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Electric Velomobiles: Urban Transportation For the Future, Available Now
An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Low-Tech Magazine: "Both the velomobile and the electric bicycle increase the limited range of the cyclist — the former optimises aerodynamics and ergonomics, while the latter assists muscle power with an electric motor fuelled by a battery. The electric velomobile combines both approaches, and so maximises the range of the cyclist — so much so that it is able to replace most, if not all, automobile trips. A quarter of the existent wind turbines in the U.S. would suffice to power as many electric velomobiles as there are Americans." One thing I wish was included in the article — worth reading for the photos alone! — is a chart with prices and worldwide availability for more of the vehicles mentioned. They do mention, though, that the eWAW ("the Ferrari of the velomobiles") costs 7790 Euro.
Legal reasons are a likely for the explanation of the motor cutting out at a certain speed. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bicycle_laws for a comprehensive breakdown of legalities regarding electric bikes speed/weight/motor power in US states and around the world.
To do something right, you often have to roll up your sleeves and get busy.
I take the bus regularly in London, most times in the upper floor of a double decker.
From there one can follow the progress of individual cyclists, and is undeniable that most of them move pretty much at the same speed as the motorized vehicles, even some runners can keep up with traffic speed for a while.
Most of the world is or will be urban, so fast vehicles will be completely redundant to the actual needs of urban dwellers.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
Your post show how misinformed you are:
This vehicle combines the worst parts of bicycle experience with the worst parts of car experience. It only can be used to deliver your body from point A to point B - even though many, if not most, trips require carrying cargo (even as little as a laptop bag; but often groceries are also required.)
See this video.
This works only on absolutely flat land, and in good weather.
See this video.
In case of an accident your body will be neatly squashed by wheels of larger vehicles, making it a death trap.
See this video and this video.
See this video and this video
Only well trained young men can ride the thing
See this video
As for the rest of your comments, you'll find plenty of videos and sites to prove you wrong. I can't be bothered to find them for you just right now.
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
For what it's worth, this is the definition of a bicycle under Australian road rules:
bicycle means a vehicle with 2 or more wheels that is built to be
propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or
not it has an auxiliary motor), and:
(a) includes a pedicab, penny-farthing and tricycle; but
(b) does not include a wheelchair, wheeled recreational device,
wheeled toy, or any vehicle with an auxiliary motor capable
of generating a power output over 200 watts (whether or not
the motor is operating).
The 200W limit is what kills most power assisted bikes (not that it stops many people, they'll only get in trouble if they're being dickheads or end up in an accident).