Thanks Kirsten for asking us to be in one of your videos. I wasn't quite prepared for how mean people can be, but it's good to see the positive interest and encouragement as well. I guess I should have a installed a towing hitch on my Jetta TDI instead of using my truck..... For all of the curious/concerned citizens out there (and the haters), I'll try to address some of your questions (and even some rude comments...which I will rephrase in my mind to respectful, courteous questions/comments) using my best Minnesota Nice approach. Why? I commute daily 45 -60 miles each way in a 2011 Jetta TDI Manual. I've put 140K on the car, and plan to drive it well over 300K (or even 500K) if possible. I have a lifetime average of 48+ MPG. This commute uses up 2 hours of my day and the challenge for me has always been choosing to spend another hour away from my wife and 5 kids by going to the gym. What this concept means to me is an opportunity to be healthier by combining exercise with my daily commute without sacrificing more time with my family. And, I really believe that there are 1000's like me. I was looking to buy one, and was thrilled to discover that I could join Kronfeld Motors and actually contribute to making this a reality. Neither the founder or I are rich $$. I would just be happy if we could start a company building these, make enough money to support our families, retire, and do the same for all of our employees. That's been one of the challenges to getting funded....we don't want to sell out, we want to do this and make a living at this. This is definitely not a "get rich quick" scheme, it's a good old fashioned "blood, sweat & tears" scheme......imagine that? The 6 door Truck: I have 5 kids (last 2 were surprise twins) and need room for 7 and my dog and everyone has to be strapped in safely (this isn't pre 90's where you could just cram them all in with no seatbelts or carseats) I still work part time on the family farm (more blood sweat and tears) which is another 45 miles in the opposite direction (now you see why I don't live closer to my day job). I regularly need to tow up to 30,000 lbs and/or haul loads in the truck box. I used my existing 2005 F350 that I have owned since new, and I recycled another salvaged 2005 F250 to have this truck built. I'm not rich, I saved money for 5 years to have this built, and it's built on a budget. The only thing new in the interior is the headliner, everything else is recycled and worn. The only thing new on the outside were the must haves, the exhaust, running boards, and the paint (which was at cost of materials only). I even recycled the drive shafts to make the longer drive shaft. Sure, it also looks cool, but I wouldn't have built it if it didn't make sense (and cents) for me and my family. BTW, It doesn't eat any gas, it runs on diesel fuel, and I run a tuner to improve the MPG. I also hope to do another project someday where I convert the engine to be a veggie diesel (hard to do in MN winters). Only 5%? Well, you can make it 100%, but you won't have a life..... Its physics everyone! When you commute 50 miles in 1 hour on the highway in a highway safe vehicle, you will be hard pressed to contribute more than 5% of the energy required to do so. So then why even recapture the energy? We say, why not? We needed a way to provide variable resistance too, and this seemed like a good fit. Exercise machines in the gym do this by creating friction or magnetic drag...What a waste!...and they still have to be plugged in! Also, maybe I secretly want my 5 kids to each pedal it for 30 minutes while it sits at home, and charge the batteries up part way instead of plugging it in....lol. So, technically, you can contribute 100% of the energy required, but you would have to sit and pedal it for 20 hours in order to drive it 1 hour at highway speeds. The reality is you most often will only contribute about 5%, or another way to say it is extend your range by 5%. It's not a bicycle.... It's not supposed to be bike lane friendly. As or right now, it's legally a motorcycle until the laws (hopefully) change to provision another class of vehicle. However, we do think that a lot of bike commuters, or those that want to bike commute but are out of range, would like to have one of these. Especially because you can drive it to work without pedaling it (and sweating....your co-workers thank you), and then get a full workout on the way home, whether you pedal 15 miles at high resistance, or 50 miles at a lower resistance. You keep pedaling even when traffic stops, and you can climb hills in your workout, even when the road is flat, or vice versa. You can get the same workout, if you want, no matter what distance you actually travel in the vehicle. It's a Proof of Concept Prototype people......look up the definition! Yes, the steering needs to be improved; yes, the suspension should allow it to lean; yes, it needs wipers: yes, it needs to be more roomy; yes, it should have solar panels; yes, it needs a 2nd seat for a passenger, luggage, briefcase, or groceries; yes, all these things and more, but all that development takes time and money (we have day jobs and families), so we need to focus on the key concepts first and prove those out. All of those ideas above are already developed and proven, we don't need to reprove those, we need to prove the new concepts. Just as you should if you invent something. Price/COGs: We would love to be able to build this thing for $8K and sell it for $10K, Why wouldn't we? If we could build it that low cost, we would be able to sell 3x, 4x, 10x more units. We would probably make more money and have a greater positive impact on the world, but the reality is that this is not possible right now until we can afford to engineer the heck out of this thing, take advantage of emerging technologies, and the overall maturity of the electric vehicle supply chain. Tesla's first car didn't sell for $30K, did it? Also, compare it to the cost of Zero motorcycles with the largest battery pack, but now add a roll cage, other automotive safety features, heat, and the pedaling exercise feature. An initial target of $24,000 is pretty realistic. This is what my 2011 Jetta TDI cost me new and I'm on a budget. If this could replace my commuter car, even if only 3 days a week, and give me an opportunity be healthier, and efficiently use my time, I would gladly invest the $24,000. Thanks for your time an interest, Ryan
This is definitely a great start to an amazing alternative. Like you said, this is the alpha version so I'm sure it will still have a lot of time to make progress on it. Do you think all of the suspension is really necessary tho? It seems like there's some stuff on there that could be scrapped to cut down on the overall cost maybe? Either way, this looks awesome and like a ton a of fun to ride! Good work! And don't listen to the haters, everyone's a tough guy on the internet.
Enjoyed the video! I have been riding my highway capable human electric hybrid motorcycle for years for the health benefits as well. The time saving concept is sound. Why spend time on an exercise bike going nowhere if you can run your errands/commute and get your cardio at the same time. Obviously, my motorcycle is not an all weather vehicle, but the health benefit is the same. I am surprised by all the negative comments. It is clear that this is a proof of concept. If you want to drive/ride something that is not 100% safe, that is your choice. Re: the meager 5% energy contribution, my motorcycle is about the same, but the contribution percentage is not the point. The point is that you are getting a vigorous cardio workout 100% of the time by using the energy from your legs to extend the range.
Mean people exist. But look at how many people watched, then how many people commented and then finally how many of them were mean. The mean turds are the absolute statistical minority. They are outliers and not worth your time. Just remove their comments and ban them and drive on. What you are doing is outstanding. You know this, I know this and your family knows this. The rest doesn't matter. Respectfully a fan.
Ryan, keep doing great work. The design of the vehicle is interesting. I think, such small vehicles are going to be the future in urban autonomous transportation anyway, because they cover a majority of use cases of normal cars, while being much more efficient. And who knows, maybe one of the big TaaS companies that are going to spring up might have an interest in licensing your patent. (-> mobile fitness studio) You might just sit on a gold mine without knowing it.
