Because it has been infinitely profitable for the petroleum and automobile industries, just to name a couple, to develop big gas eating vehicles.

@Condor5 I know. Isn't it sad?

@Gert we had a viable, working mass transit system in L.A. called the "greencars", I think it was. They were, in effect, buses on rails, an ran on electricity provided by overhead lines. The car manufacturers, tire companies, petrol giants, et al, literally conspired (it's documented) to do away with the mass transit so more of their products could be sold.

@Condor5 I know. That's how they killed the train and underground stations too.

I'm currently riding an electric-assist mountainbike. E-bikes have been around awhile, but mainly as commuter type vehicles. Now there is every describable variety, and numerous configurations of each class to choose from. And it's only getting better.

@Condor5 sometimes a goal happens to be the conduit to find/discover/invent cool stuff along the way !

Don't know about that aspect. I imagine this vehicle to be intended for relatively short commutes in moderate climates, so climate control may not be an issue in that regard.