electric bike designer Dan Hanebrink, though, walking is so last year. His new Hustler X5 electric sportsbike promises a very respectable 80 mph and a range of 200 miles… but also features a pair of pedals tucked away beneath the removable lower section of the fairing! 

From Dan's point of view, it's legally a bicycle capable of 80 mph. But from a buyer's point of view… well, as soon as we find someone willing to plonk down £10,000-odd for this, we'll get back to you.

Meanwhile, imagine the look on bystanders' faces as you whoosh past like the wind… only to squeak back a few minutes later with a flat battery, pedalling furiously and pretending to look at the treetops!