To all the people thinking that this is too expensive or not very practical; just remember that everything we use in normalcy today all started off as a rich man's toy. Cars, trains, computers, cell phones, refrigerators, air conditioners. Stop with the negativity so we can progress to the next stage.
If this vehicle gets improved, that could become one of the best ones of the next decade. It combines a zero-emission car with a healthy way to commute and transform our disgusting fat into clean energy. It protects the cyclist from rain, helps pass through the wind and adds some speed, like an e-bike.
You can go 60 kmh (close to 40 mph) in a purely human powered velomobile like this. But an electric quad velomobile would be awesome if it could go ~80kmh. Three wheels would be too unstable for me for faster speeds. If only the legal and regulatory hurdles weren't so huge we'd have incredibly efficient personal vehicles already! Patents? Sight. Fuck patents. Fuck that guy.
To correct some misconceptions - 1. This is a prototype - not by ANY means the finished product. 2. The price is $24,000, not $35,000-$45,000. 3. The production model would have a roll cage, seat belts, air bag, antilock brakes, etc. Maybe it's not a sedan, but it's also not a bicycle on a busy street, or for that matter a motorcycle with zero protection and 2 wheels. 4. The goal of the company over time is to increase efficiency so there is a higher percentage of power generated by the driver.
My friend, this is super cool. People in the EU would love stuff like this. And I do understand that people from the US are more prone to disliking this, because everything in the US is huge/far away and I get that people love their cars for that reason. But stuff like this is definitely the future. Good job!
Don't get disheartened by the negative comments. I think it is a good concept and an interesting video. The commenters on youtube are a tough audience - and will often zero in on some perceived negative aspect, even if they like the general idea. But like you say, it is only a prototype.
$24K buys me an e-bike and a Honda Fit for when i have to haul something or when the weather is too bad for biking. I don't live in a McMansion and drive a six door gas guzzler either, which is more emblematic of our culture.
Sir Can you please tell me what kind of electrical component you have been used in this car? Can you give me the total information of the electrical design and component power?
i would be interested in a trike that has this body on it. we ride all year long in florida but we are exposed to rain every afternoon , 8 months out of the year. if you could reduce the width to 32 inches outside dimension. make its primary power source pedal power(3-5 speeds), then add a hub motor of sorts but limit its speed to 20mph (license requirements over 20mph) it would legally be considered an e-trike . if you sold what i am describing for a cost of 1000-1200 bucks it would sell like hot cakes here. i would buy 2 of them.
I live in Minnesota and I would be terrified to drive/ ride this thing in the metro area. Too many people are busy with texting and messing around with their phone while driving. They don't pay attention. I don't even like to ride my motorcycle anymore because of that.
“We don’t want to waste energy” says man that drives elongated hummer. 😹 All this is wrong on so many levels… please, look at the Dutch for tips on EVERYDAY cycling.
Thanks for your comment, please see my post. I didn't realize the Dutch had figured out how to bike commute 50+ miles in 1 hour, to and from work. And how to tow 30,000lbs while hauling a family of 7 on a bicycle. I'll check that out. Thanks for the tip.
ok, so you got a huge truck for towing a lot of stuff with the whole family loaded on board. but that doesn't mean you have to use that same monster car for commuting long-range. get a used hondy civic or something.
ok, I see now that you DO have a high-MPG car for commuting, so that's fine. BTW, in Germany I know of some people that do bike-commute exceptional distances of up to 50 miles (with muscle power only). takes about 1:45 to 2 hours in a velomobile. these are the absolute expection, however. most germans have never seen a velomobile, and most velomobile owners commute 10-20 miles.
this guy specified the only jobs he could get in his profession were a long way from where he lived. you can clearly see he doesn't live in some carbon copy of downtown rotterdam. this is a solution to a problem that perhaps many dutch cyclists dont encounter.
Considering exercise was his reasoning behind this he would be better off with a fixed pedal to motor ratio. A 5% efficiency doesn't incentivise pedaling so a bigger model would be further function-creep away from what he was trying to achieve. If I were him I'd lessen the distractive tinkering, change my diet and get an exercise bike.
amigiac you misunderstood. He said pedaling adds 5% to the range. Pedaling is pretty much worthless in electrical generation. The pedals on this actually hinder this vehicle. Its all about weight. More weight = less range. Pedaling is almost purely for exercise. It is a covered ebike essentially.
i think a normal person can pedal about 100 watts for a longer time so if there is a high quality generator, maybe 90W is left and then it needs to be converted into suitable form for electric motor which adds at least 5% to total loss (took that figure from my ass). If it feeds to a battery first, losses are a lot more and you are lucky if you get 50W out. This thing uses several kilowatts at highway speeds (wild quess, 6-10kW?). of course the motor too loses at least 5% of that power. Maybe if one travels at normal cycling speed of 20kph (12.4mph) and this is done well, you might generate half of the needed energy. maybe they should get rid of that expensive davinci cvt and just take more power from the generator when user needs a harder workout.
Bottomlands actually he's right it is. I live in MN and we do get ticketed for driving to slow. We don't get to choose our safety level when driving, so we are forced to drive sometimes at what seems to be an unsafe speed.
Meanwhile Twike has been in production for 22 years now and currently costs $26k with practically everything raht promises. I'm still looking for where the claim of a $6,800 model came from. But no point reinventing the wheel. This RAHT design is not original.
I love these things so much and want one so bad. Even have considered building one for myself. I just don't have the time. That being said, I see where a lot of people coming up with these and want as much as a fully loaded 2018 Toyota Prius C. That's never going to work. I will have one someday, but not until the prices are responsible for what they are. I wish you the best of luck.
I appreciate you showing your dreams. I'm looking at the Mean Lean Machine right now but it's a bare bones unit compared to yours. Over 30 MPH is where the complications really begin with the law and motorcycle classifications. I believe the word you're looking for is "Autocycle". Best Wishes. Dreams are where real life begins.
They were going to wrong direction by making it faster and bigger. If you are too big for it, then loose some weight yourself. They are envisioning new "Aptera", which is a story they should have known. Light weight and staying 20mph vehicle (e-bicycle) would be the right way to go. Problem is US population with the need to use a Truck to go 2 miles to grocery store. There's not enough room for smaller vehicles to be safe. USA lack infrastructure for that.
The premise seems a bit strange- workout while commuting to avoid losing family time going to the gym... Why not spend family time doing activities like swimming, playing baseball, soccer, volleyball... even riding bicycles! I mean, with 7 people you can come up with a lot of cheap activities... sledding or snowshoeing in winter (also cycling with fat tire bikes)... I guess this will probably be considered a mean comment but really I’m just not getting the whole concept. There’s nothing new here except the exercise aspect. Is there a market for this even at $10k, or is it just a ‘cool concept’ that’s trendy?
