I see a lot of critics. I've followed Paul for a long time. Paul put forth the effort to show a concept, build it, and record it. He shared it with us. Please show him the courtesy and appreciate the efforts. Maybe his idea won't work in someone's city requiring cement trucks for safe driving, but they are still relevant AND usable in this world where subcompact cars with hatchbacks, bicycles with panniers, and simply people walking home with their groceries still live and breathe. Thanks, Paul!!!
I love your ingenuity. I'd be painting it fluorescent orange with regenerative electrical lights all over it so that people would see me. They run over each other in trucks. People are staring down at their phones.
for future reference, autozone offers a free rental tool for spring compression. I wouldn't recommend compressing suspension struts with ratchet strats to my worst enemy.
Paul … You are simply amazing!!! I thoroughly enjoy each and every one of your videos!!! Hope all is great and good with you and your family!!! God bless!!! Chuck Knight formerly from Buffalo, Texas and now from Atascocita, Texas. 😵💫👨🌾😉
Paul , This is Mike brruhn my brother steve was in the Vetter milage competition, it's great to see you still working with your project, brings back a special time in my life listening to his storys . Thank for sharing. Have fun keep up the good work
Thanks for showing some of the process. Until now I've only seen finished things (well kinda) from you. To keep the weight down I was pondering inflatable structures wrapped together with steel cables. Zeppelin people got a lot of interesting ideas. Good luck!
DIY excellence 👍, "Flintstones reverse" 😅😅😅 I love it. Aptera's 400-600 MPGe is hard to beat but costs 25K, and is compatible with Openpilot, and solar charging.
I really think this idea is the way to go .. possibly with a small "pickup-truck" bed in the back for carrying some groceries or something that doesn't just fit in a small space. Very important to be ahead of the wave!
Hey Paul , I'm super impressed you rock . I just bought a vintage velomobile and I live in Seattle. I'm rebuilding slowly but don't have anywhere near your skill level . Your gas Trike is the most slick cool vehicle I've ever seen from a home builder . Bravo 👏
Are you talking about my old PAVO that I made about 15 years ago? That was my favorite to ride around in, getting about 25 mph with a 2hp briggs motor and 6 gears.
Wonderful seeing you again, paul. I am the original owner of a fully enclosed motorcycle called a Pulse auto cycle built in Michigan in 1990. Blessings
You are one of a few hundred who purchased a Pulse, Very cool. I was very impressed with the body shape. The builder I believe was an aero engineer who made these in a small production run. I give him credit for using the two balancing wheels approach. My question is how did the small balancing tires hold up to the constant scrubbing when contacting the road? It would seem the wheels would wear out fairly quickly.
I'm glad to see this project again! Now that you've extended the wheelbase, you can also extend the tail to improve the aerodynamics and give yourself more cargo area!
Wonderful work sir!! I have a motto : “never miss an opportunity to reinvent the wheel”. You sir are the absolute master. I do hope that you keep developing!
@douglundy5755 now that the founders took back the company they look like they got it. The tooling is done for the body molds. They have alpha, beta, and gamma prototypes. A really solid design and a lot of world renoun auto designers on their team.
@@Pyromancers Naw. The body design has massive blind spots in the A pillars. And now they are going with direct drive (no gears) wheel motors inside covered wheels...can you say overheated motors. They are trying to Musk their way to success by huge over-promising and so far under-water delivery. 100% solar powered? Full Self Driving...right?
Not even close! Did you notice this is powered by a motor cycle engine? This one has all the disadvantges of a motorcycle with all the disadvantages of a car. If all you do is commute around the island at 40mph, a motorcycle is great, aero is not a big issue, get a fairing. And it fairly heavy frame. I mean its cool, but it isn't like the FUV, of course, it isn't $20k either.
@@murraymadness4674 I think you should look into it more. The entire vehicle’s drag is the equivalent of the mirrors on a Ford f150. It gets 700 watts of power in good sunlight and it’s structurally built like an f1 car. Average daily commute for people is under 40 miles so in a sunny region it wouldn’t need charging. The hub motors massively reduce weight as they remove the entire transmission system, so strain on the motors is low. The motors have liquid cooling. Pretty sure if you can cool an engine burning gas in an enclosed chamber, wheel motor heat is a much easier cooling problem to solve. Heat is dissipated from motors in the belly of car. Aptera has never claimed bullshit like full self driving or even self driving at any real level.
I've always enjoyed watching your projects, fascinating and educational. The various shelters, watercraft and even the tree stump gnome home, thank you for sharing with us.
I helped build a California Commuter trike back in 1984. We used a Honda 160 twin and rode it from Auburn WA to LA CA and got 85 MPG but we did more than 55 MPH with a few runs up to 90 MPH. If you keep the front nose light then the twin rudder steering works very well. 1984's Glass over Foam worked OK but modern technics are much better. 3D printing and Carbon Fiber is now something a home hobbist can do.
@@davej3487 Dave.You are the FIRST person I've found who actually built a California Commuter from Doug Malewiki's plans! Would love to chat with you more about that experience if you don't mind.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Paul, I live down in Auburn so it would not be a problem of riding my Suzuki Burgman up to the Seattle/Everett areas for a coffee chat.
But I do not have any pictures of the build, all were given to the owner and I lost touch. I do have a set of plans that I bought 3 years ago so I am licensed to build 1 CC.
@@davej3487 I too purchased his plans years ago.It took me several decades to pay the price he wanted. I'm on Camano Island. I use to commute to Algona Boeing facility from Stanwood. Glad that didn't last long. Give me an Email if you'd like to get together some time. paulwelkins@yahoo dot com
There was a 3 wheel car, I think an Elio, that was close to launch a while ago. I live in Australia and we are 10 years behind but I seriously would consider buying one if it was below $10k in my money new. My wife has a 5 door Focus which can hold all of us, I have 2 vehicles I use for work and I thought I would buy one of those for when I make small trips around town, to go to a friends house, or my mums, the doctors, etc. but unfortunately our economy cars are either Chinese rubbish, or too expensive, and to build my own car, even though I’m capable, it would never be allowed on the road without expensive certificates etc. but I really would like one of those Elio’s
@@thesausage351Elio Motors collected 28 million in deposits, were gifted production facilities from the state of Louisiana worth tens of millions of dollars, and never produced a single vehicle. Would love a documentary about the Elio scam...
