This Electric AT Trike Promises To Be the Smoothest and Fastest Way To Get Around Town

If you've had a chance to check out the Cross, then you, too, have possibly been bitten by the trike bug; I know I have. Sure, trikes aren't for everyone, and rocking one off-road is bound to send you to the chiropractor's office sooner than later, but there's still a market for something like this, so let's dive into the Cross, how it came to life, what it's meant to offer, and whether or not its worth the bucks.

Overall, the Cross is designed and crafted by a Polish crew dubbed Teleport Vehicle that started showing their concepts and machines as early as 2022. Three years later and two machines are showcased on their website and a couple more on their Facebook page, so they've clearly been busy.

As for the Cross, it's their newest addition to the family, and by the looks of their progress, everything they've ever built has led them here. It's also considered the "off-road version" of another one of their mobility machines, the Teleport Trike, which, in my opinion, still needs a tad of work in terms of being more visually attractive. I'm not saying cubism and polygon-infused vehicles aren't cool; just look at the Cybertruck. But I'm not feeling it on an urban mobility device.

The Cross, on the other hand, does away with all of that, offering the future public a stripped-down, sharp, and rather attractive vehicle with some fun specs, even if you don't go romping through some mountain trails with it; it should still be a fun ride on dirt roads, some sandy patches and small dunes, and obviously city streets. I'd ride this and there's a list of reasons why Teleport may be onto something here.

Now, let's kick things off with the obvious: the fact that the Cross is a trike with two wheels at the front and one at the back. As for the driver's riding position, it's similar to that of a recumbent bike, where you're just chilling in a seated and tilted somewhat backward.

This brings us to the frame, which screams recumbent bike but with a few major differences. The first is the way the rear wheel and axle are placed upon a swingarm-style construction, which is then attached to the remainder of the frame via linkages and a massive rear shock. This means that any bumps encountered are absorbed by this system, leading me to believe that it's a decently smooth ride.

Another component where the Cross will get some of its comfort from are the wheels and those knobby and massive fat tires. Good old CST is called upon for three tires with 4 inches of cross-section, meaning there are 4 inches of air between you and the Cross, so things are going to be smooth, but also a little bouncy, a trait inherent to fat tires.

More on the frame, we also need to explore the network of alloy Teleport has put together, giving the Cross and all other trikes from this crew: their go-kart looks. At the front of the Cross, we can begin to see the frame extend toward the rear, creating a platform for a battery pack and motor at the front, as well as pedals, and toward the rear, the seat and the crankarm construction.

Because of that elongated design and the rider placement rather far back, Teleport felt that a steering wheel, control rod, and Ackerman steering were the way to go. That's yet another reason for the whole go-kart feel I mentioned. It actually looks rather neat.

The steering wheel is also an attractive feature of this EV and one reason it's going to stand out against several other manufacturers that have a similar idea. It really gives the Cross a special something-something. Oh, need I mention that controls are also integrated into the component, allowing you to brake, change speeds, flash any lights, and all that?

Now, there isn't any info on the drivetrain or battery pack manufacturer. Still, Teleport mentions that the Cross can achieve a top speed of 40 kph (25 mph) and comes with a max range of 80 km (50 mi). Recharging will take 3 hours, from 20% to 80%.

But the really important question here is how much this puppy is going to cost interested buyers. According to Teleport, this puppy is selling for a tad under 25,000 PLN, which is roughly $6,200 (at current exchange rates). Is it worth it? Or should you attempt to build something similar in your backyard? Feel free to leave a comment on that below.