At least he's aware of the flaws. My first thought was that it was too small. Pedaling while stopped at a light, now that's not something I would not have thought of. I used to ride a bicycle in California, which allowed me to be just as fast, if not faster since there was so much traffic. Lots of perks beyond fitness on a bicycle. Some of which are lost in that thing. But a lot is gained too.
Right. The width of the vehicle doesn't really hurt in the low-traffic area this video seems to be filmed in. Honestly, the pedalling doesn't add a lot to the range of the vehicle, but I like the idea of a small, light electric vehicle for one-man commutes. It's cheap to operate and it is fast enough to safely drive on sparse highways.
Hey guys. I don't know whether you observed it or not. But for 24k, it's just seems a lot congested, not comfortable and a 1 seater As he said, it really out to made bigger The driver has to move the steering continuously to pedal. Other than that, it's a steal Except for that it's priced very high. We get better cars at 12 or 10k. I don't think anyone would buy it right now, provided the cost and the space.
Solid state batteries will give this vehicle an option of fully electric. I'm no health nut and not a greenie, but I think it's time for a change. That old combustion engine has had its 100+ years, time to move forward. Now with the electric vehicles it's just like when combustion engine cars were a new thing slowly replacing the horse as main transport. Also there are alot of small companies that are building electric that was how the automobile manufacturing was, alot of companies.
That's terribly expensive for a vehicle that can't carry a passenger or any significant amount of cargo. If you want to make a living selling those, the price has to come down, and utility has to go up. Otherwise, you're just selling to the racing yacht crowd, and I don't think many of them watch RUclips. But then again, you have to start somewhere.
This concept won't sell. It is totally impractical. There is no significant efficiency gain from the physical effort which kills the motivation to apply the effort, and makes the cost in dollars, practicality, discomfort and safety prohibitive. I think there could possibly be a market for a pedal/electric hybrid that could be propelled by pedalling alone.
It's a neat electric vehicle, but the pedaling is worthless to me. If they made one without the pedals and sold it a the right price, I might be interested. They need to realize that they are competing against velomobiles, and you can get them with electric assist too.
I Love this concept. I would love to own one. Don't worry about people that can't see how wonderful this is. Their not important. People that, get it, will buy one.
It's interesting. I feel like I've seen so many iterations of this type of electric bike/car/velomobile combination and they all end up shooting too high. The biggest issue with this is always going to be price point. Why buy a smaller and less safe (even if it has a roll cage) vehicle when I can buy an equivalent car for the same (or less). If you need exercise then it seems like someone should look at modifying existing cars to have a pedal system. You could even take a car built for a paraplegic (hand breaks/accelerator) and just add pedals... I'm not an inventor, just throwing out some ideas.
A good concept, however, I dont know anyone willing to pay 25k for basically an ebike they have to register/insure. If you are going the high speed route, get rid of the peddles and streamline it for aerodynamic efficiency. I know a lot of people who were interested in the elio 3 wheel electric car that was proposed for less than $15k. Also, if you go with a full frame/cage, then don't try to do it with a single piece body as this drastically increases cost and time. Smaller and easier pieces to manufacture and assemble will also reduce cost to buy as well as replace due to the occasional accident. Also, for $25k you can already buy an electric car... Either way, keep up the good work!
Meanwhile in Prehistoric Neanderthal Australia, we are limited to 250 watts, about enough to thoroughly remove the congealed coating from a custard dessert.
OK it's polycarbonate, but that can scratch easily and will produce staring at night in rainy weather (screen could be replaceable but that is an additional cost). Just a thought! I love the trike by the way!
KELLI2L2, it’s a prototype. All those costs are consistent with development. Once he scales up he can recoup those costs; and if he’s fortunate make some money with a reasonably budget-friendly product. I’m not saying he’ll succeed, but don’t be such a naysayer. Sheesh
👍💕 It looks Pukka , perfect size.....,for the person it was made for.. 🧐......you don't look very comfortable when pedalling. My version is sitting alot more forward. Thanks for the experience 😊
P.s......mine is mostly Throttle only and pedal assistant, I don't really pedal it without help...😂 72v 3000w rear hub motor 80amph Battery..... I've still not got it to top speed 😀
I'm fit enough don't really want to pedal.....only put them on to TRY and fit in with the laws around ebikes, scooters,euc.....etcetcetc I just like to fly along, it's like a Jetplane in a rush to get home 🤣
It's a cool idea, a bit like the Sinclair C5 in the 80's which had the steering under the legs to avoid the problems this chap is having with the awkward movable steering column. As for the work out potential? As a serious road cyclist I'd take my bike and the weather over this, the workout part is a bit of a gimmick.
Right, definitely not as good as road cycling, but you can do it at the same time you commute so you regain your time, especially if your road cycling time means you are sacrificing time with your family. Thanks for your comment, please see my post.
Ryan Anderson; or cycle with the family if that is an option. TAP keyboard and e-ink screens can help the kids text and keep up with their social media posts in the bright sun while riding.
We are making some improvements to the prototype. I changed it to rack & pinion, and we are working on tying the accelerator to the pedals, so that we can replace the handle bars with an actual steering wheel. Thanks for your comment, please see my post.
I just noticed while watching him pedal looked uncomfortable, with the missive nobs. and how loose and shifty the column is. Clearly a prototype. Cant wait to see more of it.
There should be 2 models: version 1, a virtual peddle 1-2 seat recumbent EB (legal on bike paths) @ what, $7,500- $8,500 price range? And version 2, a pure road-certified Electric vehicle tricycle with capacity for highway speeds and having an air-bag, signal/break lights , etc... @ what, $20,000 ?
Too expensive, too heavy. What's the range on a charge? I like that it is fully enclosed. A 70 mph top speed is more than ample if I could trade it off for a lighter weight and higher efficiency. My ideal build would use two 6000 watt RC motors, (such as Astro 3220 motors in their 6kW version) using a cycloidal gear reduction system to drive each front wheel. With the rear wheel driven by purely mechanical, human powered system as used in a standard (bicycle type) trike. $15,0000, under 300 pounds, with a 70 mph max speed, and 250+ miles range per charge. Charging using standard electric car charging available on the highway system.
i love the idea of the car. the twizzy is too nerdy looking but if someone made a recumbent version I think people would gobble it up. A cool lookin, confortable and aerodynamic electric quadricycle. Either you forgobthe pedals and it becomes a proper EV or make a proper velomobile which would be awesome but would never reach the masses and therefore mass production.
No flexible lightweight solar panels for the skin? It would help charge uphill travels when pedaling gets too much? Doesn't black add to the inside heat?..stress on electrical parts?
Kind of an exercise bike in a car. It would be more environmental and efficient if you used the bike pedals to actually power the vehicle, instead of charging the batteries. The terrain gives *natural* resistance variability, for free! That combined with throttle for power assisted cycling, would mean you could cut down a lot more weight, and of course use far less electricity. In that great shell, that could be a nice build!
