Pulse, 1984 recumbent bodied motorcycle

[spinningmagnets]

Over 300 of the Pulse were made by the Owasso Motor Car Co in the USA in the 1980's, and at least one of them was converted to electric. It appears that one with a 750cc engine carried two adults and got 65-MPG. A nearly identical vehicle was made called the Litestar.

http://www.autocycles.org/
http://www.autocycles.org/compare.html
http://www.autocycles.org/empty.html

 

[SamTexas]

It appears that one with a 750cc engine carried two adults and got 65-MPG.

Is that a typo? 65mpg is disappointingly low.

 

[spinningmagnets]

Yes, thats not as good as I would have expected. The Kinetics Max car uses a tiny 1100cc 3-cyl Kubota turbo-diesel, which is normally used for a very small farm tractor. Being light and fairly aero, it has been measured at getting 80-MPG on the highway. Since it doesn't have a very snappy acceleration (does have good torque), my dream combo is a hybrid with a small LiPo battery for occasional acceleration-assist.

The Max seats two adults side-by-side (a "sociable"), but for ultimate aero, tandem can't be beat. I believe a two-seater is my minimum, even if the second seat is only used on commutes to work for my lunchbox, or 4 bags of groceries on the way home. Around town, I'd probably like the Max better for those times I had a passenger, but for frequent long drives a tandem aero is my dream choice.