Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Human Powered Car

Pedal Powered Car
 
(+1, -1)
  [vote for,
against]

Bikes are okay, but you can't take a passenger or very much luggage. They're pretty cold and wet in winter and the crash protection isn't great.

What about a small, two seater car, something the size of a SMART, pedalled like a recumbant in order to get as much power out of your legs as possible? Ideal for short trips around town. Solar cells could power a radio and the pedal power could also power windscreen wipers and lights in poor weather conditions.

Does anything like this already exist?

mboxwell, Mar 24 2001

Velomobile http://www.velomobile.de/
Typically one seat rather than two; otherwise, quite baked. [egnor, Mar 24 2001, last modified Oct 17 2004]

The Twike http://www.twike.com
Adds in electric power, but you can do without. [tenhand, Mar 24 2001, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Patent for device like absterge's http://www.delphion...at.cmd/US04007893__
I don't think the name will stick, though. [jutta, Mar 24 2001]

Rhoades Car http://www.rhoadescar.com
I believe this is what you are looking for. [VeXaR, Mar 24 2001, last modified Oct 17 2004]

The Quadracycle http://www.quadracy...wroom/showroom.html
Named 'em ourselves. [RayfordSteele, Jul 11 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]

The Stormy Weather Velomobile http://www.lightfoo...s.com/velo_proj.htm
A "velomobile" is a human-powered vehicle which provides all-weather protection, . . . cargo capacity . . . [baconbrain, Sep 17 2006]

HumanCar reference http://www.humancar.com/faq.htm
[jurist, Sep 18 2006, last modified Sep 19 2006]

A HumanCar video link http://www.youtube....ode=related&search=
There are several other videos linked on this site, too. I found some of them preferable to this for content, information and picture quality. [jurist, Sep 18 2006, last modified Sep 19 2006]

[link]






       Yes. Yes, it does.
egnor, Mar 24 2001
  

       vaguely related, I seem to recall seeing an advertisement for something similar with a helicopter blade, something like 80 prop rotations for every one of the pedals. (ok, so, it only takes 30 minutes to get up to speed... :P ) Sadly, I have not been able to find any links, nor have I seen anyone buzzing around at 150 ft in clear, plastic bubbles. Anybody?
absterge, Mar 26 2001
  

       the chuckle brothers had one...
RobertKidney, Jun 24 2001
  

       Did each Chuckle Brother have one or was it a single Chuckle Brothers car? Side-by-side arrangement or a frontseat-backseat type of affair?
The Military, Jun 25 2001
  

       Nah, it's directly geared. Quit pedaling, and the blades would stop.
StarChaser, Jun 25 2001
  

       That's odd. This is exactly what my father does for a living in his converted machine shop. I used to put 'em together. All hand-built, except for the bike components. Been in business since '94 or so.   

       Good luck trying to get your hands on a Rhodes Car, by the way. We went to visit them once, and the place was boarded up.   

       See link.
RayfordSteele, Jul 11 2002
  

       Yabbadabbadooo!
FloridaManatee, Jan 02 2003
  

       Why not just transfer the leg motion mechanically thereby losing less energy. Oh wait, that's already been invented. It's called a bicycle.
jvanzand, Jun 16 2003
  

       When I was visiting Chincoteague with my parents, we rented a 4-seated pedal surrey. A two-seat version of that would fit what you're describing.   

       As for human-powered aircraft, does nobody remember the Gosamer Condor?
supercat, Jun 17 2003
  

       Didn’t the Flintstones have one of these? Who needs pedals when you can just cut a hole in the floor? Seriously, it’s a great idea. If I could buy one, I would. More people need wake from their mass media programmed stupor, and follow through on ideas like this!
TIB, Aug 24 2003
  

       The Twike is a 2-seat 3-wheel human-electric hybrid vehicle- a series hybrid that uses human power to recharge the battery pack to extend range by about 25%, as I recall. Top speed around 20 mph, and it's expensive.
whlanteigne, Sep 17 2006
  

       Most of them cost more than a "beater" used car. I like the look of Lightfoot Cycles' Velomobile, but will have to stay with one of their simpler recumbents.
baconbrain, Sep 17 2006
  

       No bike parts are used. It's automotive technology. Alternative chassis/power system with an open- standards offer. You may want to look into it a bit more before calling it bike related. Although, we love bikes just as much.
thehumancar, Sep 18 2006
  

       jurist -thnx for the links- yes, there are a bunch of vids. out there-
thehumancar, Sep 18 2006
  
      
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