Sinclair C5 electric tricycle
The Sinclair C5 is one of those inventions that was far too ahead of its time. Before its launch, Sir Clive Sinclair had a great reputation as a successful inventor and father of the home computer – the launch of his ZX Spectrum in 1982 revolutionized home computing. But when his Sinclair C5 electric tricycle was launched in 1985, all of that was forgotten.
Amazingly, the C5 could be legally driven on the road in the UK. However, at about 80cm height, every other vehicle tower above it, making it very unsafe.
But that's not all. Battery life was low (with a range of just 20 miles) and the C5 could only achieve a top speed of 24kph (15mph). The reviews were dreadful, sales were poor, and Sinclair's reputation lay in tatters.