Velomobile
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A velomobile or bicycle car is a human-powered vehicle, fully enclosed for protection from weather and possibly from collisions. They are virtually always single-passenger vehicles. They are derived from bicycles and tricycles, with the addition of a full fairing (aerodynamic shell). There are few manufacturers of velomobiles; many are homebuilt. Some models have the operator's head exposed; this has the advantage of giving the operator unobstructed vision, hearing, and some cooling, with the disadvantage of being more exposed to weather.
When powered by an engine they are instead called microcars.
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History
The bicycle car probably originated in the 1930s and like the microcar they flourished in post-World War II Europe. In Sweden a design called Fantom was sold as drawings and became very popular, over 100,000 copies of the drawings were sold, but few were actually completed. In the 1980s Fantomen was rediscovered by Carl-Georg Rasmussen who built a redesigned version called Leitra. The downfall of the bicycle car came when economy improved and people chose motorised transport.
Construction
A practical velomobile has many competing requirements. It should have as many of the following characteristics as possible.
- Light weight.
- Good visibility for the operator (clear front vision is especially important, but a 360 degree view is also desirable).
- Good maneuverability (steering, braking).
- Safety in collision and over bad roads.
- Good ventilation, including a windscreen defroster. This should be adjustable for more cooling in warmer weather.
- Many gears; a vehicle that is heavier but more aerodynamic than a bicycle needs a wider gearing range than a bicycle.
- Good aerodynamics.
- Good suspension.
- Reliable operation.
- Strength: wheels, brakes, transmission, need to be more robust than on a lightweight bicycle.
- Cargo capacity suitable for everyday shopping.
- Low noise, for both the comfort of the operator and safety in traffic.
- Multiple tracks (tricycle or quadracycle design) for safety and practicality in slippery weather.
- Easy entry and exit.
- Good lighting system.
- Good visibility to others (reflectors, horns).
- Low price.
Recently, some velomobiles have been converted to provide electric-assist. Electric assist means that a small battery operated electric propulsion system is provided to assist the driver's leg muscle effort. Most Electric-assist propulsion umotors are of the inwheel design, such as the Heinzman electric motor. While an electric-assist unit does add extra weight to the velomobile, it is somewhat offset by the flexibility it also provides, especially during hill climbs.
The Leitra is currently the commercial velomobile in production for the longest period of time — since 1983. Other manufacturers include Cab-bike, Quest, Mango and Alleweder, the go-one and the Versatile.
External links
- Cab-bike (http://www.cab-bike.com/)
- Leitra (http://www.leitra.dk)
- Alleweder (http://www.alligt.nl/)
- WAW (http://www.fietser.be/)
- Quest and Mango (http://www.velomobiel.nl/)
- Go-One (http://www.go-one.de/ukindex.shtml)
- Trisled Sorcerer (http://www.trisled.com.au/sorcerer.htm)
- Versatile (Dutch only) (http://www.flevobike.nl/indexmodellen.html)
- Discussion list re velomobiles (http://www.ihpva.org/pipermail/velomobile/)
- Information about velomobiles from a North American viewpoint (http://www.velomobiles.net/)
- International Human Powered Vehicle Association (http://www.ihpva.org/)
- Open Source Velomobile Development Project (http://www.ihpva.org/wiki/index.php/Open_Source_Velomobile_Development_Project)