@@johnchristensen7785 wow! Basically a repeat of that other economy car from the 70’s, was it Dan or Dave or something? I think the inventor had a sex change and everything.
Looks great Paul! I've long since had to shelve my own reverse trike, as I'm away at grad school and don't have access to my workshop any more, but I always enjoy seeing your creations on youtube!
Aerodynamics is a strange beast and like tuning engines for power, what seems logical doesn't always produce the expected results - I recall way back when the average drag factor of the average car was in the region of 0.7, the UK company BMC produced an economy family car styled by Farina and designated the A40 - A denoted Austin and 40 was the approximate power output of the engine. The performance was surprisingly good to say the least, in spite of being vaguely brick shaped. In an effort to economise on build costs and minimise the sale price the designer had eliminated most of the traditional chrome trim and reduced the size of the gutters and by doing so had accidentally produced a car with a drag factor of 0.47. That perhaps influenced Ford because in 1965 or thereabouts, their concept car, the Probe 3, was remarkable for having a drag factor of only 0.27, a reduction achieved in no small part by fitting the glass almost flush with the surrounding metalwork. Ford claimed the car gave a typical 1600cc performance from only a 1300cc power unit, though it wasn't until 1981 the concept car innovations appeared on their production cars. I expect those side protection bars and maybe a few other things are really upsetting the aerodynamics...
There's lots of improvements that can be made on this second version, but for a low cost project I'm pleased with the outcome. To do it again I'd spend more money and get the good stuff, IE carbon fiber, chrome moly frame and re-design the suspension and....
@@paulwelkinsdiy I agree the low cost necessity is very hampering when it comes to one-off design and construction - if you had to do it again and chase the ultimate fuel economy, I think a different power unit would be advisable along with some work on different gear ratios. These days even some ordinary family saloon cars can return up to 60+ mpg (Imperial) even cruising at 70mph...
Very cool little machine you built. I'd love to own something like this. Aptera is as close as I'll get as I'm not really a builder. Great build though!
I'm sure you know Aptera, and Elio, and now Aptera again are trying to bring something in this vein to the market. There are probably more I don't know about. I hope someone eventually figures out how to sell efficiency to the general populace. I love this Paul!
Thank you! The Lean Machine was a GM high mileage leaning enclosed teardrop trike prototype that hit the Worlds Fair in BC back in the 80's. It was the answer, but corp. leaders probably voted it down for a production run. It was way ahead of the curve.
I thought the Elio was a great idea. Basically a Honda Civic cut in half lengthwise with 3 cylinder engine and open wheel front end. The promise was to build it with all off the shelf components to bring it in at about $7000. Too bad the leader completely turned it into a scam.
@@drubru1969 Is that what happened? I always told my wife I'd buy a trike that met my expectations, and the Elio came real close. I too was waiting for production, but when an outfit asks for money up front from customers, nefarious dicks usually come out of the wood work, Eh?
Classic Paul reminds me of my pulse Auto cycle which can easily get 80 to 100 miles per gallon on the highway and she was built in Michigan in 1990 blessings to you and yours from Southern Oregon
Very much enjoyed the update, and thanks for the inspiration. Since you started this project I've been designing some designs in Solidworks for an electric reverse trike. I've done some designs using Aluminum, Mild steel and a hybrid monocoque plywood-steel design, and surprisingly plywood comes out a lot stronger and lighter less costly than either Aluminum or steel using Solidworks stress analysis and modeling. If you might like to take a look at the concept and chat or work up some Solidworks designs I'd be up for that.
Very cool indeed, I like how you've made curves from flat sheets, excellent work. If you started a bit later you might have gone electric only. I appreciate how much time and effort has gone into it.
Nice design. I'd paint it in high vis dayglo alternating striped colors and add reflective tape. Make the grocery compartment more accessible from the outside because you'll be using it a lot. Every trip I made I bring groceries home. Maybe make the cockpit canopy able to slide forward, backwards, or on a hinge, but not a big priority. The biggest problem with out of the ordinary designs like these are they are cop magnets. I like to tilt when I go through a turn, so I stick to motorcycles. But if I went electric I'd consider a three wheel design to support more batteries.
I salute you sir from the bottom of my heart ! And wholeheartedly recommend you convert it into Electric power. To catch up with the zeitgeist + tap into the huge markets thirsting for it. If you need help, I'm a US expat living in China, and would lend a hand 👍
Thanks for sharing your fascination with your fellow earthlings. I had a memorable dalliance with wind-powered trikes and a saucy mig welder. Subscribed indeed!
This reminds me of the elf ( electric tricycle) and I love your ingenuity and creativeness. I think this would work in Europe under the quadricycle law as a hybrid, electric front hubs for town driving, and a small petrol engine for open road driving. Here in England you can build any vehicle for the road under " Single Vehicle Type Approval " which all kitcars and replicas have to go through...............
Im glad I found this channel. Last two weeks I was thinking about same concept: taking used (possibly wrecked) bike and making personal transporter alike. There are a lot of 250-750cc usee bikes for cheap on marketplace. I d preffere Honda Shadow 750cc rear end, monocoque hemp plastic body spacious enough to sleep inside (to travel), yet small enough to park two on one parking spot. That would be a blast!