Well,I don't hate it. I would love it. I've been disabled for 35 years and I know it would help others like me get around town and get a chunk of therapy in a productive manner. If you can truly can get this out there for $24,000 (still a lot of money, but it's something to hope for). Keep working on it. Think of the possibilities. Thank you.
I really like it. Only downside I can see is the steering. Can that lock in place? When can I order. And how much? Nevermind the haters. Jealous people.
Never seen a triple cab before! That's impressive and it's not even the focus of the story! The pedals for charging I like and the overall shape is more practical for entry/exit than most while still looking slippery. Perhaps a future model have the door extend up into the roof to allow taller drivers easier access. That steering column is holding the whole thing back though- would you consider "tank steering" to clean up the cockpit? Above seat steering on recumbents often has the bars so close to the rider that my elbows are bent too much and my hands get numb from reduced circulation, something that hasn't happened since i bought a trike with tank steering. I reckon the electric + pedal charging type system would be good on a regular tadpole trike- being able to pedal at a comfortable speed up or downhill regardless, waiting at intersections or stoplights charging all the while.
So will you have to register it to DMV and get tags on it it's a bike why would you classify it as a motorcycle to where you would have to get tags register at the DMV, & what's the cost
OH mf god ooooowheeeee please get these made please someone invest inthis tech, we need lots of these so we can all have one ..and party !!!! MR rich kronfield you are the man of the centuary !!!!....Can i get a discount now / heeeheee ...
Just goes to show you can patent *anything*. They've patented doing a workout in a vehicle. I think I should patent fiddling with your mobile in a vehicle, eating breakfast in a vehicle and patent adjusting your makeup in a vehicle. That way I can sue the idiots.
Actually, we couldn't patent *anything*, in fact, we had to find something that we could patent in order to protect the overall product so that we would have something to build a business around. This wasn't our first choice, but it was the option we had. Yes, being distracted while driving is illegal. As far as I know, moving your legs in a circular motion is not a distraction it itself, but I'll research it. Thanks for your comment, please see my post.
Ryan Anderson I didn't mean that the workout was a distraction. I don't think it is. I can concentrate on a bicycle. I just meant the patent system seems broken. I know that in Australia someone managed to patent a means for reducing friction via a circular device incorporating a central pivot. I was just joking that I could subvert it to rid the road of the terrible drivers. The bike itself looks exactly like what I want.
As someone who also lives in Minnesota and bikes to work, I would LOVE to own one of these. That said, once its more of a completed project could you also sell the plans for these for DIY solutions? OR offer more trimmed down versions that dont have variable resistance or something.
The steering is kind of klunky. It would be better to use a joystick for steering and breaking. Easily adaptable electro-mechanical actuators. Good concept though. There are many of these in the market.
I want a microcar like this for the fuel efficiency but why is the price like 25k when I could get a compact five seater for like 17k? you'd think something this small would be way cheaper?
Make it purely electric, remove the pedals, enlarge windows, add solarpanels that extract as wings when parked, able the car to lean and its ready for massproduction. Great concept!
Very nice! The body design reminds me a little of one of my favorite electric cars, The Aptera EV. Although the aptera didn’t have pedals, which is a nice addition :) My girlfriend and I are working on adding solar cells to our M365 EV scooter, which we are interested in adding as a range extender for the EV scooter. We just ordered the Genasun lithium boost charger, which will connect the solar cells to the 36 Volt nominal lithium battery. We plan to use the SunPower Maxeon 3 solar cells, monocrystalline type. Your video has inspired me :) have a great day!
I love it!could you please give the dimensions of the front wheels. Where do you get home wife is the tire? Are they motorcycle tires? Anyway I love The way it looks it's electric One passenger carbon fiber aerodynamic!that's wonderful and I love it
Cool looking bike and warm for the winter too and I like the fact you can do 100 mph in it Probably need some air conditioning and cash to make it cheaper for mass production Prototypes are always expensive unfortunately
cool idea but why not make it practical for the common guy way out pf range for price, also very dangerous in Minn. traffic especially round Minneapolis, unless you have a death wish
It Is a really cool idea, glad to see it will be available soon. But it is a bit pricey, even at 24k. If they could somehow bring the price down to 10-12k, then it would be a steal.
If the peddles were connected to the wheels like a recumbent trike then by law it's gonna be a tricycle and no need for registration and insurance. Although based on regulations the electric motor is not allowed to kick in at speeds beyond 20mph on e-bikes. Most of the e-bike manufacturers bypass the speed limit regulation by adding the offroad option, so the rider can activate it only when it goes offroad. But everyone use it everywhere :)
@@TechSurreal I would not assume sarcasm. I'm a straight-talker, interested in learning more about the people who have spent time researching Ebikes... with both technical knowledge and passion. I keep it real
@@PhilipX2030 Sorry if I didn't get what you mean correctly at the first place. By the way I'm not a pro biker or experienced in the related fields. I'm just dreaming about having the electric velomobile that I always wish for :)
Thanks Kirsten for asking us to be in one of your videos. I wasn't quite prepared for how mean people can be, but it's good to see the positive interest and encouragement as well. I guess I should have a installed a towing hitch on my Jetta TDI instead of using my truck.....
For all of the curious/concerned citizens out there (and the haters), I'll try to address some of your questions (and even some rude comments...which I will rephrase in my mind to respectful, courteous questions/comments) using my best Minnesota Nice approach.
Why?
I commute daily 45 -60 miles each way in a 2011 Jetta TDI Manual. I've put 140K on the car, and plan to drive it well over 300K (or even 500K) if possible. I have a lifetime average of 48+ MPG. This commute uses up 2 hours of my day and the challenge for me has always been choosing to spend another hour away from my wife and 5 kids by going to the gym. What this concept means to me is an opportunity to be healthier by combining exercise with my daily commute without sacrificing more time with my family. And, I really believe that there are 1000's like me. I was looking to buy one, and was thrilled to discover that I could join Kronfeld Motors and actually contribute to making this a reality. Neither the founder or I are rich $$. I would just be happy if we could start a company building these, make enough money to support our families, retire, and do the same for all of our employees. That's been one of the challenges to getting funded....we don't want to sell out, we want to do this and make a living at this. This is definitely not a "get rich quick" scheme, it's a good old fashioned "blood, sweat & tears" scheme......imagine that?
The 6 door Truck:
I have 5 kids (last 2 were surprise twins) and need room for 7 and my dog and everyone has to be strapped in safely (this isn't pre 90's where you could just cram them all in with no seatbelts or carseats) I still work part time on the family farm (more blood sweat and tears) which is another 45 miles in the opposite direction (now you see why I don't live closer to my day job). I regularly need to tow up to 30,000 lbs and/or haul loads in the truck box. I used my existing 2005 F350 that I have owned since new, and I recycled another salvaged 2005 F250 to have this truck built. I'm not rich, I saved money for 5 years to have this built, and it's built on a budget. The only thing new in the interior is the headliner, everything else is recycled and worn. The only thing new on the outside were the must haves, the exhaust, running boards, and the paint (which was at cost of materials only). I even recycled the drive shafts to make the longer drive shaft. Sure, it also looks cool, but I wouldn't have built it if it didn't make sense (and cents) for me and my family. BTW, It doesn't eat any gas, it runs on diesel fuel, and I run a tuner to improve the MPG. I also hope to do another project someday where I convert the engine to be a veggie diesel (hard to do in MN winters).
