New Electric Velomobile In Town - Virtue Pedalist

This looks really good. It's more compact that an ELF, offers better protection from the wind and it carries two people. A decent sized battery to boot. If the manufacturing is better than Organic Transit they we might have a winner. It just needs some type of windscreen wiper.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/440746667/virtue-pedalist

Here is the specs from what I can see.

1.6KW/hr battery, 90kg, 80km range, bottom bracket Bafang drive, apparently no suspension and a passenger seat behind the rider.

1.8 metres high, 89 centimetres or so wide.

$3,500 or higher for a model without a motor or battery.
$4,500 or higher for a model with battery and motor. Custom motor and battery to suit the client.

Hmm. It looks like it will tip over very easily. The track is narrow, the CG is really high up. That cant't be good.

tahustvedt said:

Hmm. It looks like it will tip over very easily, especially with a passenger in the rear. The track is narrow, the CG is really high up. That cant't be good.

Click to expand...

The wheels look to be 20 inch. I'd imagine the centre of gravity is very low and the tadpole design should be enough to prevent tipping. Crosswinds might be another matter and I suspect that's why they chose to have half-doors.



The picture above illustrates the point but I do concede that the cyclist is closer to the camera. You may be correct.

More info:

http://evworld.com/focus.cfm?cid=243

The wheel diameter doesn't matter. The rider sits high up, which means there's a lot of weight high up, and the track is really narrow compared to the height. The rider is also far behind the front axle. This creates very unsafe vectors to the contact points. Recumbent tadpoles are stable because the rider sits low to the ground.

It's probably akin to the tricycle cargo bike concept ( http://www.virtuebike.com/bicycles/2015-virtue-schoolbus-out-stock ) so I guess it will probably perform like them.

Hehe. Even low slung velos tip over once in a while: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duzUA-_yc4Y

tahustvedt said:

It's probably akin to the tricycle cargo bike concept ( http://www.virtuebike.com/bicycles/2015-virtue-schoolbus-out-stock ) so I guess it will probably perform like them.

Hehe. Even low slung velos tip over once in a while: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duzUA-_yc4Y

Click to expand...

The Dutch won't be too impressed with that design.

Apparently it is 86cm wide. Actually approximately 89.

[youtube]zuh4iONOpaE[/youtube]

A tilting system would probably sort out any potential problems. I think it also needs mudguards and a windscreen wiper. But I'm impressed by the space of the front cargo area and it carry a passenger as well.

This could take off if it performs well and is manufactured properly.

I am also tempted to put down some mo ey to support them, but even at 3000 it is a bit risky for what i have plan for it.

Here is why:
1) heavy. 100+lbs and this is pretty heavy without motor battery etc.

2) aero is not that great. If you plan to ride it in the city and short commute, then fine, otherwise i would use velomobile.

3) like everyone else said, it is way too narrow and a slight wind can knock it over. Tilt wouldnt help here because you will not be corning.

4) i was thinking of cromotor + 100V battery and 10KW power, but then the cops will for sure stop you if you dont register it. With a recumbent you can probably get away with a lot of thing claiming aero. "My recumbent is aerodynamic and it is low to the ground sir. This is why i can go faster than your cop car."

Thinking it over, it is a good start, but i think i will wait for something like a velomobile for cheap. Right now all the decent velomile are crazy expensive without motors.

I may have been a little harsh regarding the stability. It's probably not any worse than the other front loaded cargo trikes. Should be good enough for casual riding, which it looks like it was made for. I welcome any vehicle that is able to tempt drivers over to bikes.

Thinking about it a bit further I'd like the saddle to be replaced by a recumbent seat slightly lower down.

Perhaps the seat should be moved a bit further forward but there would be complications. The access to the front cargo area would be more restricted and the chain would be much longer for a bottom bracket drive - probably decreasing efficiency.

90 kg weight plus 200kg capacity for two adults plus cargo would bring the total figure up to 290kg. That's some weight to haul even running through the gears.

I'd also be concerned about the strain 750 watts of power would put on internal hub gearing.

All of those adjustments are going to add considerably to the price.

I wonder what weight those 20 inch suspension wheels can handle? They would be ideal for giving the Pedalist suspension without complicated and expensive redesigns. Each wheel would have to be able to handle over 100kg. But if you were to use a hub motor then the rear wheel wouldn't be suspended.

http://www.loopwheels.com/

2 years of using my enclosed trike.
It don't require a windshield wiper at the speeds It's regulated to (20mph or less)
Vision is never really obstructed to the point I've felt I needed a wiper.

My trike is 30" (~79cm) w i d e and 72" (1.83m) TALL
It's built around a fairly unstable semi-recumbent delta trike. (Justwin Coolrider 2-seat e-trike with motor, suspension and other modifications) (I only use one seat -utilizing the other space for hauling stuff)
No unexpected issues with crosswinds and heavy rain- handles good enough under extreme conditions.
I've never gotten wet while riding.

If the prices of the Virtue Pedalist hold true, it represents an excellent value imo

Joseph C. said:

tahustvedt said:

Hmm. It looks like it will tip over very easily, especially with a passenger in the rear. The track is narrow, the CG is really high up. That cant't be good.

Click to expand...

The wheels look to be 20 inch. I'd imagine the centre of gravity is very low and the tadpole design should be enough to prevent tipping. Crosswinds might be another matter and I suspect that's why they chose to have half-doors.

The picture above illustrates the point but I do concede that the cyclist is closer to the camera. You may be correct.

More info:

http://evworld.com/focus.cfm?cid=243

Click to expand...

Hmm, that's a good point; Once riding my bike carrying one of those big art portfolio cases a wind hit me almost hard enough to knock me over, so that does seem like an issue, high and narrrow is generally a formula for tipping, wonder what the designer has to say about that. Otherwise I like it.