This would only make sense if everyone else was driving them. Otherwise it is a hazard to both its own driver and the other traffic. This is only practical for people who don't live in the real world. Who don't need to give anybody a lift, or who don't need carry groceries home. Back to the drawing board. 👍
@robinbrowne5419 sure sure but they also drive electric small scooter on roads and do you wana spend money on driving unnecessary heavy metals around all the time There is plenty of space on that tricar How much money you got for groceries
when you cut rear fork my first thought spring wont work anymore. also adding electric hybrid to power front wheels or just one wheel would give you reverse :)
I'm building a similar model with a monocoque carbon fiber body powered by an electric motor. The front suspension, steering and brakes are from a Quad in an IFS beam type configuration so I saved a lot of time on that issue. Rear suspension is single arm motorcycle from a dirt bike, so a few time saving shortcuts, though, the body has been a big involved project. Kudos on your more involved build. Engineering front suspensions is a science all by itself something I got involved in with several Sevenesqe(Lotus 7) type builds years ago. Just use Miata parts for those projects and benefit from the millions spent by Mazda on that engineering. Haven't been to Stanwood since I had an engineering project in Seattle back in 2010 and was looking for a building lot there. Wonderful area.
Paul, what about vacuum forming the body with one continuous sheets of clear Lexan? You could make form out of wood in your garage taking care to give all the complex curvatures a true tear drop shape deserves. You could even heat the Lexan yourself and suck it down onto the form using a couple of shop vacs with a little common sense and ingenuity. Right up your alley I bet. You could have the beautiful showroom floor shape that I am sure you have been dreaming about. By the way, RC car bodies are made the same way and are incredibly durable.
I've seen this done before when investigating blown windscreens, and remember the basics when working in a sign shop. Not sure I'll get around to it. I'm into simplicity and fluted plastic really helps speeds up my simple prototype builds.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Yes, that makes sense. This may make more sense if you were going into production and/or really wanted to reduce the aerodynamic drag forces as much as possible. For one off, prototyping & proof of concept, the coroplass is pretty awesome.
I have personally thought about this same thing, and have followed your build... I am a little heavier than you, so everything would need to be a little bigger built.... I would use a different engine, something out of a quad, as it has 5 gears Forward and 1 Reverse and is Semi-Automatic....Auto Clutch but you still shift it like a Motorcycle...... much more efficient than a CVT or something like that (The Biggest mistake of the HMV Freeway)....Even my short trip to work on my very inefficient ATV gets 57MPG (at 45MPH) so with some aerodynamics...and one less tire, and a LOT less rolling resistance = 60MPG at 60MPH doesn't seem out of question...Sure beats my pickup truck!
Nice to see an update on your backroads speedster. Like with most projects you find little improvements to make as time passes. Some come as why didn't I do that the first time?
Saw that exhaust pipe and had to click,knew it was a Yamaha sr185 engine!! Cool build! I’ve grafted the same engine into one of my old bikes, selected because it was the cheapest complete engine I could find online, think I got it for $200 shipped few years back.
@@paulwelkinsdiy The little Lifan OHV 200 cc engines are now coming with fuel injection, they have a wide ratio transmission with 5 speeds, you can also get ones with 4 speeds and a reverse gear for quads. They also have a very potent alternator which can source up to 200 watts of 12 volt combined battery charging and AC headlight illumination power. I have to wonder though, and it's been asked a few times.. How do you cool this engine? It's going to overheat without a steady cooling air source. Is it something we're not seeing?
Awesome build. Very logistical and smart. Its about time someone made a rational commuter vehicle. Now 345 lbs? Id like to think we could get that down to less than 259lbs... Carbon fiber anyone? Aluminum maybe? Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
you need a leaning/tilting front suspension so that it leans into turns like a motorcycle. it would increase stability greatly. do that and it would be the perfect three wheel vehicle check out the Wesll awd leaning quad
I would love to build a project like this. I know you don't do plans (I understand ) but if you could put some form of details into a list... such as tire size, type of suspension parts used, type of motor, wheel base (now), etc. it would really flatten the curve for my project. Thanks
Indeed. That, and a steering wheel are my next consideration, but due to the extreme narrow width I chose the wheel would have to be removable to get in and out. Rendition 3???
@@paulwelkinsdiy I dig the look of the current recumbent-like steering, but I can see how that would be tricky to get used-to / perfect for speed. Maybe you can tweak in stages and see if you can keep it, otherwise: Yeah, removable steering wheel is a good option, especially since it would be easy to fine-tune with various gearing (rack and pinion). As much as I hate yokes, that might also be a viable option. Best of luck.
It would be a delight to meld minds with like minded people who have a better understanding than I of new fabrication tools and techniques like 3D printing and composites or race car design. There's got to be a ton of college engineers out there who competed in competitions of robotics or efficient vehicles.
It's called a bicycle 😊 Seriously I think most commutes made by people, alone in a two ton monster, are done in bike distances. But Pauls alternative is a cool thing!
When I was a kid even full size trucks were smaller than the overpriced behemoths they make now, and Japanese small trucks became very popular. The reason we can't even get such trucks now is entirely due to govt meddling in the car industry, big government is always harmful.
If he lives in Hawaii, why they have not banned gas powered vehicles is beyond my understanding. They have more wind and solar and huge elevation change to use gravity storage. If he lives in Bermuda...I'd say the same thing too.
I liked the idea of his competition, but I"m not a great fan of motorcycles due to the safety issues, as people in my past and Craig himself can testify.
@@tedpreston4155 I'm sorry to hear that. My brother rode Harley's and wore the peanut helmet. Took a turn on a railroad crossing. He was never the same.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Oddly, I was wearing ATTGATT (all the gear all the time), which is the normal practice among my riding buddies. I was decked out in full-face helmet, armored vest and pants, and heavy off-road boots. The accident (with another motorcyclist) happened within sight of my camp, and there was not a scratch on my bike, my helmet or any of my other gear. But it left a mark on my brain.
Well done sir, I too believe this could be the answer to many commuters dreams and have been working along similar lines (also for years now!). We should keep in touch if you like, always great to have a second opinion ! Let me know if you'd like to see my prototype narrow tilting car, it's based on a Chinese titling three wheeler (125cc) with a fibreglass shell I designed and had made, but the eventual (production ?) one will be electric of course.
