Human car

ujoni08 · Post by **ujoni08** » 23 Aug 2010, 20:13

Not sure if this has already been posted, but looks quite interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXUJjFvg ... re=related

Jon

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 23 Aug 2010, 20:58

Looks like fun. I wonder how it would cope with windy British roads, and hills.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 23 Aug 2010, 21:51

http://humancar.com/

the_lyniezian · Post by **the_lyniezian** » 23 Aug 2010, 23:55

So what is it? Basically some sort of electric car powered by something akin to a rowing machine?

I doubt it really has the speed capabilities they claim it does. Giving soemthing that kind of power 9not very much I'd bet from the human body)won't be able to travel fast for very long, surely?

(It looks like it's going about 10mph in the video, maybe slightly faster, despite what I said in my Youtube comment.)

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 24 Aug 2010, 02:47

After the rain of the last 24hrs, we must have had about 50mm, it would need a large plug in the bottom to let the water out if sold in the UK.

I suppose a roof might be an alternative.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 24 Aug 2010, 10:04

kenneal wrote:After the rain of the last 24hrs, we must have had about 50mm, it would need a large plug in the bottom to let the water out if sold in the UK.

I suppose a roof might be an alternative.

If you look through the other videos on YouTube, there's a design with a PV roof, but not fully enclosed. It reminds me of the Flintstones

.

ujoni08 · Post by **ujoni08** » 24 Aug 2010, 10:13

I think you charge it overnight from the mains, then supplement the on-board battery power by rowing while you're driving to extend the range and boost the speed. It's definitely not fast, but when oil is scarce and expensive, we will all have to move around much more slowly than now. I believe there's a version with a roof coming soon. May not be everyone's cup of tea, but hat's off to him for all the hard work and design.
Jon.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 24 Aug 2010, 11:32

This is the way transport design should be going; alright, there's probably over-engineering in it and unnecessary technology (such as audio or comms) but the two basic ideas of getting away from total reliance on fossil fuels and the misguided 'need' to travel so much has to be supported and applauded.

A roof? A bike doesn't need one, why complicate matters?

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 24 Aug 2010, 12:01

It's the road going version of one of these

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 24 Aug 2010, 12:05

Yeah, I thought about that. What're they called? A handcar? Great idea. The hard shoulder of the M1 should be fenced off and fitted with rails for these yokes. The inside lane then becomes the hard shoulder, of course.

frank_begbie · Post by **frank_begbie** » 24 Aug 2010, 20:25

Nothing so far has improved on the push bike.
Probably the most economical mode of transport known to mankind.

Anyway, the least travelling we all do the better.

Save energy = eat less.