Only 5%? Well, you can make it 100%, but you won't have a life.....
Its physics everyone! When you commute 50 miles in 1 hour on the highway in a highway safe vehicle, you will be hard pressed to contribute more than 5% of the energy required to do so. So then why even recapture the energy? We say, why not? We needed a way to provide variable resistance too, and this seemed like a good fit. Exercise machines in the gym do this by creating friction or magnetic drag...What a waste!...and they still have to be plugged in! Also, maybe I secretly want my 5 kids to each pedal it for 30 minutes while it sits at home, and charge the batteries up part way instead of plugging it in....lol. So, technically, you can contribute 100% of the energy required, but you would have to sit and pedal it for 20 hours in order to drive it 1 hour at highway speeds. The reality is you most often will only contribute about 5%, or another way to say it is extend your range by 5%.
It's not a bicycle....
It's not supposed to be bike lane friendly. As or right now, it's legally a motorcycle until the laws (hopefully) change to provision another class of vehicle. However, we do think that a lot of bike commuters, or those that want to bike commute but are out of range, would like to have one of these. Especially because you can drive it to work without pedaling it (and sweating....your co-workers thank you), and then get a full workout on the way home, whether you pedal 15 miles at high resistance, or 50 miles at a lower resistance. You keep pedaling even when traffic stops, and you can climb hills in your workout, even when the road is flat, or vice versa. You can get the same workout, if you want, no matter what distance you actually travel in the vehicle.
It's a Proof of Concept Prototype people......look up the definition!
Yes, the steering needs to be improved; yes, the suspension should allow it to lean; yes, it needs wipers: yes, it needs to be more roomy; yes, it should have solar panels; yes, it needs a 2nd seat for a passenger, luggage, briefcase, or groceries; yes, all these things and more, but all that development takes time and money (we have day jobs and families), so we need to focus on the key concepts first and prove those out. All of those ideas above are already developed and proven, we don't need to reprove those, we need to prove the new concepts. Just as you should if you invent something.
Price/COGs:
We would love to be able to build this thing for $8K and sell it for $10K, Why wouldn't we? If we could build it that low cost, we would be able to sell 3x, 4x, 10x more units. We would probably make more money and have a greater positive impact on the world, but the reality is that this is not possible right now until we can afford to engineer the heck out of this thing, take advantage of emerging technologies, and the overall maturity of the electric vehicle supply chain. Tesla's first car didn't sell for $30K, did it? Also, compare it to the cost of Zero motorcycles with the largest battery pack, but now add a roll cage, other automotive safety features, heat, and the pedaling exercise feature. An initial target of $24,000 is pretty realistic. This is what my 2011 Jetta TDI cost me new and I'm on a budget. If this could replace my commuter car, even if only 3 days a week, and give me an opportunity be healthier, and efficiently use my time, I would gladly invest the $24,000.
Thanks for your time an interest,
Ryan
This is definitely a great start to an amazing alternative. Like you said, this is the alpha version so I'm sure it will still have a lot of time to make progress on it. Do you think all of the suspension is really necessary tho? It seems like there's some stuff on there that could be scrapped to cut down on the overall cost maybe? Either way, this looks awesome and like a ton a of fun to ride! Good work! And don't listen to the haters, everyone's a tough guy on the internet.
Enjoyed the video! I have been riding my highway capable human electric hybrid motorcycle for years for the health benefits as well. The time saving concept is sound. Why spend time on an exercise bike going nowhere if you can run your errands/commute and get your cardio at the same time. Obviously, my motorcycle is not an all weather vehicle, but the health benefit is the same. I am surprised by all the negative comments. It is clear that this is a proof of concept. If you want to drive/ride something that is not 100% safe, that is your choice. Re: the meager 5% energy contribution, my motorcycle is about the same, but the contribution percentage is not the point. The point is that you are getting a vigorous cardio workout 100% of the time by using the energy from your legs to extend the range.
Ryan Anderson I think it’s cool. Let those ‘haters’ build something like this.
Mean people exist. But look at how many people watched, then how many people commented and then finally how many of them were mean. The mean turds are the absolute statistical minority. They are outliers and not worth your time. Just remove their comments and ban them and drive on. What you are doing is outstanding. You know this, I know this and your family knows this. The rest doesn't matter. Respectfully a fan.
Ryan, keep doing great work. The design of the vehicle is interesting. I think, such small vehicles are going to be the future in urban autonomous transportation anyway, because they cover a majority of use cases of normal cars, while being much more efficient.
And who knows, maybe one of the big TaaS companies that are going to spring up might have an interest in licensing your patent. (-> mobile fitness studio) You might just sit on a gold mine without knowing it.
To all the people thinking that this is too expensive or not very practical; just remember that everything we use in normalcy today all started off as a rich man's toy. Cars, trains, computers, cell phones, refrigerators, air conditioners. Stop with the negativity so we can progress to the next stage.
If this vehicle gets improved, that could become one of the best ones of the next decade. It combines a zero-emission car with a healthy way to commute and transform our disgusting fat into clean energy. It protects the cyclist from rain, helps pass through the wind and adds some speed, like an e-bike.
well thought out comment
An attractive, and practical, machine. I'd buy one!
You can go 60 kmh (close to 40 mph) in a purely human powered velomobile like this.
But an electric quad velomobile would be awesome if it could go ~80kmh. Three wheels would be too unstable for me for faster speeds. If only the legal and regulatory hurdles weren't so huge we'd have incredibly efficient personal vehicles already!
Patents? Sight. Fuck patents. Fuck that guy.
To correct some misconceptions - 1. This is a prototype - not by ANY means the finished product. 2. The price is $24,000, not $35,000-$45,000. 3. The production model would have a roll cage, seat belts, air bag, antilock brakes, etc. Maybe it's not a sedan, but it's also not a bicycle on a busy street, or for that matter a motorcycle with zero protection and 2 wheels. 4. The goal of the company over time is to increase efficiency so there is a higher percentage of power generated by the driver.
My friend, this is super cool. People in the EU would love stuff like this. And I do understand that people from the US are more prone to disliking this, because everything in the US is huge/far away and I get that people love their cars for that reason. But stuff like this is definitely the future. Good job!
The workout time-efficiency thing is very appealing. Most people have nothing productive to do during their commute anyway.
Don't get disheartened by the negative comments. I think it is a good concept and an interesting video. The commenters on youtube are a tough audience - and will often zero in on some perceived negative aspect, even if they like the general idea. But like you say, it is only a prototype.