Hey Roy. Would love to see what you've come up with. the tilting vehicle can be a bit tricky to design and use in real world conditions. Would be interested in seeing what you came up with.
That too is a cool trike. Very simple frame. Not sure about the front wheel forks but it probably did save on creating a hub that supports the lateral forces.
You need to look at the scrub radius and aim for neutral as the further you go away from that the more the vehicle self-steers and wanders, along with being unstable under brakes. The scrub radius is the distance in front view between the king pin axis and the center of the contact patch of the wheel, where both would theoretically touch the road. It can be positive, negative or zero. The king pin axis is also known as the steering axis inclination. The scrub radius is affected by the wheel’s width, diameter and offset. The scrub radius creates a turning moment that influences the steering feel and stability, castor is also very important for stability.
I incorporated all of the Ackermann steering geometry into the kingpin inclination as best as my skills and tooling would allow. It's somewhat based off of Doug Malewiki's California Commuter build plans. No adjustment and a simple front suspension. I was running it a bit too positive in tow, so recently adjusted a slight tow in, and with the added wheel base the handling is much less twitchy at speed.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Positive castor angle is very important for stable steering and self centring of the steering when travelling on a straight and level road. And no need for a steering damper .Kingpin angle should be between 3 to 5 degrees for anormal car but since vehicle is so light I would suggest 5 degrees or even a little bit more will have more affect in creating a smooth handling car more so than lengthening the swing arm 6 inches .Keep up the good work you doing . Also look at what the cycleKarts community are doing .You might get some inspiration from those guys.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Draw out your suspension in full scale on the ground and work out the scrub radius as I have modified many cars over the years and the correct scrub radius has a lot of benefits. Mostly stability, lack of tramlining under brake and it reduces steering effort.
That too was a vehicle I admire. Quite a few were made too. I could have bought one last year. Spotted one all worn out for sale on the side of the road side, but I had my beast.
I wish i had the knowledge and ability to make things like this, always wanted to make something similar, but a little more like a camper. Im happy with 25 mph max
I would like to believe this, but when? They haven’t released an actual production model yet, just the prototypes. It looks good, but I fear interest will fade and so will the company if they don’t get these on the road very soon.
I see a lot of critics. I've followed Paul for a long time. Paul put forth the effort to show a concept, build it, and record it. He shared it with us. Please show him the courtesy and appreciate the efforts. Maybe his idea won't work in someone's city requiring cement trucks for safe driving, but they are still relevant AND usable in this world where subcompact cars with hatchbacks, bicycles with panniers, and simply people walking home with their groceries still live and breathe. Thanks, Paul!!!
Thank you Dan! Very much appreciate your comment.
I always love Kirsten Dirksen's coverage of you and others.
She is the one person that I follow on RUclips. I've gotten to know her and Niko and family. They've sacrificed a lot to bring us amazing content.
Paul
Keep Living the Dream
I love your ingenuity. I'd be painting it fluorescent orange with regenerative electrical lights all over it so that people would see me. They run over each other in trucks. People are staring down at their phones.
for future reference, autozone offers a free rental tool for spring compression. I wouldn't recommend compressing suspension struts with ratchet strats to my worst enemy.
Indeed. It's like cocking back a bow and releasing the arrow. Not the best solution, but thanks for that advise. Didn't know.
@@paulwelkinsdiy HF has them for $35, as well. Cheaper than an urgent care copay.
Paul … You are simply amazing!!! I thoroughly enjoy each and every one of your videos!!! Hope all is great and good with you and your family!!! God bless!!! Chuck Knight formerly from Buffalo, Texas and now from Atascocita, Texas. 😵💫👨🌾😉
I grew up on camano! Lol
I know, I nearly lost an eye compressing a valve spring with tools.
Paul , This is Mike brruhn my brother steve was in the Vetter milage competition, it's great to see you still working with your project, brings back a special time in my life listening to his storys . Thank for sharing. Have fun keep up the good work
Thank you Mike. That was a great venue for the average JOE or JANE to compete in something that was way more than just speed.
Thanks for showing some of the process. Until now I've only seen finished things (well kinda) from you.
To keep the weight down I was pondering inflatable structures wrapped together with steel cables. Zeppelin people got a lot of interesting ideas.
Good luck!
DIY excellence 👍, "Flintstones reverse" 😅😅😅 I love it. Aptera's 400-600 MPGe is hard to beat but costs 25K, and is compatible with Openpilot, and solar charging.
I really think this idea is the way to go .. possibly with a small "pickup-truck" bed in the back for carrying some groceries or something that doesn't just fit in a small space. Very important to be ahead of the wave!
I love this build. I've always wanted to do a "big boy Velomobile"...
Hey Paul , I'm super impressed you rock . I just bought a vintage velomobile and I live in Seattle. I'm rebuilding slowly but don't have anywhere near your skill level . Your gas Trike is the most slick cool vehicle I've ever seen from a home builder .
Bravo 👏
Yes!
Are you talking about my old PAVO that I made about 15 years ago? That was my favorite to ride around in, getting about 25 mph with a 2hp briggs motor and 6 gears.
Wonderful seeing you again, paul. I am the original owner of a fully enclosed motorcycle called a Pulse auto cycle built in Michigan in 1990. Blessings
You are one of a few hundred who purchased a Pulse, Very cool. I was very impressed with the body shape. The builder I believe was an aero engineer who made these in a small production run. I give him credit for using the two balancing wheels approach. My question is how did the small balancing tires hold up to the constant scrubbing when contacting the road? It would seem the wheels would wear out fairly quickly.
@@paulwelkinsdiy The pulse and prior to that The light star( Bede) mine 1200 Honda goldwing. outrigger wheels do ware.
This never ceases to be amazing! Your creativity is awesome. Keep it up!!!
Tylko dzięki tak szalonym ludziom nasz świat jecze istnieje
keep a going Paul ......great build
I'm glad to see this project again! Now that you've extended the wheelbase, you can also extend the tail to improve the aerodynamics and give yourself more cargo area!
