JR: Prius gasoline mode: 45 mpg (Actual Atlanta in-town
performance Jed's car) Cost per mile: 5.2 cents
For you younger Vo's - and esp those on a eco-trip or severe
budget - who want to get that cost down to under a penny per mile
AND look better, feel better, and all those win-win things?
Yes, it lives. It is the *Human Electric* Hybrid Drive.
Now that spring is just around the corner - its time to consider
SUBs-4-SUVs - like "Greeny" here getting a recharge:
http://www.runaboutcycles.com/main/node/view/17
And let's not forget the "Stokemonkey". Too bad its got such a
dorky name, but I guess the marketing ploy is somewhat along the
lines of 'Smuckers'... "with a name like that.."
http://cleverchimp.com/
Stokemonkey is an electric motor assist kit for the Xtracycle
"Sport Utility" Bicycles (SUB ?) not to be confused with the
sandwich or 'das boot'). It is a great idea, but actually I have
found a local guy who is going to modify my bicycle along similar
lines but with a better twin-motor design - and for less.
The BP Outrunner 50 Amp is one of the more incredible small motors
on the market - check the weight:
http://slofly.com/cart/product_info.php?cPath=23_45_135&products_id=935
But the whole concept of a bicycle add-on trailer makes sense.
http://www.bikesatwork.com/index.html
Here is another one:
http://www.geocities.com/vancyclist/PT50.html
Xtracycle - or a well-designed trailer can give almost any bike
decent cargo capacity in addition to large batteries, giving you
the power to haul loads up steep streets or just swiftly across
town. It is a match made in eco-heaven.
Many electric bikes and trikes are designed for people who are, to
put it nicely, a bit on the rich and lazy side. The wavecrest
design was very pricey but has already gone belly-up:
http://www.tidalforce.com/
Their bankruptcy sale was yesterday according to the WSJ
But you can be both old, poor, and lazy <g> by converting an
existing bike - and my new two motor baby, drawing 100 amps has
got major torque for minor bucks. Alas, like so many 'not quite
ready for prime time' schemes' it is still awaiting the "bettery"
(better battery) ... but with a trailer rig, even an advanced
lead-acid is totable and will suffice until the bettery is finally
available.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/01/firefly_energy__1.html
These proponents don't believe in replacing human power with
electricity; but in replacing **cars** for most routine trips
(SUBs-4-SUVs) -especially for tasks that even younger and stronger
bicyclists seldom undertake on human power alone - especially that
trip to the grocery store, or to combine some routing chores when
you haven't gotten in enough exercise that day. Why tote around
6000 pounds of dead-iron just to pick up a quart of milk when you
can add years to your own life, help mother nature out, and be the
envy of all your couch-potato friends?
Not to mention - in a few states with better than average
weather - a car-free household is now a real possibility, allowing
those who want to become independent of cars to actually do it.
... or at least just to keep an old junker around for the
occasional emergency or longer trip- like today - too far for
cycling to Berkeley, the home-base for mean and lean transport
machines.
Jones