$24K buys me an e-bike and a Honda Fit for when i have to haul something or when the weather is too bad for biking. I don't live in a McMansion and drive a six door gas guzzler either, which is more emblematic of our culture.
Sir Can you please tell me what kind of electrical component you have been used in this car? Can you give me the total information of the electrical design and component power?
i would be interested in a trike that has this body on it. we ride all year long in florida but we are exposed to rain every afternoon , 8 months out of the year. if you could reduce the width to 32 inches outside dimension. make its primary power source pedal power(3-5 speeds), then add a hub motor of sorts but limit its speed to 20mph (license requirements over 20mph) it would legally be considered an e-trike . if you sold what i am describing for a cost of 1000-1200 bucks it would sell like hot cakes here.
i would buy 2 of them.
You cannot even purchase an unfaired recumbent trike without any batteries for $1000. That price point is unachievable.
Lindo uma pena não ter um volante como de fórmula um ou de avião...seria bem melhor
Combine that with a bicycle camper and what a way to live cheap!
I live in Minnesota and I would be terrified to drive/ ride this thing in the metro area. Too many people are busy with texting and messing around with their phone while driving. They don't pay attention. I don't even like to ride my motorcycle anymore because of that.
exactly people do not see morocylces period and this is even smaller and lower profile
so true especially all these immigrants from third world countries.
I buy this bike , but this bike not in Kazakhstan
“We don’t want to waste energy” says man that drives elongated hummer. 😹 All this is wrong on so many levels… please, look at the Dutch for tips on EVERYDAY cycling.
Thanks for your comment, please see my post. I didn't realize the Dutch had figured out how to bike commute 50+ miles in 1 hour, to and from work. And how to tow 30,000lbs while hauling a family of 7 on a bicycle. I'll check that out. Thanks for the tip.
ok, so you got a huge truck for towing a lot of stuff with the whole family loaded on board. but that doesn't mean you have to use that same monster car for commuting long-range. get a used hondy civic or something.
ok, I see now that you DO have a high-MPG car for commuting, so that's fine. BTW, in Germany I know of some people that do bike-commute exceptional distances of up to 50 miles (with muscle power only). takes about 1:45 to 2 hours in a velomobile. these are the absolute expection, however. most germans have never seen a velomobile, and most velomobile owners commute 10-20 miles.
this guy specified the only jobs he could get in his profession were a long way from where he lived. you can clearly see he doesn't live in some carbon copy of downtown rotterdam. this is a solution to a problem that perhaps many dutch cyclists dont encounter.
MURICA
Considering exercise was his reasoning behind this he would be better off with a fixed pedal to motor ratio. A 5% efficiency doesn't incentivise pedaling so a bigger model would be further function-creep away from what he was trying to achieve. If I were him I'd lessen the distractive tinkering, change my diet and get an exercise bike.
amigiac you misunderstood. He said pedaling adds 5% to the range. Pedaling is pretty much worthless in electrical generation. The pedals on this actually hinder this vehicle. Its all about weight. More weight = less range. Pedaling is almost purely for exercise. It is a covered ebike essentially.
I liked all of the specs, but was disappointed that peddling only added 5% to the range - Or did I get that wrong ?
john wheatley I heard 10-15
yep 5% he said
If you pedal to and from your destination, pedaling is 100% of the range. Lol
i think a normal person can pedal about 100 watts for a longer time so if there is a high quality generator, maybe 90W is left and then it needs to be converted into suitable form for electric motor which adds at least 5% to total loss (took that figure from my ass). If it feeds to a battery first, losses are a lot more and you are lucky if you get 50W out. This thing uses several kilowatts at highway speeds (wild quess, 6-10kW?). of course the motor too loses at least 5% of that power. Maybe if one travels at normal cycling speed of 20kph (12.4mph) and this is done well, you might generate half of the needed energy. maybe they should get rid of that expensive davinci cvt and just take more power from the generator when user needs a harder workout.
Bottomlands actually he's right it is. I live in MN and we do get ticketed for driving to slow. We don't get to choose our safety level when driving, so we are forced to drive sometimes at what seems to be an unsafe speed.
Meanwhile Twike has been in production for 22 years now and currently costs $26k with practically everything raht promises. I'm still looking for where the claim of a $6,800 model came from. But no point reinventing the wheel. This RAHT design is not original.
I love these things so much and want one so bad. Even have considered building one for myself. I just don't have the time. That being said, I see where a lot of people coming up with these and want as much as a fully loaded 2018 Toyota Prius C. That's never going to work. I will have one someday, but not until the prices are responsible for what they are. I wish you the best of luck.
I appreciate you showing your dreams. I'm looking at the Mean Lean Machine right now but it's a bare bones unit compared to yours.
Over 30 MPH is where the complications really begin with the law and motorcycle classifications. I believe the word you're looking for is "Autocycle".
Best Wishes. Dreams are where real life begins.
They were going to wrong direction by making it faster and bigger. If you are too big for it, then loose some weight yourself. They are envisioning new "Aptera", which is a story they should have known. Light weight and staying 20mph vehicle (e-bicycle) would be the right way to go. Problem is US population with the need to use a Truck to go 2 miles to grocery store. There's not enough room for smaller vehicles to be safe. USA lack infrastructure for that.
The premise seems a bit strange- workout while commuting to avoid losing family time going to the gym... Why not spend family time doing activities like swimming, playing baseball, soccer, volleyball... even riding bicycles! I mean, with 7 people you can come up with a lot of cheap activities... sledding or snowshoeing in winter (also cycling with fat tire bikes)... I guess this will probably be considered a mean comment but really I’m just not getting the whole concept. There’s nothing new here except the exercise aspect. Is there a market for this even at $10k, or is it just a ‘cool concept’ that’s trendy?
I was researching this mode of transportation and I am really excited to see what you have built.
At least he's aware of the flaws. My first thought was that it was too small. Pedaling while stopped at a light, now that's not something I would not have thought of. I used to ride a bicycle in California, which allowed me to be just as fast, if not faster since there was so much traffic. Lots of perks beyond fitness on a bicycle. Some of which are lost in that thing. But a lot is gained too.
Right. The width of the vehicle doesn't really hurt in the low-traffic area this video seems to be filmed in. Honestly, the pedalling doesn't add a lot to the range of the vehicle, but I like the idea of a small, light electric vehicle for one-man commutes. It's cheap to operate and it is fast enough to safely drive on sparse highways.
Hey guys. I don't know whether you observed it or not.
But for 24k, it's just seems a lot congested, not comfortable and a 1 seater
As he said, it really out to made bigger
The driver has to move the steering continuously to pedal.
Other than that, it's a steal
Except for that it's priced very high.
We get better cars at 12 or 10k.
I don't think anyone would buy it right now, provided the cost and the space.