Thank you for another great video Paul! I always love seeing what you are up to and what's been percolating in that head of yours!!🥰
I like a man who appreciates the difference between squashed and squarshed.
Wonderful work sir!! I have a motto : “never miss an opportunity to reinvent the wheel”. You sir are the absolute master. I do hope that you keep developing!
Aptera is doing this at the mass produced consumer level. Sweet to see this build!
I stopped hoping Aptera Is would ever build a car years ago.
@douglundy5755 now that the founders took back the company they look like they got it. The tooling is done for the body molds. They have alpha, beta, and gamma prototypes. A really solid design and a lot of world renoun auto designers on their team.
@@Pyromancers Naw. The body design has massive blind spots in the A pillars.
And now they are going with direct drive (no gears) wheel motors inside covered wheels...can you say overheated motors.
They are trying to Musk their way to success by huge over-promising and so far under-water delivery. 100% solar powered? Full Self Driving...right?
Not even close! Did you notice this is powered by a motor cycle engine? This one has all the disadvantges of a motorcycle with all the disadvantages of a car. If all you do is commute around the island at 40mph, a motorcycle is great, aero is not a big issue, get a fairing.
And it fairly heavy frame. I mean its cool, but it isn't like the FUV, of course, it isn't $20k either.
@@murraymadness4674 I think you should look into it more. The entire vehicle’s drag is the equivalent of the mirrors on a Ford f150. It gets 700 watts of power in good sunlight and it’s structurally built like an f1 car. Average daily commute for people is under 40 miles so in a sunny region it wouldn’t need charging. The hub motors massively reduce weight as they remove the entire transmission system, so strain on the motors is low. The motors have liquid cooling. Pretty sure if you can cool an engine burning gas in an enclosed chamber, wheel motor heat is a much easier cooling problem to solve. Heat is dissipated from motors in the belly of car. Aptera has never claimed bullshit like full self driving or even self driving at any real level.
I've always enjoyed watching your projects, fascinating and educational. The various shelters, watercraft and even the tree stump gnome home, thank you for sharing with us.
You built a truly nice vehicle. Impressive.
I would love to see a modern Honda Cub engine used in this. Injection, a katalysator and hugh fuel efficiency. And a better muffler I guess.
Hello neighbor, from 'Little Detroit of the West" Auburn WA. Always love your designs Paul.
I helped build a California Commuter trike back in 1984. We used a Honda 160 twin and rode it from Auburn WA to LA CA and got 85 MPG but we did more than 55 MPH with a few runs up to 90 MPH. If you keep the front nose light then the twin rudder steering works very well. 1984's Glass over Foam worked OK but modern technics are much better. 3D printing and Carbon Fiber is now something a home hobbist can do.
@@davej3487 Dave.You are the FIRST person I've found who actually built a California Commuter from Doug Malewiki's plans! Would love to chat with you more about that experience if you don't mind.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Paul, I live down in Auburn so it would not be a problem of riding my Suzuki Burgman up to the Seattle/Everett areas for a coffee chat.
But I do not have any pictures of the build, all were given to the owner and I lost touch. I do have a set of plans that I bought 3 years ago so I am licensed to build 1 CC.
@@davej3487 I too purchased his plans years ago.It took me several decades to pay the price he wanted. I'm on Camano Island. I use to commute to Algona Boeing facility from Stanwood. Glad that didn't last long. Give me an Email if you'd like to get together some time. paulwelkins@yahoo dot com
I've been building this in my mind for the past 30 years. It's all most people need.
There was a 3 wheel car, I think an Elio, that was close to launch a while ago. I live in Australia and we are 10 years behind but I seriously would consider buying one if it was below $10k in my money new. My wife has a 5 door Focus which can hold all of us, I have 2 vehicles I use for work and I thought I would buy one of those for when I make small trips around town, to go to a friends house, or my mums, the doctors, etc. but unfortunately our economy cars are either Chinese rubbish, or too expensive, and to build my own car, even though I’m capable, it would never be allowed on the road without expensive certificates etc. but I really would like one of those Elio’s
@@thesausage351 Me too. Too bad they were a sham.
@@paulwelkinsdiy oh were they? I saw a bit of press for them but then they disappeared and I wondered what happened! That would explain it. Damn.
@@thesausage351Elio Motors collected 28 million in deposits, were gifted production facilities from the state of Louisiana worth tens of millions of dollars, and never produced a single vehicle. Would love a documentary about the Elio scam...
@@johnchristensen7785 wow! Basically a repeat of that other economy car from the 70’s, was it Dan or Dave or something? I think the inventor had a sex change and everything.
This is a beautiful job. Simple and beautiful.
This is a nifty project,great work! Thanks for showing us.🌞 Be careful,Sir!
Thanks for the inspiration !! You’re doing great things
Brilliant work on the wheelbase!
Looks great Paul! I've long since had to shelve my own reverse trike, as I'm away at grad school and don't have access to my workshop any more, but I always enjoy seeing your creations on youtube!
That is a perfect eco & ergonomic design, just beautiful.
Aerodynamics is a strange beast and like tuning engines for power, what seems logical doesn't always produce the expected results - I recall way back when the average drag factor of the average car was in the region of 0.7, the UK company BMC produced an economy family car styled by Farina and designated the A40 - A denoted Austin and 40 was the approximate power output of the engine.
The performance was surprisingly good to say the least, in spite of being vaguely brick shaped. In an effort to economise on build costs and minimise the sale price the designer had eliminated most of the traditional chrome trim and reduced the size of the gutters and by doing so had accidentally produced a car with a drag factor of 0.47.
That perhaps influenced Ford because in 1965 or thereabouts, their concept car, the Probe 3, was remarkable for having a drag factor of only 0.27, a reduction achieved in no small part by fitting the glass almost flush with the surrounding metalwork. Ford claimed the car gave a typical 1600cc performance from only a 1300cc power unit, though it wasn't until 1981 the concept car innovations appeared on their production cars.
