Meet the Karbike: not just an e-bike, but not quite a car

Introducing a mobile contraption that has four wheels, a roof, rear seats for passengers and luggage, and an electric motor good for 47 miles on a single charge and able to store additional range thanks to the solar panel on the roof.

But it’s a stretch to use the word “car” to describe it. In France, where its start-up creators are located, it’s called the Karbike. Naturelle.

Technically, this thing — which looks to us like an enlarged toaster — is deep down an E-bike that wants to be a car. It even conforms to the 250-watt power limit of pedal-assist e-bikes in Europe. It does, however, get a sizable battery with 750-watt-hours of juice providing the above-mentioned range. The roof is aluminum, and the frame is steel.