[Transportation] Human powered vehicles with electric boost

skyemoor

So how could people in suburbs manage to get to their places of employment, assuming they remain employed?

We all know about buses, and about limited light rail to some suburbs. But the automobile is not easy to replace most low density suburbs. Bikes can work, though rain and winter put a damper on all but the hardiest.

Enter the all-weather human powered vehicle, which has been catching on in Europe over the last decade.

http://www.go-one.de/ukindex.shtml

See a variety at http://www.velomobile.de/

With electric boost, this streamlined beauty could average 30-40 mph after the rider gets into shape.

Mass produced, these could sell for around $3000, if PO doesn't debilitate the economy.

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T4chibanaUkyo · Tar Sands Joined: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 22

ooooh! i sooooo want one of those!!! If only I lived in Europe!! i would gladly save up 3 months pay for a vehicle like that! Smile

gg3 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:30 am Post subject:

Yes, all of the above.

If the basic chassis/body design works as a pedal/electric hybrid, it will also work as a pure electric or possibly as a gas/electric hybrid.

If the shape is optimized for speed under human power, it will also be highly fuel efficient with other powertrain options.

I think there's a potential problem with the front wheel placement; it's too far back from the nose of the vehicle; I wonder if this may cause some of the weird handling issues such as fishtailing...?

I also wonder if this design has enough ground clearance to get over speed-bumps and poorly-designed driveway entrances (the latter are endemic in California...)?

Also needed will be a more utilitarian version for people who need to carry more than a briefcase. The present designs resemble sports cars, which are nice in their own right, but we need something similar to a little hatchback that can carry maybe four to six cubic feet of stuff. A 2-seater would be nice but may be more complicated than this design concept allows.

The engineering & business potential of these things is IMHO wide-open and will lead to some really interesting designs over the next couple of decades.

We have to get all the !@#$%&&!! SUVs off the road; those things are a hazard to everything smaller than themselves. And we have to do something about the psychological BS behind the myth that driving a monster is somehow intrinsically safe. Downsize the entire vehicle fleet and then people should feel better about piloting tiny microcars around in city traffic.

Last but not least: Parking & security. The unpleasant fact is that the crime rate in the USA is sky high compared to Europe. So we need locks on the hatch, and some kind of tamper alarm, and ideally we also need secured parking areas. And while we're at it we need tougher laws, enforcement, and sentencing for vandalism, burglary, and theft involving these types of ultra-light vehicles as well as bicycles.

So there's a lot of work to be done on this front as well as every other; but in the long run, it will be done, or we'll be done for.

MD

I would like one with a full battery drive, integrated wheel motor, and solar powered charger.

Who was the manufacturer of the integrated wheel motor scooter due in the US from Germany next year? Anyone?

I have my $4k purchase price ready!
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md@peakoil.com

backstop

Skyemore -

That has to be a major design advance, capable not only of 'stretching' for greater accom but also of methanol FC drive as well as other drives listed above.

As it stands it looks highly desirable in wealthy nations, while the problem we face is of course global. So I'm wondering what price a soft-top hillbilly version might be made for in, say, India ?

Any ideas ?

Regards,

Backstop

skyemoor · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:26 pm Post subject:

The_Toecutter · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 18, 2005 Posts: 1731

I posted this in a topic on one passenger diesel cars and figured it will be relevent here:

I think the ideal one-passenger vehicle would be a human-electric hybrid or a pure electric bicycle built for high performance that incorporates the use of laminar flow in its design. Look at the following bicycles:

www.speed101.com/

300-500 watts of human pedal power is enough to take these to over 60 mph. Including rider they weigh about 200-250 pounds depending upon weight of the rider.

Imagine say, a 5-10 kW electric drive to where such a vehicle could hit 120+ mph from the power produced and a 3 kWh lithium ion battery pack that could take this vehicle about 100+ miles on battery power alone. The vehicle would weigh about 275-325 pounds including rider. It would be cheap to build and could be advertised as a high performance motorcycle, only to go city speeds, the rider could choose to comfortably pedal it at their liesure around 20-30 mph, but for rapid acceleration or when they take it onto the highway, they could go as fast at they wanted with the electric drive.

And for those who don't like the pedal feature, it could be made an option. Either way, that would make one wicked electric-powered bike.

10 kW of power from an electric motor in a 275-325 pound vehicle including weight of rider? That would accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 8 seconds, would be very fun to drive, and have a dangerous top speed for the type of vehicle it is. Add to that incredible efficiency and you're set for a new type of high performance motorcycle, that is basically an enclosed bicycle. Need more power? How does a 30-40 kW electric drive(and the batteries to make use of it) sound? Add inthe option of pedal power for low speeds and you're set. Like a scooter on crack that doesn't look anything like a scooter.
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skyemoor

skyemoor

skyemoor

There are a wide variety of options when it comes to human powered vehicles with electric boost, including foldable electric bikes, and kits to add boost to one's existing bike;

These can be taken onboard trains/buses, or brought inside places of employment.
http://www.scooterrevolution.com/ciao.html

Can add speed and distance to one's biking abilities, turning marginal bike commute possibilities into realities.
http://www.zapworld.com/products/dxkit_bike.asp

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http://ecoplan.org/carshare/cs_index.htm
http://www.velomobile.de/GB/Advantages/advantages.html

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He that lives upon hope will die fasting. --Benjamin Franklin

Madpaddy · Expert Joined: Jun 25, 2004 Posts: 1988

I have a Giant Lite Comfort electric assist bike and I find it excellent. Cycling is dangerous on our narrow roads though because of asshole drivers. My bike and I are looking forward to €10 a gallon petrol Laughing

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dooberheim

MD wrote:

skyemoor

MD

I recently gave up my 50 mile commute for a one mile commute. I am currently shopping for my next primary transport. I am looking at full eletric motorcycle/scooters and electric assist bicycles.
The new intgrated electric from Germany is my first choice, but it is the most expensive option.
_________________
"Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events."
Robert A. Heinlein

md@peakoil.com

skyemoor

Here's some information on human-powered velomobiles, with links to manufacturers and analyses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile
_________________
http://www.carfree.com
http://ecoplan.org/carshare/cs_index.htm
http://www.velomobile.de/GB/Advantages/advantages.html

Chance favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur

He that lives upon hope will die fasting. --Benjamin Franklin