I expect those side protection bars and maybe a few other things are really upsetting the aerodynamics...
There's lots of improvements that can be made on this second version, but for a low cost project I'm pleased with the outcome. To do it again I'd spend more money and get the good stuff, IE carbon fiber, chrome moly frame and re-design the suspension and....
@@paulwelkinsdiy I agree the low cost necessity is very hampering when it comes to one-off design and construction - if you had to do it again and chase the ultimate fuel economy, I think a different power unit would be advisable along with some work on different gear ratios. These days even some ordinary family saloon cars can return up to 60+ mpg (Imperial) even cruising at 70mph...
12 months later, looks like your carrying a little extra ballist now Paul.... 😉 Jokes. Machine still looks great. Good work.
Very cool little machine you built. I'd love to own something like this. Aptera is as close as I'll get as I'm not really a builder. Great build though!
I'm sure you know Aptera, and Elio, and now Aptera again are trying to bring something in this vein to the market. There are probably more I don't know about. I hope someone eventually figures out how to sell efficiency to the general populace. I love this Paul!
Thank you! The Lean Machine was a GM high mileage leaning enclosed teardrop trike prototype that hit the Worlds Fair in BC back in the 80's. It was the answer, but corp. leaders probably voted it down for a production run. It was way ahead of the curve.
I thought the Elio was a great idea. Basically a Honda Civic cut in half lengthwise with 3 cylinder engine and open wheel front end. The promise was to build it with all off the shelf components to bring it in at about $7000. Too bad the leader completely turned it into a scam.
@@drubru1969 Is that what happened? I always told my wife I'd buy a trike that met my expectations, and the Elio came real close. I too was waiting for production, but when an outfit asks for money up front from customers, nefarious dicks usually come out of the wood work, Eh?
Classic Paul reminds me of my pulse Auto cycle which can easily get 80 to 100 miles per gallon on the highway and she was built in Michigan in 1990 blessings to you and yours from Southern Oregon
Very much enjoyed the update, and thanks for the inspiration. Since you started this project I've been designing some designs in Solidworks for an electric reverse trike. I've done some designs using Aluminum, Mild steel and a hybrid monocoque plywood-steel design, and surprisingly plywood comes out a lot stronger and lighter less costly than either Aluminum or steel using Solidworks stress analysis and modeling. If you might like to take a look at the concept and chat or work up some Solidworks designs I'd be up for that.
You are a re-trendsetter. This will be a hit, like your bicycle bike trailer. Perfecto!
Very cool indeed, I like how you've made curves from flat sheets, excellent work.
If you started a bit later you might have gone electric only. I appreciate how much time and effort has gone into it.
Nice design. I'd paint it in high vis dayglo alternating striped colors and add reflective tape. Make the grocery compartment more accessible from the outside because you'll be using it a lot. Every trip I made I bring groceries home. Maybe make the cockpit canopy able to slide forward, backwards, or on a hinge, but not a big priority. The biggest problem with out of the ordinary designs like these are they are cop magnets. I like to tilt when I go through a turn, so I stick to motorcycles. But if I went electric I'd consider a three wheel design to support more batteries.
You built your own Elio...and didn't have to wait an eternity for one that you could drive.
ELIO is a great design. They should release it as a KitCar and let the competent people build them!!
I salute you sir from the bottom of my heart ! And wholeheartedly recommend you convert it into Electric power. To catch up with the zeitgeist + tap into the huge markets thirsting for it. If you need help, I'm a US expat living in China, and would lend a hand 👍
Paul is literally the coolest guy ever!
Thanks for sharing your fascination with your fellow earthlings. I had a memorable dalliance with wind-powered trikes and a saucy mig welder. Subscribed indeed!
This reminds me of the elf ( electric tricycle) and I love your ingenuity and creativeness.
I think this would work in Europe under the quadricycle law as a hybrid, electric front hubs for town driving, and a small petrol engine for open road driving.
Here in England you can build any vehicle for the road under " Single Vehicle Type Approval " which all kitcars and replicas have to go through...............
England is great for that. I know Dutch people shipped their projects to England to get it approved and then ship it back and have it legal.
Im glad I found this channel.
Last two weeks I was thinking about same concept: taking used (possibly wrecked) bike and making personal transporter alike. There are a lot of 250-750cc usee bikes for cheap on marketplace.
I d preffere Honda Shadow 750cc rear end, monocoque hemp plastic body spacious enough to sleep inside (to travel), yet small enough to park two on one parking spot. That would be a blast!
I love it when Paul makes a video on his genius project
Thank you!
The problem is everyone driving a cement Truck on their commute from their tax write-off alpaca farm to their city job.
The only problem is people pretending there's a problem.
Problem is giants want it you pay for gas cause they don't care stupid really
This would only make sense if everyone else was driving them. Otherwise it is a hazard to both its own driver and the other traffic. This is only practical for people who don't live in the real world. Who don't need to give anybody a lift, or who don't need carry groceries home. Back to the drawing board. 👍
@robinbrowne5419 sure sure but they also drive electric small scooter on roads and do you wana spend money on driving unnecessary heavy metals around all the time
There is plenty of space on that tricar
How much money you got for groceries
@robinbrowne5419 give a lift to bad people sure you I'll enjoy it😘
.got any money to spare or I'll I have to force it from you?
Gone of a bit shit
when you cut rear fork my first thought spring wont work anymore. also adding electric hybrid to power front wheels or just one wheel would give you reverse :)
The Morgan setup greatly benefitted by wider front stance and independent front suspension.
I'm building a similar model with a monocoque carbon fiber body powered by an electric motor. The front suspension, steering and brakes are from a Quad in an IFS beam type configuration so I saved a lot of time on that issue. Rear suspension is single arm motorcycle from a dirt bike, so a few time saving shortcuts, though, the body has been a big involved project. Kudos on your more involved build.
Engineering front suspensions is a science all by itself something I got involved in with several Sevenesqe(Lotus 7) type builds years ago. Just use Miata parts for those projects and benefit from the millions spent by Mazda on that engineering.
