Formula EV - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Christopher Jordan · 01-27-2010, 11:28 AM

Legal?
Formula-looking EV Mini Sport fits motorized bicycle category

Christ · 01-27-2010, 03:47 PM

I don't think it qualifies as a motorized bicycle... at least not around here. In order to be operated on streets here, it would have to be registered, unless it has pedals, and even that would be iffy.

In fact, I think the fact that it has four wheels makes it no good for bicycle status.

In Japan, it does, though.

EDIT - And what's with the price? What part of that vehicle cost 21,000 USD to make? Jeebus... there's nothing on that vehicle that would make me want to pay more than maybe 2,000 USD... 20,000 is rape.

The article also touts a .59 kW motor and a 75kmH top speed... that means that a human should be able to pedal the thing to top speed and maintain it, since humans are capable of exertion around 1/2HP and some even a little more.

Christopher Jordan · 01-28-2010, 12:32 AM

No way could you put pedals in there- no knee room. The rear axle appears "live", so the chain ring is only for the motor and the other ring is probably the brake. Putting a third ring on for a bicycle chain could be done but makes no sense to me!

Might barely be legal with turn/brake/parking lights. A registered microcar! It is much wider than my 'EL'. That price is much much cheaper than a Tesla- you could get 5 of them instead of one Tesla. Looks like fun though!

Christ · 01-28-2010, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher Jordan

No way could you put pedals in there- no knee room. The rear axle appears "live", so the chain ring is only for the motor and the other ring is probably the brake. Putting a third ring on for a bicycle chain could be done but makes no sense to me!

Might barely be legal with turn/brake/parking lights. A registered microcar! It is much wider than my 'EL'. That price is much much cheaper than a Tesla- you could get 5 of them instead of one Tesla. Looks like fun though!

If it could fit pedals, they could be on the same chain as the motor, with an over-running clutch on the crankset.

womprat · 01-28-2010, 05:11 AM

0.59kw must be a typo or bad maths. 2kw would have been believable.

Christ · 01-28-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by womprat

0.59kw must be a typo or bad maths. 2kw would have been believable.

It's not unbelievable at all. There are human powered vehicles that can achieve 50MPH and better.

MadisonMPG · 01-28-2010, 01:20 PM

23k w/o a battery?

That's pretty ridiculous.

Christ · 01-28-2010, 02:35 PM

THANK YOU!

I thought I was the only one who understood this.

Christopher Jordan · 01-28-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christ

It's not unbelievable at all. There are human powered vehicles that can achieve 50MPH and better.

I would agree that this vehicle would be a silly nightmare, and completely useless for many chores; but hints of questionable HPV speed surprised me! Doesn't anyone keep up with human powered vehicle records?

The 3-wheel Vector held the record at 60+ mph since the early 1980s, and was shattered in the 2000s by a 2-wheeler: 81 mph and most recently at 82 mph.

But speed is not as important to most as legality, longevity, economy, fun. I do not know if anyone remembers the FKE go-carts in 1965- but this is almost an exact copy (only twice as large).

womprat · 01-29-2010, 02:53 AM

Watch the video, this thing actually moves pretty quick. Needs more power

0.6kw I still don't believe. I would suspect this is the sustainable power level, and peak may be higher and this is how they get around legality. Off the light there might be good starting torque as you'd expect from a EV. From the stats at the end of the video it's 236kg so 280 includes driver/rider/pilot, at 280kg, 0.9hp gives you half the power to weight ratio of a cyclist and bike. That's pretty feeble acceleration for road use.