Cyclists, imagine a vehicle that combines the ease of a bicycle with the weather protection of a car. The Elecy, a four-wheeled, fully enclosed e-bike from Southampton-based Amara Automotive, feels like the closest anyone has come to delivering that blend. And it’s compact enough for bike lanes, sturdy enough for daily commuting, and practical enough to seriously challenge the idea that most urban trips require a car.
The idea comes from 24-year-old designer Tamara Ivancova, a former Formula 1 engineer and aeronautical engineering student who built the first prototype and unveiled it at Venturefest.
As she explained in an Ebiketips.com interview, “Even though I love cars, I hate the way the automotive industry is heading… They’re building bigger and heavier cars which are overkill for the majority of journeys.”
Ivancova’s response was to create a pedal-assist vehicle that blends the safety, visibility, and comfort drivers expect with the approachability and efficiency of cycling.
Bike-Lane Legal—and Built for Real-World City Life
The Elecy is officially classified as an Electric Assist Pedal Cycle in the UK and EU. That means riders can use it in bike lanes, on public roads, and throughout low-traffic neighbourhoods, all without a licence, insurance (though recommended), or road tax.
Its 2.5-metre length and 0.8-metre width keep it well within standard cycle-track dimensions. At 1.3 metres tall—the same height as an Audi R8—it stays highly visible, solving one of cycling’s biggest safety challenges.
Weather protection is where the Elecy feels transformative. The fully enclosed shell keeps riders dry in winter storms and comfortable in shoulder seasons. Adjustable vents create natural airflow, while the removable canopy turns the vehicle into a warm-weather cabriolet. Amara is also developing optional climate-control systems for riders who want more temperature regulation year-round.
Testing the Elecy, a four-wheeled, fully enclosed e-bike
Aerodynamics, Range, and the “Just Ride It Anyway” Factor
The Elecy’s removable battery charges from any household outlet in three hours and delivers an expected 60–80 km per charge. Riders making longer journeys can carry spare batteries.
Even better, the Elecy is engineered to remain perfectly usable without electric assist. There’s a direct mechanical link between the pedals and the rear wheels, and wind-tunnel tests show the body is 86.5% more aerodynamically efficient than a standard e-bike—meaning riders can pedal it manually with less effort than expected for a four-wheeled enclosure.
The motor provides support up to 25 km/h, the legal assist limit, but riders can exceed that through their own pedal power.
A Safer, More Stable Style of Cycling
Unlike bicycles or trikes, the Elecy uses a four-wheeled platform to maximise stability. It incorporates impact protection, roll-over protection, and a load-bearing chassis modeled on motorsport engineering.
Ivancova explained that she designed the Elecy specifically to avoid the shortcomings that doomed earlier micro-mobility experiments. Referring to the infamous Sinclair C5, she pointed out that
“It was low to the ground… fully open… the range was very low… and it didn’t have any storage space.”
By contrast, she noted, the Elecy is designed to address every one of those failings: height, enclosure, visibility, range, and cargo.
Lighting is full automotive-standard: headlights, brake lights, indicators, and reflectors for maximum visibility at night or in foul weather.
Tamara Ivancova of Amara Automotive
Cargo Capacity You Don’t Expect in a Bike Lane
With 300 litres of internal storage, the Elecy carries more than many compact urban cars. Think grocery hauls, backpacks, work gear, and school bags—easily handled without panniers or trailers.
Even with a child seat in the rear, there’s space for two backpacks. Without a child seat, Amara notes that riders can expect space equivalent to “over four bags for life.”
Simple to Maintain, Simple to Park
Under the aerodynamic shell, Amara Automotive uses standard bicycle components—meaning maintenance stays affordable and accessible, handled by local bike shops rather than proprietary service centres.
Because it’s legally a bicycle, the Elecy can be parked anywhere bikes can be parked, locked through dedicated access points, or secured using its lockable doors, lockable canopy, and built-in GPS tracking.
Amara notes that four Elecys can fit into a single car parking spot, a quiet but powerful argument for better use of urban space.
Tamara Ivancova of Amara Automotive
Who It’s For
Anyone aged 14 and up, and between 1.5 and 2 metres tall, can ride the Elecy—no licence required. For families, everyday commuters, delivery riders, or anyone who wants a bike but worries about weather or safety, the Elecy fills a practical niche that traditional bicycles simply can’t.
A Vehicle Designed to Change Minds—Worldwide
Ivancova plans to take the Elecy on a 30,000-mile circumnavigation of the globe next year, a highly visible demonstration ride through 21 countries aimed at proving its durability and sparking international curiosity.
“We need to make a big impact… That way, we’re already changing perceptions and normalising this type of vehicle before it’s even available to purchase.”