Haven't been to Stanwood since I had an engineering project in Seattle back in 2010 and was looking for a building lot there. Wonderful area.
awesome video for an awesome project. I hope someday to bring my dreams to life like this
You are an inspiration Paul...keep bringing your dreams to life.❤
Thank you Moose
I love piddling around and you’ve created a really cool ride
Paul, what about vacuum forming the body with one continuous sheets of clear Lexan? You could make form out of wood in your garage taking care to give all the complex curvatures a true tear drop shape deserves. You could even heat the Lexan yourself and suck it down onto the form using a couple of shop vacs with a little common sense and ingenuity. Right up your alley I bet. You could have the beautiful showroom floor shape that I am sure you have been dreaming about. By the way, RC car bodies are made the same way and are incredibly durable.
I've seen this done before when investigating blown windscreens, and remember the basics when working in a sign shop. Not sure I'll get around to it. I'm into simplicity and fluted plastic really helps speeds up my simple prototype builds.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Yes, that makes sense. This may make more sense if you were going into production and/or really wanted to reduce the aerodynamic drag forces as much as possible. For one off, prototyping & proof of concept, the coroplass is pretty awesome.
been following you for years. I have the dream of flipping the bird on the Big man and build also something eco-friendly.
It looks like a fun vehicle to drive.
Nice work. I'm trying to adapt my bicycle for a long winter commute. I remember you did a lot of things that might apply to my project.
Get velomobil.
They have suspensions now that lean into turns, that would be the cherry on top of this.
Good work dude and I think you build some type of robots that carry people to anywhere else that they want to go
I have personally thought about this same thing, and have followed your build... I am a little heavier than you, so everything would need to be a little bigger built.... I would use a different engine, something out of a quad, as it has 5 gears Forward and 1 Reverse and is Semi-Automatic....Auto Clutch but you still shift it like a Motorcycle...... much more efficient than a CVT or something like that (The Biggest mistake of the HMV Freeway)....Even my short trip to work on my very inefficient ATV gets 57MPG (at 45MPH) so with some aerodynamics...and one less tire, and a LOT less rolling resistance = 60MPG at 60MPH doesn't seem out of question...Sure beats my pickup truck!
Nice to see an update on your backroads speedster.
Like with most projects you find little improvements to make as time passes. Some come as why didn't I do that the first time?
INDEED! In prototyping, the third rendition usually is the best. I just might build #3 before I forget what I've learned.
@@paulwelkinsdiy yes need to get those ideas formed into something before they slip away.
I keep reworking my airplane design on paper...
Good fun, and definitely worthwhile experimenting.
Nice upgrades Paul.
Thanks. I still want to add a windshield wiper and re-configure the body panels for better weather protection.
👍 👌 Great job & hobby,sir.Ride safe & healthy. Thank you. 🇨🇦 😊
I think you just reinvented the Velorex.
Thats awesome you are still evolving your designs.
Cool project. Quality channel. Subscribed.
Thank you!
I love all of your creations.
Amazing project! Is there anything you can’t do?! Thanks for sharing!
Looking good Paul !
👋😄👍 Nice‼️ Be careful and do not get squashed like a bug!
Unfortunately, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians suffer that fate daily
What a lovely execution! I have one that is bigger, electric, and shaded by solar panels. I will make a video soon. Yours is simply beautiful!
Would like to see yours but I absolutely LOVE the gas-powered vehicles. Hope you will consider make a gas-powered vehicle as well.
Lovely. I would like to see this thing as a tandem seater. With a folding camper trailer!
Saw that exhaust pipe and had to click,knew it was a Yamaha sr185 engine!! Cool build!
I’ve grafted the same engine into one of my old bikes, selected because it was the cheapest complete engine I could find online, think I got it for $200 shipped few years back.
It is a great little motor. Plenty of pep and sounds good. I wish it had a 5th gear or a lower range 4th gear.
@@paulwelkinsdiy 5th gear would be nice
@@paulwelkinsdiy The little Lifan OHV 200 cc engines are now coming with fuel injection, they have a wide ratio transmission with 5 speeds, you can also get ones with 4 speeds and a reverse gear for quads. They also have a very potent alternator which can source up to 200 watts of 12 volt combined battery charging and AC headlight illumination power. I have to wonder though, and it's been asked a few times.. How do you cool this engine? It's going to overheat without a steady cooling air source. Is it something we're not seeing?
Awesome build. Very logistical and smart. Its about time someone made a rational commuter vehicle. Now 345 lbs? Id like to think we could get that down to less than 259lbs... Carbon fiber anyone? Aluminum maybe? Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
you need a leaning/tilting front suspension so that it leans into turns like a motorcycle. it would increase stability greatly. do that and it would be the perfect three wheel vehicle
check out the Wesll awd leaning quad
I would love to build a project like this. I know you don't do plans (I understand ) but if you could put some form of details into a list... such as tire size, type of suspension parts used, type of motor, wheel base (now), etc. it would really flatten the curve for my project. Thanks
Glad to see you are still tweaking it. I think a double A-Arm front suspension will get you where you want it.
Indeed. That, and a steering wheel are my next consideration, but due to the extreme narrow width I chose the wheel would have to be removable to get in and out. Rendition 3???
@@paulwelkinsdiy I dig the look of the current recumbent-like steering, but I can see how that would be tricky to get used-to / perfect for speed. Maybe you can tweak in stages and see if you can keep it, otherwise: Yeah, removable steering wheel is a good option, especially since it would be easy to fine-tune with various gearing (rack and pinion). As much as I hate yokes, that might also be a viable option. Best of luck.
Very cool! be to find an economical modern small displacement motor with fuel injection for better mileage, I’d want to investigate small turbos too
It would be a delight to meld minds with like minded people who have a better understanding than I of new fabrication tools and techniques like 3D printing and composites or race car design. There's got to be a ton of college engineers out there who competed in competitions of robotics or efficient vehicles.
