WAW, check it out - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

newtonsfirstlaw · 01-10-2008, 10:00 PM

The WAW is probably one of the fastest velomobiles, while remaining convenient.

I have been researching velomobiles for several weeks now, and it appears as though it is faster than the Quest, which is wider in order to have the front wheels inside the body.

Apparently the Quest can do 37km/h @ 150 Watts, and the WAW can do 50km/h @ 250 Watts. (The Quest should use about 370 Watts at that speed.)

I wonder how it would perform with some careful modding, such that the front wheels were covered with lycra skirts. It would probably do even better. Obviously wheel covers would be useful too.

The thought that keeps revolving around my head when I look at this is "OMG I want one."

MetroMPG · 01-10-2008, 10:07 PM

I'm partial to the Go-One myself. I've driven (? ridden?) an electric assisted one in Ottawa. But @ $12k...

The owner calls it "yuppy porn". He bought it to replace a car though, so it was easy for him to justify.

DifferentPointofView · 01-10-2008, 10:07 PM

Is there a cover for the driver's head? if not then that would also be beneficial.

trebuchet03 · 01-10-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

Is there a cover for the driver's head? if not then that would also be beneficial.

Yep

newtonsfirstlaw · 01-10-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

Is there a cover for the driver's head? if not then that would also be beneficial.

Indeed there is!

It slides forward, apparently.

newtonsfirstlaw · 01-10-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm partial to the Go-One myself. I've driven (? ridden?) an electric assisted one in Ottawa. But @ $12k...

Did you get to drive one without the electric assist? I'm curious as to how it performs, efficiency wise, compared to the WAW.

I think the ultimate in HPV would be something like an Aptera but with the Virtual Edge type fuselage, i.e. thin, laminar flow. Not quite as thin of course, for practicality, and with a cover instead of drive-by-video. Off the ground to minimize ground effect, with a reasonably wide wheel base, it might be fast enough to travel at most street speeds with just hybrid human power.

Quote:

The owner calls it "yuppy porn". He bought it to replace a car though, so it was easy for him to justify.

Oh yes. My commute, even with my current car, will cost $1400 + $640 or something for rego. In 5 years this would pay for itself. Of course, not if I move closer to work, but still, for errands...

These things are crying out for mass production. Imagine how quickly they'd sell if priced around the $2000 mark, or even the $4000 mark!

Even now, these things are hardly "yuppie porn" if you can use one to get to work. I'd imagine for a lot of people they'd already pay for themselves in 3-5 years. A bike is no use if you won't ride it due to weather concerns, or the fact that it takes too many hours out of your day, or too much effort.

And with people buying them the way they obviously are, it won't take too long to bring the prices down.

trebuchet03 · 01-10-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtonsfirstlaw

Apparently the Quest can do 37km/h @ 150 Watts, and the WAW can do 50km/h @ 250 Watts. (The Quest should use about 370 Watts at that speed.)

Of course I always like making things more efficient....

But 150 watts for 22mph is nothing (and quite sustainable if most people that are mildly fit)

Sustaining 250 watts is a bit of a challenge... But doable (even if only for bursts).

Here's a few more velo's

Aerorider (Dutch)

Alleweder (Dutch)

Cab Bike (German)

Tri-Sled Sorcerer (Aussie)

Mango (Dutch)

Quest (Dutch)

Leitra (Danish)

Leiba (Germany)

Go-One3 (German)

Versatile

------
Newton, if you haven't seen this already...
adventures of greg has an awesome wattage break down for many velo's in production and not.... Alas, the page appears to not work - but google cache had it (in link)...

MetroMPG · 01-10-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtonsfirstlaw

Did you get to drive one without the electric assist? I'm curious as to how it performs, efficiency wise, compared to the WAW.

No, unfortunately.

There's an outfit in Toronto that rents them though. I fully plan to try one out one of these days.

newtonsfirstlaw · 01-10-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

Newton, if you haven't seen this already...
adventures of greg has an awesome wattage break down for many velo's in production and not.... Alas, the page appears to not work - but google cache had it (in link)...

Yes, that's where I got the 37 km/h figure from.

Note that my point with the 50km/h stat is that to compare apples to apples, I estimated air resistance as all of the resistance, and so 150W * (50/37)^3 = 370W. So by that measure, the WAW should have 67% of the CdA of the Quest.

Christopher Jordan · 01-11-2008, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

No, unfortunately.

There's an outfit in Toronto that rents them though. I fully plan to try one out one of these days.

Velomobiles are also availlable in the US (California, Oregon, Texas) but I do not know if they can be rented. A whole site about them is in Minnesota: www.velomobiling.net

Mine is fiberglass/kevlar/lexan enclosed power-assist, but since it was home made, it does not seem to qualify as anything; so it is basically a 94 inch long 4 inch high recumbent tricycle- motorized after 2 years. A.K.A.: E-Pod.

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