When does an electric rec. become a car?

"I think you're approaching this from the wrong angle - instead of trying to push the limits of what constitutes a bike, why not focus on designing a truly innovative e-bike that stays within established boundaries?"

"Oh, great, another genius trying to reinvent the wheel (literally). You want to design an electric car/bike hybrid without even knowing the basics of bike regulations? Start with understanding what a bike is, then we can talk about adding wheels and motors."

You want to design an electric car/bike hybrid with three or four wheels? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Or at the very least, a regulatory nightmare. Have you even bothered to research the existing laws and regulations surrounding vehicles with multiple wheels? I highly doubt it.

The weight and length limits will vary depending on the country and region, but I'm more concerned about the safety aspects. You're talking about crash tests, but have you considered things like braking systems, suspension, and stability? Not to mention the electrical systems and battery safety. This isn't a project for the faint of heart or the amateur enthusiast.

What's with the vague question? Define 'classed as a car' - are you talking about EU regulations or what? And what's with the 'new territory' nonsense? You think you're the first person to try and design some sort of electric hybrid thing? Newsflash: you're not breaking new ground here. Get specific and do your research. What kind of electric recumbent bike are you talking about? How much power are we looking at? What's the intended use? Until you can provide some concrete details, you're just wasting everyone's time.