Solid state batteries will give this vehicle an option of fully electric. I'm no health nut and not a greenie, but I think it's time for a change. That old combustion engine has had its 100+ years, time to move forward. Now with the electric vehicles it's just like when combustion engine cars were a new thing slowly replacing the horse as main transport. Also there are alot of small companies that are building electric that was how the automobile manufacturing was, alot of companies.
That's terribly expensive for a vehicle that can't carry a passenger or any significant amount of cargo. If you want to make a living selling those, the price has to come down, and utility has to go up. Otherwise, you're just selling to the racing yacht crowd, and I don't think many of them watch RUclips. But then again, you have to start somewhere.
Notice how they included the US flag at 9:10. Sorry but this thing is way too heavy, 700 lbs is 350 kg, most velomobiles weight about 35 kg.
LEIBA CLASSIC L makes the job perfectly with 2 people inside.
Few videos on RUclips.
This concept won't sell. It is totally impractical. There is no significant efficiency gain from the physical effort which kills the motivation to apply the effort, and makes the cost in dollars, practicality, discomfort and safety prohibitive. I think there could possibly be a market for a pedal/electric hybrid that could be propelled by pedalling alone.
All cars should have pedals, so you can exercise while driving. Sitting still is not healthy.
It's a neat electric vehicle, but the pedaling is worthless to me. If they made one without the pedals and sold it a the right price, I might be interested. They need to realize that they are competing against velomobiles, and you can get them with electric assist too.
Don't want to add negative energy, but if it goes 70 how quickly can those skinny tires stop you in an emergency?
that thing looks uncomfortable. the steering looks Horrible. the Square tube design is... just horrible.
Why do you need a brakelight?
A car in a dump truck appears to be your description of reality
It would be much more efficient to just have pedal assist rather than charging with a generator.
Hello Ryan, what is the kind of bottle on the driving bar ? Thanks for sharing !
i want the stripped down motorcycle version, no airbads or whatever ; no need for any of that stuff.
I'd ut more weight by not using solid rims on the front. Not much, but every ounce counts...
Designer doesn't know how to argue with narcissist by ignoring them....
I don't like it. Better off just buying state of the art electric trike for way less money.
I Love this concept. I would love to own one. Don't worry about people that can't see how wonderful this is. Their not important. People that, get it, will buy one.
It's interesting. I feel like I've seen so many iterations of this type of electric bike/car/velomobile combination and they all end up shooting too high.
The biggest issue with this is always going to be price point. Why buy a smaller and less safe (even if it has a roll cage) vehicle when I can buy an equivalent car for the same (or less).
If you need exercise then it seems like someone should look at modifying existing cars to have a pedal system.
You could even take a car built for a paraplegic (hand breaks/accelerator) and just add pedals... I'm not an inventor, just throwing out some ideas.
A good concept, however, I dont know anyone willing to pay 25k for basically an ebike they have to register/insure. If you are going the high speed route, get rid of the peddles and streamline it for aerodynamic efficiency. I know a lot of people who were interested in the elio 3 wheel electric car that was proposed for less than $15k. Also, if you go with a full frame/cage, then don't try to do it with a single piece body as this drastically increases cost and time. Smaller and easier pieces to manufacture and assemble will also reduce cost to buy as well as replace due to the occasional accident.
Also, for $25k you can already buy an electric car...
Either way, keep up the good work!
A solar panel on the roof will keep the battery charged in the parking lot.
Meanwhile in Prehistoric Neanderthal Australia, we are limited to 250 watts, about enough to thoroughly remove the congealed coating from a custard dessert.
Neanderthals werent in australia lol
I guess I missed it, but how many pounds did he lose?
people need to start making a joystick. Steer by wire.
Thanks for innovating. I love velomobiles and other more affordable clean energy transportation vehicles.
What about when it is raining? I don't see any wipers.
OK it's polycarbonate, but that can scratch easily and will produce staring at night in rainy weather (screen could be replaceable but that is an additional cost). Just a thought! I love the trike by the way!
RainX
Still a prototype. No lights either.
KELLI2L2, it’s a prototype. All those costs are consistent with development. Once he scales up he can recoup those costs; and if he’s fortunate make some money with a reasonably budget-friendly product. I’m not saying he’ll succeed, but don’t be such a naysayer. Sheesh
Polycarbonate is the strongest plastic-used for corrective lenses.
bit tight in there.. need more room and storage for your stuff and groceries etc.
👍💕
It looks Pukka , perfect size.....,for the person it was made for.. 🧐......you don't look very comfortable when pedalling.
My version is sitting alot more forward.
Thanks for the experience 😊
P.s......mine is mostly Throttle only and pedal assistant, I don't really pedal it without help...😂
72v 3000w rear hub motor
80amph Battery.....
I've still not got it to top speed 😀
I'm fit enough don't really want to pedal.....only put them on to TRY and fit in with the laws around ebikes, scooters,euc.....etcetcetc
I just like to fly along, it's like a Jetplane in a rush to get home 🤣
It's a cool idea, a bit like the Sinclair C5 in the 80's which had the steering under the legs to avoid the problems this chap is having with the awkward movable steering column. As for the work out potential? As a serious road cyclist I'd take my bike and the weather over this, the workout part is a bit of a gimmick.
Right, definitely not as good as road cycling, but you can do it at the same time you commute so you regain your time, especially if your road cycling time means you are sacrificing time with your family. Thanks for your comment, please see my post.
Ryan Anderson; or cycle with the family if that is an option. TAP keyboard and e-ink screens can help the kids text and keep up with their social media posts in the bright sun while riding.
Love it. Almost perfect.
Why not in a regular car
Peddle to the meddle
Very cool, But that steering system needs a lot more work, but it's very interesting
We are making some improvements to the prototype. I changed it to rack & pinion, and we are working on tying the accelerator to the pedals, so that we can replace the handle bars with an actual steering wheel. Thanks for your comment, please see my post.
I just noticed while watching him pedal looked uncomfortable, with the missive nobs. and how loose and shifty the column is. Clearly a prototype. Cant wait to see more of it.
There should be 2 models: version 1, a virtual peddle 1-2 seat recumbent EB (legal on bike paths) @ what, $7,500- $8,500 price range? And version 2, a pure road-certified Electric vehicle tricycle with capacity for highway speeds and having an air-bag, signal/break lights , etc... @ what, $20,000 ?
Too expensive, too heavy. What's the range on a charge? I like that it is fully enclosed. A 70 mph top speed is more than ample if I could trade it off for a lighter weight and higher efficiency. My ideal build would use two 6000 watt RC motors, (such as Astro 3220 motors in their 6kW version) using a cycloidal gear reduction system to drive each front wheel. With the rear wheel driven by purely mechanical, human powered system as used in a standard (bicycle type) trike. $15,0000, under 300 pounds, with a 70 mph max speed, and 250+ miles range per charge. Charging using standard electric car charging available on the highway system.
i love the idea of the car. the twizzy is too nerdy looking but if someone made a recumbent version I think people would gobble it up. A cool lookin, confortable and aerodynamic electric quadricycle.
