Monday, November 12, 2007

E-Velocabs

"Velocabs" spotted in Sacramento ("Old Sac"), California. They are ones like seen in europe (see: Trixi.com ). These three weeled vehicles also have electric assist hub motors. See the fron wheels.

A creative movie about a girl, her cell phone, and a ride on a velocab. An E-velocab.

VelcoTaxi in Germany promo video. Brings new meaning to the idea of "door to door" taxi service.


This is the Trixi Bici Velocab used in Spain, in particular Madrid and Barcelona. See promo video below.

Trixi Velocabs seen on a Japanese TV show:



Related Posts:
- Electric Hybrid Bike Trike video
- Kyoto Trike video
- Wike Wicycle (folding e-car) video
- KMX powered By BionX video
- Solar Electric Trike video
- ebike E-Trike on Snow video clip
- AltCar Expo caravan video
- Electric Trike video
- E-Trike with Cyclone kit video
- Solar Trikes video
- Trike Taxi video
- TWike Extender video
- TWike Tours video
- America's Wheels

1924 Flivver Trike

(click on image to enlarge.)

In the October 1924 issue of Modern Mechanix, there is an article about a three wheel "automobile" that looks like a three wheeled recumbent bicycle/velomobile. This one is made in Germany and has a small motor which burns very little fuel. I suppose this could also be designed to run on electric hub motors powered by electricity stored in Lithium Magnesium battery packs.

This is what the article says:

Three-Wheeled Auto Makes Speed with Low Fuel Cost - Resembling a tiny model, a three-wheeled automobile design in Germany has a closed top and doors like bigger cars. Although the vehicle does not sonsume much fuel, it is said to attain a speed of ten miles an hour on good roads. Its size enables it to be operated where more cumbersome machines might find difficult traveling. It is claimed that, owing to the small size of the car, the government places not tax on it and permits its use without a driver's licens. - Three-Wheeled "Flivver" That Burns Little Fuel and Can Easily Operate in Crowded Streets.


Related Posts:
- Electric Hybrid Bike Trike video
- Kyoto Trike video
- Wike Wicycle (folding e-car) video
- KMX powered By BionX video
- Solar Electric Trike video
- ebike E-Trike on Snow video clip
- AltCar Expo caravan video
- Electric Trike video
- E-Trike with Cyclone kit video
- Solar Trikes video
- Trike Taxi video
- TWike Extender video
- TWike Tours video
- America's Wheels

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Air Powered LA

(click on image to enlarge)

The January 1932 issue of Modern Mechanix had an article and pictures of a car powered by compressed air that was being driven around the streets of Los Angeles.

I wonder if this car exists anymore. And what more info is available on it. If anyone has more info on it, please send to me. Thanks

Below is an scale model of a similar design air powered rotory(rotary) engine. note the balanced operation. The motor can also be mouned in line with the wheels, allowing for the elimination of drive train parts and connections.



Recommended Links:
- Air Powered Vehicles community forum

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Hub Motor Repair

This is an informative video on how to safely remove the cover plate on an electric hub motor, what tools you will need, and tips and tricks to do the job.

Next step would be to have a video which shows people how to do the connector wire repair and troubleshooting, and putting the cover back on, and properly screw/attach everything back together.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Electric Planes

Imagine flying electric planes out of Santa Monica airport. And imagine electric planes lying in the sky about Santa Monica and the Westside.. see videos of these invations in flying humans by electricity. see: www.electraflyer.com



BionX Humanoid

Humanoid Android with BionX appendages/Limbs. Look Out Bionic Woman! We are stronger and faster than you!


video description:

My KMX-BionX Electric Trike. Just a quick and dirty job I did with some media I have from my KMX-BionX conversion. And as you will see, there's even room for more to come later .....


Trailer for new Bionic Woman tv series.


Six Million Dollar Man Intro. "We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic man... better, stronger, faster."


Related Posts:
- BionX... A Dominent Player

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Fastest Ebike

The videographer says this ebike can go 60 miles per hour.

Video Description:

An E-bike we built in 2 weeks. Top speed is 60 MPH. The acceleration is unmatched. I am often challenged by cars for a race and never been beat. 15 horsepower max Briggs and Stratton motor running at 48V. In this video we compare it to a performance moped. We can not use it to its full potential, for risks of another broken chain. We have been through 5 chains, and 2 derailleurs.


Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Ebike Awareness

There have been several Ebike (electric assist bicycle) awareness ride/tours over the last year or so. Here is another one that took place from Calgary to Baniff. The mission was to ride 130 kilometers in 3 hours. That is about 47 kilometers an hour for 3 hours, including up hills.


There have been other awareness building rides. Another example was an ebike commuter tour in Australia by "Sustainable Transport". Here is a video they put up on Youtube that illustrates the advantages of riding an electric assist bicycle over a car, whether gas, hybrid or full electric EV. They take up less space, faster parking, and can take advantage of more short cuts which a car can not do.



And I am sure we will continue to see more and more. And we will see new affinity clubs/groups sprout in various places around North America, Canada, and USA, in which ebike enthusiasts will meet, share tips and knowledge with each, and have some fun rides and other fun activities together.

If you know of any past or future ebike tours/rides/clubs, post what you know in the comments so we all can know. Include links if you have them. Thanks.

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum

Ebike Building

Instructions on how to build an electric bicycle in Spanish.

Video Description:

Convierte tu mountainbike en una bicicleta electrica. Kit de conversion para bicicletas mountainbike. Convierte tu bicicleta en un vehiculo economico, silencioso , rápido y limpio (CERO EMISION!).


How to install a controller that can drive two electric hub motors siumltaneously.

Video Description:
Dual Motors controller www.ItsElectric.ca
This is a dual motors controller. It allow single controller to control two motors at the same time. This setup will be use on a special custom build quad bike project. It will be use during Burning Man event in 2007. Updated video of the final project will be publish later on.

Bionx Dominates

It seems that Bionx electric assist power drive systems for bicycles are becoming a major player in North America. More bicycle builders are using Bionx power systems for their bicycles. I believe some of the attraction to the Bionx system includes high quality, being made in North America, silent operation, and the possiblity of access to parts without having to transport from overseas. And the momentum for Bionx continues to build as more bicycles have these systems installed. These two video illustrate some of these points.





BionX engineer talking about the Bionx Battery pack(informative!)


BionX batery connector


BionX electric hub motor assist drive system installed on a Go-One velomobile. The hub motor is in the rear wheel hub and the battery back and controller are in the black bag on the rear rack above the rear wheel.


Bionx kit installed on a Go-One velomobile.


I am looking for video tutorials on changing BionX codes for performance modification and tweaking. If you got some, send me the info.

Build Ebike

This reminds of "Old Yankee Workshop", except the project for this host is how to build an electric bicycle out of an old beach cruiser. Anyone seen the whole DVD and want to offer some reviews for the rest of us? Thanks. (smile)



Related Posts:
- Ebike Conversion

Recommended Links:
- Cycle Santa Monica! community forum
- Power-Assist community forum

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Sting Police

Sting and the other members of the band Police were spotted riding bicycles for a promo event, in France. The bikes appears to be part of the new mass bicycle program spreading through Paris and other cities in France.



Video description:
We spotted the legendary band having fun while trying the brand new Velib' in Paris.
Vélib’ is a public bicycle rental programme in Paris, 20 000 bicycles are available for rental from 1,450 automated stations distributed across Paris.
France inducted The Police, Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, into the Order of Arts and Letters today. The French culture ministry announced that the members of The Police are from now on knights of the Order of Arts and Letters...

Monday, November 05, 2007

Skating Tyson

Tyson, the skateboarding dog was spotted on the 3rd street promenade.





Hey, what happens if Tyson skates on the promenade? Do the police issue him a warning "hey buddy, you can't skate on the promenade, otherwise we gonna have to take you to the doghouse" (wink)(smile)

www.skateboardingbulldog.com


Tilting Bicycle

This is a video of a tilting bicycle/tricycle.


Video description:
Shows a short test of a new leaning (tilting) bicycle construction - collaboration for further development sought. www.hyperbike.cc

It may be interesting to add two hub electric motors to both front wheels.

Solar Bicycle

This video shows a chopper bicycle with a solar panel installed in the front. Ihe chopper is using an electric hub motor, super capaciters, and the solar panel for the power drive system. It appears that the bike is running only of electricity collect from the sun.



