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    Today's crazy idea: electric velomobile (of sorts)

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    • BaconSandwich
      BaconSandwich last edited by

      Yes, here's BaconSandwich, with another crazy idea. I've been ruminating on this one for a while.

      A velomobile is a human powered vehicle - often three wheeled. Two wheels in the front and one in the back is called a tadpole configuration. The average human can put out something like the equivalent of 750 watts of power when cycling. But with some decent aerodynamics, this means some surprisingly high speeds.

      But rather than using pedals, what if a person used an in-hub electric motor on the rear, instead? Take a good looking velomobile, and scale it up by 200% or so. Make a tube steel chassis, and stuff the base full of batteries (maybe old Nissan Leaf cells - they seem cheap). Use the electric motor from a Zero electric bike, or something around that size - maybe a little bigger.

      Make it look something like this:

      f03d8d78-2fa3-4723-8fbc-fa79c4eb4f3b-image.png

      Although there's one problem with that - the front wheels. Some velomobiles have the front wheels totally enclosed. The problem with that is it gives little or no room for suspension travel, and limits the turning radius.

      d70680e9-7c37-4d52-bf4f-ce21c37d2948-image.png
      (Cool looking, but no suspension travel).

      Instead, rip the front wheels off the Aptera - in little pods, like this:

      87edb9ae-15ab-46a9-83ad-25c62040a180-image.png

      Because it only has three wheels, at least here in Alberta, you could probably get it registered as a motorcycle. That means you'd have to wear a helmet inside of it. But that's okay.

      I just think it'd be awesome to make some kid's day by cruising up next to him in something like that. Give 'em a nod, then silently pull away when the light hits green. We're living in 2020, and it'd be awesome to bring a little more futuristic transportation into the world.

      I'm seriously beginning to wonder how difficult it would be to pull this off.

      Side note: thank you for putting up with my shenanigans. I've got just over a week left of my existing job, then I start a new one. I've been doing software development for the past ~6 years at the same place - Python + Django. I'm going to be working for a different place doing Ruby on Rails, so new language, framework, and I'll have to use a MacBook. It's got me seriously stressed, so it's nice to have a place to take a mental break. You're all great, and thanks for putting up with my random posts.

      BicycleBuck phenotyp ? 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
      • BicycleBuck
        BicycleBuck @BaconSandwich last edited by

        @baconsandwich I've been thinking about velomobiles ever since I saw the Versatron Vector:

        alt text

        It's sleek and it's cool, but it's really impractical as a commuter vehicle.

        You should know that there are a lot of people thinking about electrified velomobiles. https://www.resilience.org/stories/2012-10-25/electric-velomobiles-as-fast-and-comfortable-as-automobiles-but-80-times-more-efficient/#:~:text=The electric velomobile combines both,to 80 times more efficient.

        You might be able to find something interesting over at recumbents.com. They have links to manufacturer's sites. Just go to the search page and filter for velomobiles.

        Never discount the possibility that you might live through it.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • onlytwowheels
          onlytwowheels last edited by

          @bicyclebuck said in Today's crazy idea: electric velomobile (of sorts):

          velomobile

          https://www.podbike.com/

          BaconSandwich 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • phenotyp
            phenotyp @BaconSandwich last edited by

            @baconsandwich alt text

            BicycleBuck BaconSandwich 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • BicycleBuck
              BicycleBuck @phenotyp last edited by

              @phenotyp The lean machine is interesting, but I'd rather drive a MonoTracer or its electric counterpart, the e-Tracer.

              alt text

              Never discount the possibility that you might live through it.

              BaconSandwich 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • BaconSandwich
                BaconSandwich @phenotyp last edited by

                @phenotyp Not bad, but the wrong arrangement. I'd prefer two wheels on the front, and one on the back.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • BaconSandwich
                  BaconSandwich @BicycleBuck last edited by

                  @bicyclebuck I always thought the MonoTracer thing looked cool. I like the way it looks, but I also don't like the idea of falling over. I know it's got the little bogie wheels that flip down, but if a person could have two wheels on the front, you wouldn't have to worry about that. They are also crazy expensive.

                  BicycleBuck 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • BicycleBuck
                    BicycleBuck @BaconSandwich last edited by

                    @baconsandwich The Tri-Magnum really caught my eye when I was a kid, but I don't think it's aged well. It was a kit built around a BMW K-1200 or a Gold Wing.

                    alt text

                    Never discount the possibility that you might live through it.

                    BaconSandwich 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • This is what we'll show...
                      This is what we'll show... last edited by

                      Endless-sphere.com

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • EssExTee
                        EssExTee last edited by EssExTee

                        I think by adding an electric motor, you're encroaching on government motor vehicle classification. Remember how much trouble Polaris had getting the Slingshot legal? Depending on the jurisdiction you'd need to get it plated, have proper lighting, and need a helmet and motorcycle license.

