see Toyota personal mobility vehicle
http://www.gizmag.com/go/2314/
i am working on a method of doing this with my BugE
redesign
kEVS
--- Jeffrey Blamey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Actually my design is both upright and low slung.
> Let me elaborate,
> the pivot point at the rear will actually shift
> through the use of
> screw motors to make the wheel base shorten making
> the car more
> upright and nimble for city driving, and lower for
> highway. I didn't
> create the idea, I am adapting it from a dream car
> Renault built.
> Visibility is a major consideration. I am going for
> low CG by placing
> the battery pack at the lowest point in the frame. I
> am not going for
> recumbent low, like the Scorpion, I have no death
> wish.
>
> The Aptera looks very like much the cars designed
> for the solar
> decathalons, very much like an airplane. Don't get
> me wrong it works.
> I am not tearing it down, just not my cup of tea,
> and definitely
> material-wise out of my budget. As I get closer to
> an exterior design
> I will share it with the group. It will be more
> style vs. aerodynamic.
>
> Cheers,
> Jeff
>
> On Dec 23, 2007 12:00 PM, John Fisher
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Jeff in considering a vehicle very similar, but a
> notch lighter than the
> > BugE, a high powered three wheel bicycle
> essentially, the visibility
> > problem came up. Nobody in my informal poll would
> get in a recumbent
> > vehicle and ride in traffic, including some
> serious cyclists. So a
> > recumbent, low drag body raised above the ground
> is a pretty darn good
> > compromise. With the state of roads, super-low is
> problematic anyway. Or
> > I'd build a BugE style vehicle and damn the aero,
> or maybe make it
> > movable from low-slung to upright. Once you give
> up pedal-power, the
> > aero disadvantage at speeds below 50 mph seems
> less important than the
> > safety. ( of course I have already left behind all
> the cage drivers who
> > want airbags, guard rails and 500 lb bumpers)
> >
> > Good luck with yours.
> >
> > John
> >
> > Jeffrey Blamey wrote:
> > > The... My preference is to enclose the front
> tires in a
> > > roadster body work and a lower center of
> gravity.
> > >
> >
> > > I am working on a less aerodynamic two seater
> design utilizing torsion
> > > bar front suspension from a mini-pickup, and a
> mono-shock rear
> > > suspension, the motor weight near the pivot
> point but on the swing
> > > arm. Vehicle weight goal around 1200 lbs. 12 AGM
> batteries to keep the
> > > cost/weight low. 30 mile range and top speed of
> 65. Composite body
> > > over a tube frame.
> > >
> > > Jeff
> >
> >
>
>
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