Are you unhappy with gas prices? Tired of paying car insurance? Maybe you want some more exercise in your life. Perhaps this is the car, I mean bike, for you.

Mikael Kjellman is design engineer behind Pod Ride, an all-weather, 4 wheel bicycle stylized to look like a car. He developed the bike to fit with the inconsistent weather of his home in Sweden that kept him from cycling to work.

The Pod Ride, while mainly man-powered, also comes with a 250w electric motor for power assistance. The 0.7 kWh motor allows the cyclist to achieve speeds of 25 km an hour for up to 60 km. A comfort, recumbent seat sits in the center, and a lengthy suspension system keeps the cyclist comfortable on rough terrain. The small size and sharp turning radius allow it for easy navigation on bike paths. Which is good, since it is a Sweden-legal e-bike.



The biggest draw, however, is the mini-vehicle design. Fully enclosable, the operator is protected from sudden rain or snow. The cyclist also sits at the same height as a regular car driver would be, allowing for the same level of visibility. The front features an extra air intake, headlights, and turn signals. The back has a small "trunk" for storage, as well as support for a bike trailer attachment. There's even a windshield wiper.

There is one catch, though. The Pod Ride doesn't use the same steering methods as either a car or a bike, but more closely to that of a sit-down lawn mower. Two control sticks sit on each side of the cyclist, which are used to steer and to brake.

The Pod Bike has been fully funded through an IndieGoGo campaign. At the current stage, they expect to have a four wheel version available later this year, with a three-wheel version about six months after that. Pricing has not been revealed at this time.

For information about the Pod Ride, check out their official website.