                        The person reading this is a doo-doo head

                        BaconSandwich ranwhenparked 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • BaconSandwich
                          BaconSandwich @BicycleBuck last edited by

                          @bicyclebuck That front end looks like it was stolen from a Bricklin. Not that that's a bad thing.

                          It does have a certain 70s vibe to it, and not in a bad way. Maybe someone could do a retro take on it?

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • BaconSandwich
                            BaconSandwich @EssExTee last edited by

                            @essextee said in Today's crazy idea: electric velomobile (of sorts):

                            I think by adding an electric motor, you're encroaching on government motor vehicle classification. Remember how much trouble Polaris had getting the Slingshot legal? Depending on the jurisdiction you'd need to get it plated, have proper lighting, and need a helmet and motorcycle license.

                            Oh, totally. The idea here is to build something that is legally a motorcycle. I definitely wouldn't want to be driving such a contraption on a bike path. The legal limit here in Alberta is 500 watts. Anything more, and it's a motorcycle. By scaling it up 200% or so, it'd be roughly the size of a motorcycle, but lower down. It'd definitely need proper lighting - brake lights, headlights, indicator lights, a horn, etc.

                            BicycleBuck 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • BicycleBuck
                              BicycleBuck @BaconSandwich last edited by

                              @baconsandwich said in Today's crazy idea: electric velomobile (of sorts):

                              @essextee said in Today's crazy idea: electric velomobile (of sorts):

                              I think by adding an electric motor, you're encroaching on government motor vehicle classification. Remember how much trouble Polaris had getting the Slingshot legal? Depending on the jurisdiction you'd need to get it plated, have proper lighting, and need a helmet and motorcycle license.

                              Oh, totally. The idea here is to build something that is legally a motorcycle. I definitely wouldn't want to be driving such a contraption on a bike path. The legal limit here in Alberta is 500 watts. Anything more, and it's a motorcycle. By scaling it up 200% or so, it'd be roughly the size of a motorcycle, but lower down. It'd definitely need proper lighting - brake lights, headlights, indicator lights, a horn, etc.

                              One of the ways Clever Cycles skirted the regulations with the StokeMonkey was to design it so the electric motor wouldn't kick in without someone pedaling. Now that the laws are catching up, they don't sell that product any more. You're right about the restrictions being an important part of the equation. Give it too much power and it falls under different regulations.

                              Never discount the possibility that you might live through it.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Jb boin
                                Jb boin last edited by

                                alt text

                                BaconSandwich Krusty Walnut 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • BaconSandwich
                                  BaconSandwich @Jb boin last edited by

                                  @jb-boin Not too bad... but still not enclosed, and the aerodynamics could be better.

                                  Jb boin 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • Jb boin
                                    Jb boin @BaconSandwich last edited by Jb boin

                                    @baconsandwich alt text
                                    alt text

                                    BaconSandwich 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • Krusty Walnut
                                      Krusty Walnut @Jb boin last edited by

                                      @jb-boin This! All of the other solutions have great aerodynamics but poor visibility. A more upright solution would make more sense. But Smart tried as did Mitsubishi to produce upright super compact cars and failed. I really don't think there is a market for any of these commuter cars other than a 3 wheel scooter.

                                      "Courage is often found at the other side of trying"

                                      Jb boin 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Jb boin
                                        Jb boin @Krusty Walnut last edited by

                                        @krustywantout alt text
                                        alt text

                                        Krusty Walnut BaconSandwich 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Krusty Walnut
                                          Krusty Walnut @Jb boin last edited by

                                          @jb-boin The Citroen looks cool! Again, I can see European and Asian countries maybe being more open to these types of cars but I don't see these having any traction in the US.

                                          "Courage is often found at the other side of trying"

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • BaconSandwich
                                            BaconSandwich @Jb boin last edited by

                                            @jb-boin Closer... but still not quite the look I'm going for.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • BaconSandwich
                                              BaconSandwich @Jb boin last edited by

                                              @jb-boin I'd totally drive a Twizzy if they had them around here - and if it could manage 90 km/h. The city I live in is divided by a river valley, and all the bridges going across it are 90 km/h or above. I think when they did bring the Twizzy to Canada, they neutered it to some slower speed.

                                              Jb boin 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                              • Exage03040
                                                Exage03040 last edited by Exage03040

                                                Uh... They make that as the Solo next door here in BC (which the Chinese are about to rip off).

                                                https://electrameccanica.com/solo/

                                                alt text

                                                ToT: https://opposite-lock.com/topic/66234/this-or-that-234

                                                BaconSandwich 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                • Jb boin
                                                  Jb boin @BaconSandwich last edited by

                                                  @baconsandwich with a tune they can go over 100kph.

                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                  • BaconSandwich
                                                    BaconSandwich @Exage03040 last edited by

                                                    @exage03040 It still doesn't do it for me in the looks department.

                                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                    • Exage03040
                                                      Exage03040 last edited by

                                                      alt text

                                                      ToT: https://opposite-lock.com/topic/66234/this-or-that-234

                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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