etriker
100 kW
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57596336/not-a-car-not-a-bike-they-call-it-an-elf/
I would call it a cool etrike.
I would call it a cool etrike.
Not a car, not a bike: They call it an ELF
- Thread starter etriker
- Start date
nerve
1 W
I want a fat ELF...
dogman dan
1 PW
That looks really good for the wet climates. Or when it's cold. Half the year here, it's like thank god the wind hits me when I ride.
MikeFairbanks
100 kW
That thing is really cool. Five grand is quite a bit.
I read the whole article (but probably went too quickly and missed, but what is the powerplant, battery, motor, range, etc.?).
I read the whole article (but probably went too quickly and missed, but what is the powerplant, battery, motor, range, etc.?).
MikeFairbanks said:
It sounds like a lot but this is something that isn't mass produced. Imagine how inexpensive it would be if a few hundred thousand units were produced a year.
To be frank, I expected it to cost a lot more. A decent Velomobile will set you back about ten k.
MikeFairbanks
100 kW
The problem in America, and I imagine most of the world, is infrastructure. It's just not safe in most areas to drive those thngs. I really wish, as a nation, that we could somehow have various highway systems for different vehicles. Imagine a two-lane road that was only available for bicycles, and then painted to have two lanes in each direction. Each lane about 1.5 meters wide. Put a 50-60KPH speed limit on it, with faster vehicles in the inside lanes.
I think a road like that would get a lot of interest with electric bikes and human-powered bikes. A win-win situation for many, especially if it ran like a freeway. 30mph without interruption would get a lot of people traveling by e-bike.
But putting light vehicles on the same roads as big-rig trucks is so dangerous.
I think a road like that would get a lot of interest with electric bikes and human-powered bikes. A win-win situation for many, especially if it ran like a freeway. 30mph without interruption would get a lot of people traveling by e-bike.
But putting light vehicles on the same roads as big-rig trucks is so dangerous.
Interesting specs:
Judging by the estimated time the claim the solar panel will charge it I'd imagine the battery is less than half a KW/hr.
- 750 watt motor limited to 20mph.
Claimed range of 8 to 20miles (32 km).
60 watt roof mounted solar panel for trickle charge.
26 inch tyres.
145 lbs curb weight (65 kg) with plans for a lighter 100 lbs (45 kg) version.
Rated load of 300 lbs (135 kg).
Doors will be available as an accessory.
Judging by the estimated time the claim the solar panel will charge it I'd imagine the battery is less than half a KW/hr.
MikeFairbanks said:
I think it largely depends on the country and the culture. Most of the time I cycle/ebike along the main road pottering along at about 32kph. The speed limit is 100 kph. Cars lorries and buses all overtake and I haven't had anything remotely close to an accident. Granted I have a very distinctive set-up. The county council have recently put up a bike lane running almost the entire 18km stretch of road and everyday I see more and more people cycling which should make it safer.
But on a wide road with a good hard shoulder cyclists should be quite safe. Lorries and buses here are electronically limited to 80 and 100 kph respectively.
The only bicycle death I can think of in the area was when a local loon was killed walking home one night. He had no Hi Vis jacket, no lights - nothing. Just a black coat. The lorry driver never saw him until it was too late. Though to be honest I'm not even sure he was on a bike at the time. It was a long time ago and I have vivid memories of him hauling bits of trees on his bicycle.
I think the Dutch are creating an electric bicycle/moped freeway. I saw on another forum the value of people cycling to Australia and how much money it saved the Australian government which should further serve as a stimulus to creating more cycle/ebike infrastructure. I'll see if I can dig up those articles and post them in a new thread.
sk8norcal
1 MW
original post,
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=46449&hilit=+organic
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=46449&hilit=+organic
MikeFairbanks
100 kW
Well, in Canada (and a little bit in the USA) they take old railways and convert them to mountainbike trails and such. It can be done for transportation.
Example: In north Georgia there is the Silver Comet Trail, a paved bike path that travels from Georgia to Alabama.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Comet_Trail
If we did that all over the country, it would be so cool.
I know, personally, I would travel everywhere if there was a safe way to bike from city to city.
Example: In north Georgia there is the Silver Comet Trail, a paved bike path that travels from Georgia to Alabama.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Comet_Trail
If we did that all over the country, it would be so cool.
I know, personally, I would travel everywhere if there was a safe way to bike from city to city.
MikeFairbanks said:
It would be so cool if they did better than a half-ass job at converting it.
We have a trail like that in Washington called the John Wayne trail, connects the major cities together, but the railroad ties are still in place, deep gravel everywhere, serious thorn problems in parts and there's no paved path for 200 miles. Someone on the internet braved it once. I personally only think I could do the trail if I had 4" wide 29incher balloon tires with kelvar protection on a downhill dual suspension bike.
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