UK Edition
The Sinclair C5 is reborn: 1980s electric tricycle gets 21st century update from inventor's nephew
It is remembered as one of the biggest disasters in technology history and the moment when a celebrated inventor pushed the boundaries too far, but the Sinclair C5 is set for a comeback.
The electric tricycle developed by Sir Clive Sinclair has been reborn by his nephew, 32 years after its predecessor first went on sale.
The original C5 was seen as a revolutionary electric vehicle that could reach speeds of 15mph, and at £399 would be a cheap way to get around, exempt from road tax and insurance.
However, it struggled with hills and there were fears that it wouldn't be seen in traffic. Of around 14,000 that were made, only around 5,000 were sold and its manufacturer went bust, ending production after just nine months. In 2013 it was voted the greatest innovation disaster of all time.
However, Clive Sinclair's nephew Grant Sinclair claims it merely came too soon. With cities now full of cycle lanes, growing environmental fears and rising congestion, it could now be seen as a zippy commuting option.
The revamped version of the electric tricycle, called the Iris E-Trike, is weatherproof, unlike the original, and has a top speed of 30mph, with a more powerful motor and a range of 31 miles.
Set to be released late this year, it will sell for £3,500 - a significant leap on the 1980s version - but is aerodynamically designed and at four feet high is meant to be visible to other drivers. It also comes with mod cons such as an screen showing speed, LCD headlights and a camera at the back that can stream a rear-view feed to the driver's smartphone.
It isn't the first time the design has made a comeback. Sir Clive himself unveiled the X-1, a two-wheeled model, in 2011, but it never reached the market.
Sir Clive was a famed British inventor whose more successful products included the ZX Spectrum, which helped pioneer home computing in the UK.
A handheld version of the ZX Spectrum has been backed by an online crowdfunding campaign.