I love our Canadian friends but US viewers should realize the following: Canadian laws prohibit the use of a thumb throttle, you must push the pedals to engage the motor, know as pedelec design. This discriminates against the handicapped who otherwise would comprise a large segment of the users of these vehicles. I hate pedelec, no chance to rest your legs or old knees by using the motor only, no way to stay cool in hot weather. 250 watts less power than US models is also mandatory.
Hi Kody Baker, You've got a great idea and a fantastic vehicle. But I hope it does not end up like another very sensible idea that appeared a few years ago and then just bit the dust. I am speaking of Better Place, which I suspect you have heard of. qz.com/88871/better-place-shai-agassi-swappable-electric-car-batteries/ I nevertheless look forward to your idea and vehicle's success. Cheers, Iksr
This will never compete with the ELF or PEBL. 100 pounds too heavy for realistic contribution with pedaling. Canadian law limits this to 500 watts which makes it even worse, be prepared for a SERIOUS workout to get anywhere. Too many non-essential features. Remove all 3 doors and the undercarriage, replace the rear door with clear vinyl and maybe it will be light enough to be called a velomobile. Roll down windows??? HAHAHAHHAHA!!!!! When the battery is low and you can't make it up that hill you will realize the mistake. Solar wattage per pound of vehicle weight is also too low to be much help. I'm a technician and expert user of the ELF with 3 1/2 years of relying on it exclusively for all transportation needs. In Florida it never needs to be plugged in, in fact I've never even run down my battery all the way because solar works even as you ride and park during errands and my pedaling contribution for exercise actually makes a difference. Why? 160 pound vehicle weight! No doors or fluff. That's why OrganicTransit.com has sold 1000 ELFs. They offer a rear bench seat version with two seat belts for kids. It has cargo room for a full shopping cart's worth of groceries, more than I ever buy at one time and I have a trailer for bulky items. The PEBL weighs 40 pounds more than the ELF and even that difference has doomed it as a failure due to no hill climbing guts. VeloMetro video is not telling you that to conform to US federal ebike laws their motor has to be limited to 750 watts of power and 500 watts in Canada. That is a brick wall that limits the practical weight of hybrid velomobiles. FULL DISCLOSURE - with a 1500 watt motor the VeloMetro would be a fantastic ride and the world's fanciest exercycle! Sad that US laws, for now, prohibit the use of that much power on non-licensed non-insured vehicles and on bike trails. I'd be thrilled to hear that laws are changed to permit realistic power limits for these vehicles. I'd immediately double the power rating of my motor to keep up with traffic better.
we need an e-bike called "woomy"
I love our Canadian friends but US viewers should realize the following:
Canadian laws prohibit the use of a thumb throttle, you must push the pedals to engage the motor, know as pedelec design. This discriminates against the handicapped who otherwise would comprise a large segment of the users of these vehicles. I hate pedelec, no chance to rest your legs or old knees by using the motor only, no way to stay cool in hot weather. 250 watts less power than US models is also mandatory.
Hi Kody Baker, You've got a great idea and a fantastic vehicle. But I hope it does not end up like another very sensible idea that appeared a few years ago and then just bit the dust. I am speaking of Better Place, which I suspect you have heard of. qz.com/88871/better-place-shai-agassi-swappable-electric-car-batteries/
I nevertheless look forward to your idea and vehicle's success. Cheers, Iksr
This will never compete with the ELF or PEBL. 100 pounds too heavy for realistic contribution with pedaling. Canadian law limits this to 500 watts which makes it even worse, be prepared for a SERIOUS workout to get anywhere. Too many non-essential features. Remove all 3 doors and the undercarriage, replace the rear door with clear vinyl and maybe it will be light enough to be called a velomobile. Roll down windows??? HAHAHAHHAHA!!!!! When the battery is low and you can't make it up that hill you will realize the mistake. Solar wattage per pound of vehicle weight is also too low to be much help. I'm a technician and expert user of the ELF with 3 1/2 years of relying on it exclusively for all transportation needs. In Florida it never needs to be plugged in, in fact I've never even run down my battery all the way because solar works even as you ride and park during errands and my pedaling contribution for exercise actually makes a difference. Why? 160 pound vehicle weight! No doors or fluff. That's why OrganicTransit.com has sold 1000 ELFs. They offer a rear bench seat version with two seat belts for kids. It has cargo room for a full shopping cart's worth of groceries, more than I ever buy at one time and I have a trailer for bulky items. The PEBL weighs 40 pounds more than the ELF and even that difference has doomed it as a failure due to no hill climbing guts. VeloMetro video is not telling you that to conform to US federal ebike laws their motor has to be limited to 750 watts of power and 500 watts in Canada. That is a brick wall that limits the practical weight of hybrid velomobiles. FULL DISCLOSURE - with a 1500 watt motor the VeloMetro would be a fantastic ride and the world's fanciest exercycle! Sad that US laws, for now, prohibit the use of that much power on non-licensed non-insured vehicles and on bike trails. I'd be thrilled to hear that laws are changed to permit realistic power limits for these vehicles. I'd immediately double the power rating of my motor to keep up with traffic better.