Either you forgobthe pedals and it becomes a proper EV or make a proper velomobile which would be awesome but would never reach the masses and therefore mass production.
Still l has that McDonald 1pack
I swear I heard a Fart 💨 noise at 2:31
No flexible lightweight solar panels for the skin? It would help charge uphill travels when pedaling gets too much? Doesn't black add to the inside heat?..stress on electrical parts?
Kind of an exercise bike in a car. It would be more environmental and efficient if you used the bike pedals to actually power the vehicle, instead of charging the batteries. The terrain gives *natural* resistance variability, for free! That combined with throttle for power assisted cycling, would mean you could cut down a lot more weight, and of course use far less electricity. In that great shell, that could be a nice build!
Well,I don't hate it. I would love it. I've been disabled for 35 years and I know it would help others like me get around town and get a chunk of therapy in a productive manner. If you can truly can get this out there for $24,000 (still a lot of money, but it's something to hope for). Keep working on it. Think of the possibilities. Thank you.
Thanks for the great video. I am interested. Its what I'm looking for. I'm from Ohio. I'll help anyway I can. I like the design.
I really like it. Only downside I can see is the steering. Can that lock in place? When can I order. And how much? Nevermind the haters. Jealous people.
Never seen a triple cab before! That's impressive and it's not even the focus of the story! The pedals for charging I like and the overall shape is more practical for entry/exit than most while still looking slippery. Perhaps a future model have the door extend up into the roof to allow taller drivers easier access. That steering column is holding the whole thing back though- would you consider "tank steering" to clean up the cockpit? Above seat steering on recumbents often has the bars so close to the rider that my elbows are bent too much and my hands get numb from reduced circulation, something that hasn't happened since i bought a trike with tank steering. I reckon the electric + pedal charging type system would be good on a regular tadpole trike- being able to pedal at a comfortable speed up or downhill regardless, waiting at intersections or stoplights charging all the while.
So will you have to register it to DMV and get tags on it it's a bike why would you classify it as a motorcycle to where you would have to get tags register at the DMV, & what's the cost
OH mf god ooooowheeeee please get these made please someone invest inthis tech, we need lots of these so we can all have one ..and party !!!! MR rich kronfield you are the man of the centuary !!!!....Can i get a discount now / heeeheee ...
I would love to do this to a mini van.
Brilliant... When can you have them ready for production?
Can you buy it how much is it
Add a couple flexible solar panels to the roof in addition to the pedal generator. That would be the ultimate commuter machine.
Beautiful build and engineering, really a lot went into this trike
Probably needs a helmet. Also, once you have the safety features won't it be a lot heavier?
How much does it cost?
Team up with Elio
Why does everyone make them soo small..someone needs to make the family car 4 tires 3 or 4 seater
Just goes to show you can patent *anything*. They've patented doing a workout in a vehicle. I think I should patent fiddling with your mobile in a vehicle, eating breakfast in a vehicle and patent adjusting your makeup in a vehicle. That way I can sue the idiots.
Actually, we couldn't patent *anything*, in fact, we had to find something that we could patent in order to protect the overall product so that we would have something to build a business around. This wasn't our first choice, but it was the option we had. Yes, being distracted while driving is illegal. As far as I know, moving your legs in a circular motion is not a distraction it itself, but I'll research it. Thanks for your comment, please see my post.
Ryan Anderson I didn't mean that the workout was a distraction. I don't think it is. I can concentrate on a bicycle. I just meant the patent system seems broken. I know that in Australia someone managed to patent a means for reducing friction via a circular device incorporating a central pivot. I was just joking that I could subvert it to rid the road of the terrible drivers. The bike itself looks exactly like what I want.
Give me this bike plss
Definitely an engineering toy more than anything, but the potential is there and it's cool none the less.
i love it. i want one.
As someone who also lives in Minnesota and bikes to work, I would LOVE to own one of these. That said, once its more of a completed project could you also sell the plans for these for DIY solutions? OR offer more trimmed down versions that dont have variable resistance or something.
Like to buy one.
Он двухместный?
looks not comfortable and the controlling looks unsafety.
Want one!!! : )
I need one....
Not a bad idea...
At is so. Cool
So does it require a motorcycle license or just moped?
The steering is kind of klunky. It would be better to use a joystick for steering and breaking. Easily adaptable electro-mechanical actuators. Good concept though. There are many of these in the market.
I want a microcar like this for the fuel efficiency but why is the price like 25k when I could get a compact five seater for like 17k? you'd think something this small would be way cheaper?
Make it purely electric, remove the pedals, enlarge windows, add solarpanels that extract as wings when parked, able the car to lean and its ready for massproduction. Great concept!
Very nice! The body design reminds me a little of one of my favorite electric cars, The Aptera EV. Although the aptera didn’t have pedals, which is a nice addition :)
My girlfriend and I are working on adding solar cells to our M365 EV scooter, which we are interested in adding as a range extender for the EV scooter. We just ordered the Genasun lithium boost charger, which will connect the solar cells to the 36 Volt nominal lithium battery. We plan to use the SunPower Maxeon 3 solar cells, monocrystalline type. Your video has inspired me :) have a great day!
I love it!could you please give the dimensions of the front wheels. Where do you get home wife is the tire? Are they motorcycle tires? Anyway I love The way it looks it's electric One passenger carbon fiber aerodynamic!that's wonderful and I love it
Hi. What price and shipping to Europe?
Cool looking bike and warm for the winter too and I like the fact you can do 100 mph in it Probably need some air conditioning and cash to make it cheaper for mass production Prototypes are always expensive unfortunately
cool idea but why not make it practical for the common guy way out pf range for price, also very dangerous in Minn. traffic especially round Minneapolis, unless you have a death wish
It Is a really cool idea, glad to see it will be available soon. But it is a bit pricey, even at 24k. If they could somehow bring the price down to 10-12k, then it would be a steal.
If the peddles were connected to the wheels like a recumbent trike then by law it's gonna be a tricycle and no need for registration and insurance. Although based on regulations the electric motor is not allowed to kick in at speeds beyond 20mph on e-bikes.
Most of the e-bike manufacturers bypass the speed limit regulation by adding the offroad option, so the rider can activate it only when it goes offroad. But everyone use it everywhere :)
Abbas Sadeghi Bajgiran Great points! You're very knowledgeable in eBike implementation. Can you tell me more about yourself?
@@PhilipX2030 I can feel the bitter taste of sarcasm in your comment buddy ;)
@@TechSurreal I would not assume sarcasm. I'm a straight-talker, interested in learning more about the people who have spent time researching Ebikes... with both technical knowledge and passion. I keep it real
@@PhilipX2030 Sorry if I didn't get what you mean correctly at the first place. By the way I'm not a pro biker or experienced in the related fields. I'm just dreaming about having the electric velomobile that I always wish for :)
Bike to work!!.. Wow.. this is awsome, lets make money, i want this one..Please
nice bike