A velomobile or bicycle car is a human-powered vehicle, enclosed for protection from weather and collisions. They are virtually always single-passenger vehicles. They are derived from recumbent bicycles and tricycles, with the addition of a full fairing (aerodynamic shell). There are few manufacturers of velomobiles; many are homebuilt. Some models have the operator's head exposed; this has the advantage of giving the operator unobstructed vision, hearing, and some cooling, with the disadvantage of being more exposed to weather. Similar vehicles that aren't human-powered are instead called microcars. Three human powered vehicles: the Gossamer Albatross II and two bicycles. ... Tandem recumbent bicycle manufactured by BikeE A recumbent bicycle is a variety of bicycle which places the rider in a seated or supine position (rarely, in a prone position). ... Antique tricycle 19th century tricycle used in Iran A tricycle (often abbreviated to trike) is a three-wheeled vehicle. ... The wing root of a simple aircraft, an American Aviation AA-1 Yankee, showing a wing root fairing A fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and to reduce drag. ... A Messerschmitt KR200. ...

History

Cab-Bike

Waw

go-one3

The bicycle car probably originated in the 1930s and like the microcar they flourished in post-World War II Europe. In Sweden a design called Fantom was sold as blueprints and became very popular, over 100,000 copies of the blueprints were sold, but few were actually completed. In the 1980s Fantomen was rediscovered by Carl-Georg Rasmussen who built a redesigned version called Leitra. The downfall of the bicycle car came when economy improved and people chose motorised transport. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... A Messerschmitt KR200. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... A two seat open top Fantom. ... The Leitra is a velomobile, a speedy, shielded recumbent bicycle for use in diverse weather conditions, and has been in commercial production in Denmark since 1983. ...

Recently, some velomobiles have been converted to provide electric-assist. Electric assist means that a small battery operated electric propulsion system is provided to assist the driver's leg muscle effort. Most Electric-assist propulsion motors are of the inwheel design, such as the Heinzman electric motor or the Bionx. While an electric-assist unit does add extra weight to the velomobile, it is somewhat offset by the flexibility it also provides, especially during hill climbs. The Leitra is currently the commercial velomobile in production for the longest period of time — since 1983. Other manufacturers include Cab-bike, Velomobiel.nl and Alleweder, the go-one and Flevobike. The Leitra is a velomobile, a speedy, shielded recumbent bicycle for use in diverse weather conditions, and has been in commercial production in Denmark since 1983. ... The Cab-Bike is a velomobile that has been in production since 1998. ...

All current velomobiles are produced in low volume. The only attempt at a mass-produced velomobile which was in the mid eighties flopped. This was the Sinclair C5. The C5 was a delta trike with electric assist designed to be massed produced and sold for a low price. The C5 was poorly designed; it was heavy, had only one gear and had no adjustment for the distance between the pedals and the seat which is important to get a comfortable pedaling position. The C5 gave proper velomobiles a bad name. It is debatable whether the C5 was a velomobile at all. Sinclair C5 Launched in Britain on 10 January 1985, the Sinclair C5 was a three-wheeled personal transport battery electric vehicle invented by Sir Clive Sinclair. ...

Additionally in the 1970's the PPV or People powered vehicle was produced. It was a two seat, "Sociable" tandem with a steel sub frame and molded plastic body. It was actually well designed, and relatively light, though weighing over 100 lbs,(a recently restored version weighs 131 lbs) but had flaws in the execution that doomed it as a practical, every day vehicle. Positive features such as easily adjustable and comfortable seats, independent pedaling for both passenger and driver, adequate cargo space and relatively good weather protection could not overcome the negative features such as a complex, heavy and badly spaced 3 speed gear box, ineffective brakes, and pedals that slid on sleeve bearings on steel shafts which made it difficult to use as an everyday vehicle. The PPV, or People-Powered Vehicle was a 2-person pedal car introduced in the United States during the oil crisis of the early 1970s. ...

Characteristics

A homebuilt Velomobile built from corrugated plastic

Ped-3

Alleweder Velomobile

A practical velomobile has many competing requirements. It should have as many of the following characteristics as possible. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 2. ... Corrugated plastic also known as Twinplast, Corriflute or Coroplast is plastic sheeting with a similar make up to corrugated cardboard. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 1. ...

• Light weight.
• Good visibility for the operator (clear front vision is especially important, but a 360 degree view is also desirable).
• Good maneuverability (steering, braking).
• Safety in collision and over bad roads.
• Good ventilation, including a windscreen defroster. This should be adjustable for more cooling in warmer weather.
• Many gears; a vehicle that is heavier but more aerodynamic than a bicycle needs a wider gearing range than a bicycle.
• Good aerodynamics.
• Good suspension.
• Reliable operation.
• Strength: wheels, brakes, transmission, need to be more robust than on a lightweight bicycle.
• Cargo capacity suitable for everyday shopping.
• Low noise, for both the comfort of the operator and safety in traffic.
• Multiple tracks (tricycle or quadracycle design) for safety and practicality in slippery weather.
• Easy entry and exit.
• Good lighting system.
• Good visibility to others (reflectors, horns).
• Low price.

Quadricycle (also spelled quadracycle, quadrocycle) is a four-wheeled vehicle. ...

See also

• recumbent bicycle
• Bicycle
• Cycle rickshaw
• Human-powered transport
• Quadricycle
• Tricycle
• velotaxi

Tandem recumbent bicycle manufactured by BikeE A recumbent bicycle is a variety of bicycle which places the rider in a seated or supine position (rarely, in a prone position). ... For other uses, see Bicycle (disambiguation). ... A betchak and its driver wait for a fare in Bandung, Indonesia Rickshaw in Hamburg. ... Human-powered transport is transport of person(s) and/or goods powered by human muscle. ... A modern touring quadricycle - a 2007 model Rhoades Car 4W2PCP Coupe two seater Rhombus layout quadricycle (1886) Coventry Rotary quadricycle (1885) A Quadricycle is a four-wheeled human-powered vehicle. ... Antique tricycle 19th century tricycle used in Iran A tricycle (often abbreviated to trike) is a three-wheeled vehicle. ... Rickshaw in Delhi, 2005 Velotaxi (Germany), 2005 Asian Rickshaw, 2005 Cycles Maximus, UK A velotaxi, also known as a pedicab, cycle rickshaw or trishaw (from tricycle rickshaw), is a human-powered vehicle for hire, usually with one or two seats for carrying passengers in addition to the driver. ...

References

External links

• Velomobile Comparison Tables
• Open Source Velomobile Development Project from the IHPVA
• The Velomobile as a Vehicle for more Sustainable Transportation - Extensive history, discussion and analysis of velomobiles.
• Human Powered Vehicles at the Open Directory Project
• www.velomobiles.eu
• 12 velomobiles with pictures and videos