I wish Canada (Ontario) would allow experimental vehicles! Great video.
That's a great effort... How long till Paul makes an extended version that's also a fully kitted out stealth camper?
Surely you need a vehicle weighing at least two tons to get one person to work.
With at least four empty seats, just in case.
It's called a bicycle 😊 Seriously I think most commutes made by people, alone in a two ton monster, are done in bike distances. But Pauls alternative is a cool thing!
Any island that doesn't have stupid US trucks should look at these kind of cars.
When I was a kid even full size trucks were smaller than the overpriced behemoths they make now, and Japanese small trucks became very popular. The reason we can't even get such trucks now is entirely due to govt meddling in the car industry, big government is always harmful.
If he lives in Hawaii, why they have not banned gas powered vehicles is beyond my understanding. They have more wind and solar and huge elevation change to use gravity storage.
If he lives in Bermuda...I'd say the same thing too.
I'm thrilled to find yet another motorhead who was inspired by Craig Vetter's experiments and competitions!
I liked the idea of his competition, but I"m not a great fan of motorcycles due to the safety issues, as people in my past and Craig himself can testify.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Understood! I'm living with the aftermath of a brain injury, the result of a very minor motorcycle accident.
@@tedpreston4155 I'm sorry to hear that. My brother rode Harley's and wore the peanut helmet. Took a turn on a railroad crossing. He was never the same.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Oddly, I was wearing ATTGATT (all the gear all the time), which is the normal practice among my riding buddies. I was decked out in full-face helmet, armored vest and pants, and heavy off-road boots. The accident (with another motorcyclist) happened within sight of my camp, and there was not a scratch on my bike, my helmet or any of my other gear. But it left a mark on my brain.
Paul I like this concept 👍 can you make a single wheel pull trailer for groser groceries? You did grate.
Well done sir, I too believe this could be the answer to many commuters dreams and have been working along similar lines (also for years now!). We should keep in touch if you like, always great to have a second opinion ! Let me know if you'd like to see my prototype narrow tilting car, it's based on a Chinese titling three wheeler (125cc) with a fibreglass shell I designed and had made, but the eventual (production ?) one will be electric of course.
Hey Roy. Would love to see what you've come up with. the tilting vehicle can be a bit tricky to design and use in real world conditions. Would be interested in seeing what you came up with.
wish our laws in oz down under let us have a homemade class of single seaters
If you check, you'll find that Home build trike conversions are perfectly legal in Oz.
This reminds me of the Eco-Exo trike that Exomotors used to offer. Theirs used the swing axle/ motor combo from a Suzuki Burgmann for the powertrain.
That too is a cool trike. Very simple frame. Not sure about the front wheel forks but it probably did save on creating a hub that supports the lateral forces.
Mom just enlightened me to your RUclips channel!
Of course I had to Subscribe! We are cousins after all. ❤
Hey Tylor! I was hoping to say hello to you on my visit to your mom's. Bummer! You have an amazing mom.
@@paulwelkinsdiy That I do! 😁 You also have an amazing cousin! 😉
💙
You need to look at the scrub radius and aim for neutral as the further you go away from that the more the vehicle self-steers and wanders, along with being unstable under brakes.
The scrub radius is the distance in front view between the king pin axis and the center of the contact patch of the wheel, where both would theoretically touch the road. It can be positive, negative or zero. The king pin axis is also known as the steering axis inclination. The scrub radius is affected by the wheel’s width, diameter and offset. The scrub radius creates a turning moment that influences the steering feel and stability, castor is also very important for stability.
I incorporated all of the Ackermann steering geometry into the kingpin inclination as best as my skills and tooling would allow. It's somewhat based off of Doug Malewiki's California Commuter build plans. No adjustment and a simple front suspension. I was running it a bit too positive in tow, so recently adjusted a slight tow in, and with the added wheel base the handling is much less twitchy at speed.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Positive castor angle is very important for stable steering and self centring of the steering when travelling on a straight and level road. And no need for a steering damper .Kingpin angle should be between 3 to 5 degrees for anormal car but since vehicle is so light I would suggest 5 degrees or even a little bit more will have more affect in creating a smooth handling car more so than lengthening the swing arm 6 inches .Keep up the good work you doing . Also look at what the cycleKarts community are doing .You might get some inspiration from those guys.
@@jameswalker8900 Love those guys! What a fun hobby for the average Joe! And yes, engineers are getting involved.
@@paulwelkinsdiy Draw out your suspension in full scale on the ground and work out the scrub radius as I have modified many cars over the years and the correct scrub radius has a lot of benefits. Mostly stability, lack of tramlining under brake and it reduces steering effort.
haha - that skull sticker will scare the truckers off! no worries!
I cracked when I saw him put that skull sticker on .. lol .. very funny!!
@@MerwinARTist I had to cover the little hole with something. It seemed appropriate. 😏
Nice Punisher skull!
@@boris1932 A great series too!
Amazing work.
Great to see the updates.
HM Freeway is a motor trike that was built circa 1980 in Burnsville MN. similar configuration as yours with a Tecumseh or electric engine in it.
That too was a vehicle I admire. Quite a few were made too. I could have bought one last year. Spotted one all worn out for sale on the side of the road side, but I had my beast.
@@paulwelkinsdiy The Honda 350cc... just a little nicer than a lawn mower engine
Excellent effort , viewing from 313 motor city Detroit Michigan USA 🇺🇸
Useful information. I draw a lot of things like this on Sketchup and put them on my channel. Subbed.
I wish i had the knowledge and ability to make things like this, always wanted to make something similar, but a little more like a camper. Im happy with 25 mph max
The BMW Bubble type shape is best. It`s short and less wind affect. Lot of room. Small wheels are in body and cause less drag than open wheels.
Aptera is making its come back!
I would like to believe this, but when? They haven’t released an actual production model yet, just the prototypes. It looks good, but I fear interest will fade and so will the company if they don’t get these on the road very soon.