This video is labeled as a "solar bicycle". It was designed by engineering students at a University. It appears to have a few solar panels embedded in the top of it's skin.




Video description:

Come ride along on my helmet aboard a solarized P-38 recumbent bike.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

TWike Extender

This is a range extender for a TWike, and electric hybrid bicycle/car.

video description:

A crew, around an member of the TWIKE core team, will drive trought the australian outback with a TWIKE. They will be participants of the Greenfleet category at the World Solar Challenge. For more Information visit www.twikeklub.ch
To realize that, they need an Range Extender.


Related Posts:
- TWike, "Coolest Bike in the World"
- TWike Tours
- TWike Tours 2

Unicycling Lincoln

The other day I saw a few guys unicycling on Lincoln blvd. Be on the look out for the unicyclists on Lincoln Blvd, in Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Play Del Rey, and Westchester. And, if you can, get us some pictures and video clips these guys doing their one wheelin.

In this video, some guys unicycling in busy New York City traffic(NYC). Hey, what are the rules for riding a unicycle on the street, or even in the bike lane?


Video description:

Rider: Adam Cohen (www.justonewheel.com - US DVD sales)
Music: Ian James (www.ianjamesmusic.com)
Unicycling Videographer: Brian MacKenzie
Video Footage as seen in DVD: Inner Balance
Balance Productions(www.balanceproductions.ca)
Video Equipment: Glidecam Industries (www.glidecam.com)

Brian MacKenzie is an independent film maker seeking major corporate sponsorship for his next movie, a 90 minute high definition documentary featuring the 800km unicycle race up the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada - Summer 2008 called Ride The Lobster (www.ridethelobster.com) (www.balanceproductions.ca)

Adam is teaching Dr. Perry Gerard of (www.doctorballoon.com) a comprehensive course in the art of unicycling and Dr Gerard highlights the positive health effects of unicycling. Doctorballoon.com is the site of Creative Medical teaching and patient education.

Adam Cohen: "HEY, I'M ADAM & WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE CRAZY-COOL
COMMENTS.SOMETHING SO SIMPLE CAN CHANGE SOMETHING SO FREAKING HUGE !THATS WHAT THE UNI-TRAINER DOES. I STARTED TRAINING PEOPLE & REALIZED ALL UNICYCLING NEEDED WAS TRAINING WHEELS! THE UNI-TRAINER, WOW,SO SIMPLE ,SO EASY TO LEARN, NOW I'M GOING TO TURN EVERYONE ONTO HOW EASY OUTRAGEOUS , HEALTHY & JUST PLAIN SICK IT IS TO RIDE WWWJUSTONEWHEEL.COM IS MY WEB SITE, IT ANSWER ?'S & TELLS YOU ABOUT ME & MY GROUP OF UNI HEADS! [...]"
THANKS,
Adam


"NO CYCLING - Extreme unicycling"


"Unicycle Insanity"


"Unicycle Dancing" Amazing!

Freeway Pedestrian

Perhaps this video could be described as "hybrid pedestrians on the freeway"

I suppose this is possible due to the sand on the freeway surface which allows for a kind of skating experience.


Film makers description:
"Saudi Road Skating". Freeway Skating in the Sandbox. Young Saudi men take roller blading on to the freeway for maximum thrills.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Wike Wicycle

This video is of what appears to be a micro electric car, dubbed the "Wike" or "Wicycle"(see www.wicycle.com ). It appears that they created this from the body/frame of a bicycle trailer. Kind of interesting concept. It appears to be powered by two electric hub motors mounted in the rear wheels.

What makes this even more interesting, is that you could actually tow this micro car with a bicycle. Hmmm.....

It also looks like the Moonbeam micro car



Video description:

A very small electric vehicle built by WIKE (makers of bicycle trailers). I am not sure if this is the "Electric Sun" model as profiled on the "Weird Wheels" TV program, but it certainly looks like it.


Jet packs

In these two videos you see a jet pack(wiki) used for personal transport.

Apparently, this jet pack is powered by a stream of high velocity air resulting from the combination of two substances (hydrogen peroxide and another substance).

It seems that this means of energy storage could be applied with far greater efficiency for transportation in things such as a velomobile as a power assist. Or it may be suitable as a power assist for a moped as power assist.

Thoughts?





Recommended Links:
- Air Powered Vehicles community forum