OwnerManfred Elwing
LocationBochum, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
VehicleTWIKE III TW 060
(OEM Electric)
MotorLandert 3-Phase AC
3 kW / 5 kW peak
Drivetraindirect drive with differential gear
ControllerSchmidhauser
336 Volt 20 Amp AC
Batteries3, 0.00 Volt, Nickel-Cadmium, Sealed/Dry
1 kWh Power Pack
System Voltage336 Volts
Charger
integrated in TWIKE controller onboard
Instrumentationdigital displays
Top Speed62 MPH (99 KPH)
(new R-Software )
Range37 Miles (59 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity2 adults plus luggage
Curb Weight528 Pounds (239 Kilograms)
Tires3 x Maloya Racer
Lofoten Islands Challenge 2005
After happily travelling for nearly four years now with my TW 060, I have decided to go public, and this is for a very specific reason: What really fascinates me is not the technology of the vehicle but simply the unique form of travel and the conversations and experiences on the journey. That�s why I want to realise a long-cherished dream and plan a tour for 2005 to Norway - more specifically to Narvik and the Lofoten Islands. The land route as far as Kiel, for the ferry to Oslo, has already been planned. What do we mean exactly by �planned�? Well, from the 2003 and 2004 Tours of Germany we learned that the �unplanned� can provide extra �kick�. I do not consider myself especially courageous, but the adventures, happy coincidences and friendships I experienced on those trips seemed to me truly remarkable. Even so, I have tried to record the experiences of our 2004 tour in a report �Tour of Germany 2004�.

The batteries in my TWIKE offer a range of 45-50 km, so we can achieve daily stages of 150-180 km without getting into the stress zone. One rest day per week is scheduled. This is where we get to the tricky bit: the duration of the tour. And here I don�t want to set hard and fast rules. From the experience of the two Tours of Germany, I can say �everything is possible� - but I would hope to spend about two weeks on the Lofoten Islands.

Being early-retired, time is my greatest asset and I would take as long as required for the journey. I would try to keep expenses as low as possible through simple camping and economy meals. As a start date, from Bochum, I am thinking of mid- to end June 2005.

As on the North Cape Challenge �98 it is of course possible that team changes can be made en route, viz: depending on individuals� time constraints drivers can skip one or more sections of the tour by taking the train or plane. This can either be planned in advance or decided ad hoc when we are underway.

If anyone has the inclination and the spirit to join this tour, I would be glad to cooperate with them in planning it. I think three vehicles would be an ideal size for the group, so as not to cause too much of a problem at the re-fuelling stops.

Sunny Greetings.

Manfred TW 060

code by jerry