The GoCycle G2R follows on from the GoCycle G1 electric bicycle, and promises to offer kind-of-cycling enthusiasts the chance to look sporty, but only when they feel like it (pedalling is optional). Instead of the nickel metal-hydride battery found in the first incarnation, the G2R has been fitted with a far higher capacity lithium-ion battery, enabling it to travel up to 40 miles on a single charge.

An integrated dash tells the rider about charge levels, gears and speed, and the motor, which has been cleverly concealed within the injection-moulded magnesium frame, can reach up to 15.5mph. And if you take the bike onto private land, you can rig the bike to hit 20mph.

Unlike the previous version, you do not have to press a button to start the engine, you merely start pedalling and the 250w engine kicks in.

At £2799, the G2R is a tad costly for an electric bike, and is unlikely to win over Brompton enthusiasts – not least because it weighs 16kg and takes a full 5 minutes to fold away. That said, critics say it is a lot of fun to ride, and is generally regarded as a very beautiful piece of engineering. The man behind the elegant lines is Formula 1 engineer Richard Thorpe, who worked for McLaren for a number of years before setting up Karbon Kinetics Limited in 2002, which makes the GoCycle.

Perhaps ideal for retired people or those with a leisurely lifestyle, the G2R is definitely a recreational item, and is only really suitable for localised trips. For those among our customers who have used our Short Term European Cover policies for continental trips, swapping the car for the G2R would not be advisable – and besides, you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of our trusted, great value breakdown policies!