Qlio Velo

The world is a wild and crazy place, full of crazy and silly ideas. I’ll be honest, when I first saw the Qlio, I didn’t quite understand what I was looking at. I thought it might be a custom job from someone’s garage, and in a way it is. But as I dug deeper, I realized that Qlio was something else entirely.

Sure, it looks like a vintage car, but it’s actually a pedal-powered four-wheeler with an engine and seats for two people; one as driver and the other as passenger. The question is, how did we get here? Well, the Qlio Velo, as it’s called, was a failed crowdfunding project from 2019 to 2020.

First and foremost, this project seemed to be aimed at a specific audience: England, since the price of a new Qlio was set in British pounds. Interestingly, the campaign started in San Francisco. It’s clear that shipping costs would have either killed this dream or made it too expensive for the average person.

In terms of cost, the Qlio was to sell for £4,850 ($6,200 at current exchange rates) for the most basic model, which included a 250W pedal-assist motor, a 20Ah battery, and most importantly-the feature that probably justified the high price-a 1,000W AC generator that could recharge batteries on the go.

With the money we were supposed to spend, we would have gotten an electric quad built around an aluminum frame, finished with an impact-resistant foam body. Yes, the exterior of this “vehicle” was made of foam.

Interestingly, the project page also mentions that the shell is modular to meet the needs of both personal and commercial activities. Did I mention that there are actual “crash crumple zones” built into this foam shell, including side impact protection? I’m not sure how effective the foam would be against an impact from a one-ton vehicle or heavier, but you know, whatever sells – or in this case, doesn’t.

Still, there’s no denying the Qlio’s visual appeal. Aside from some missing side skirts and a lowered stance, the Qlio brings back a look we typically see on Sundays when people take their timeless and beloved classics for a spin around town. With the Qlio, it’s Sunday every day.

Then there’s the interior, which I found quite interesting. It gives the passenger an entire theater or recliner experience, not to mention a view of the world they’re leaving behind. Leather seems to be the material of choice here, and with a couple of seat belts, two separate seats, and a steering column, the Qlio is complete.

The manufacturer claims that this product is 100% recyclable, and the use of wood suggests why. But what about foam? Yes, some foams, especially those used for shipping and packaging, can be recycled into items such as insulation.

So why did the project fail? We don’t know; it just disappeared without a trace. There are no updates from the two backers, and nothing on social media. These things happen.