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Raht Racer velomobile may let riders pedal "as fast as a car"
gizmag ^ | 2-23-14 | Ben Coxworth

Posted on 02/25/2015 8:40:08 PM PST by TurboZamboni

Instead of directly driving the wheels, the Raht Racer's pedals are connected to a unique flywheel generator that powers the vehicle's 20-kWh electric motor (located in the rear wheel hub). As with regular pedal-assist electric bicycles, this system senses the torque being applied to the pedals by the rider, then uses the motor to amplify it. In the case of the Raht Racer, however, it's supposedly amplified to the point that an average adult should be easily able to maintain a cruising speed of around 30 mph (48 km/h) – or over.

(Excerpt) Read more at gizmag.com ...


TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: velomobile
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To: TurboZamboni; Carry_Okie; tubebender; Grampa Dave; Phil V.; Amerigomag; Ernest_at_the_Beach

BOOKMARKED!!!

I designed (sketched) something almost identical back in the 1970’s that is still in my night stand by my bed! I had the flywheel concept in mind, but never incorporated the electric motor assist idea. Everything else but the erodynamic fairing was there but that! I hope the guy succeeds with it. I’m now too old and tired to compete with him.


21 posted on 02/25/2015 9:07:32 PM PST by SierraWasp (Help Stamp Out Pernicious Progressives and Arrogant Activists With Their Liberalism!!!)
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To: TurboZamboni
reminds me of “ginger” that was going to change the world

No, No, No!

This is totally different. The Segway is a $5000 replacement for a $100 bicycle. This is much better. Now, you can pay $35,000 to replace your $100 bicycle./sarc

22 posted on 02/25/2015 9:11:47 PM PST by j. earl carter
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To: KarlInOhio

When they can tell how it handles hills (my nemesis) I may listen. Anyone with a bit of leg strength can go fast on the flat.......


23 posted on 02/25/2015 9:17:16 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
Hah! I clicked on this thread just to see how many posts it would take to see such a graphic, and I was not disappointed! :)
24 posted on 02/25/2015 9:22:57 PM PST by Pox (Good Night. I expect more respect tomorrow.)
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To: TurboZamboni
I think I would still rather get an Elio at a cost of $6,800 that gets 84 miles to the gallon.


25 posted on 02/25/2015 9:31:51 PM PST by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: jimbobfoster

Go back and reread the sentence


26 posted on 02/25/2015 9:39:13 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: TurboZamboni

I’m going to PEDAL a 570 pound vehicle? Right.

9.2-kWh li-ion battery pack
20 kW motor
Range of approximately 50 miles with full charge with no human assist.
A trained cyclist can produce about 400 watts for an hour.
Adults of good average fitness average between 50 and 150 watts for an hour of vigorous exercise.

Say you did 50 mph and consumed all 9.2 kWh stored in the battery. The average weekend warrior could produce 0.4 kWh over that hour.
So you are contributing about 4% of the total power consumed. And you’ll be drenched doing it.
Summary: LOSER


27 posted on 02/25/2015 9:42:10 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible)
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To: TurboZamboni

It’s funny these things seem to be targeted for city people, but, you can’t plug your car or whatever if it’s parked on the next block. Your can drive it to work but you have to pay to park it like your car. I use a bike and when it’s cold out it’s cold but, it’s free. minus the tubes and tires and stuff. and you would be amazed at how many days it doesn’t rain when they say it will. as long as i can get to work dry, i ride, wet coming home so what. i save more money on not having to take a shower the next day.


28 posted on 02/25/2015 9:42:21 PM PST by kvanbrunt2 (civil law: commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong Blackstone Commentaries I p44)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Oops, 0.1 kWh, not 0.4 kWh. You’d be contributing 1% of total power. The other 99% is coal-powere.

Remind me again how this helps polar bears.


29 posted on 02/25/2015 9:46:16 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible)
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To: KarlInOhio

So it is really an electric motorcycle where I can pretend to add a little power to it.

...

I think in some states if you can pedal it, no registration is required.


30 posted on 02/25/2015 9:51:22 PM PST by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

...AND it would cost you $35000 to $45000!!

Who are the geniuses that came up with this lemon of an idea?

I agree with the others in this thread - get an Elio - if they can actually produce them with the specs and price they’ve advertised.


31 posted on 02/25/2015 10:00:11 PM PST by aquila48
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To: kvanbrunt2

In the late 40’s they came out with a Crosley that one of the neighbors on the block over had parked in front of his house. One night it was turned upside down.


32 posted on 02/25/2015 10:02:03 PM PST by mosesdapoet (Some of my best rebuttals are in FR's along with meaningless venting no one reads.)
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To: TurboZamboni
A few more "ideas":


33 posted on 02/25/2015 10:02:08 PM PST by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Robert DeLong

I you get T-boned in one of those its game over....


34 posted on 02/25/2015 10:11:49 PM PST by jsanders2001
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To: jsanders2001

No more so than Raht Racer, and the cost is about the same as an inexpensive coffin instead of the 35K to 45K price tag for the RR, which is almost as expensive as my corvette convertible. 8>)


35 posted on 02/26/2015 3:24:09 AM PST by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: RegulatorCountry

About like spending all day on a horse working cow’s in 100 degree weather. Some interesting smells are created.


36 posted on 02/26/2015 3:59:29 AM PST by Dusty Road (")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The Ellio looks like a Can-Am Spyder with a body.


37 posted on 02/26/2015 5:18:44 AM PST by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: TurboZamboni
The motor is 20 KW-h. That's roughly 25 horsepower. A superbly trained human athlete can only put out 1 hp for a short period of time. The human addition to this device isn't worth the added complexity and inefficiency, though it may be worth the added publicity.

As with every other enclosed electric powered vehicle, once you add the necessary heating and air conditioning, to make it useful for more than a few days of the year, its range becomes quite low.

38 posted on 02/26/2015 5:57:46 AM PST by norwaypinesavage (The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones)
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To: TurboZamboni

I really like the idea of the wide 2 wheeled front end, and rally for the licensing. This will change the way (at least some) bicyclists abuse their maneuverability in defiance of traffic law.


39 posted on 02/26/2015 6:22:39 AM PST by Blue Collar Christian (Ready for Teddy. Cruz, that is. Texas conservative.)
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To: TurboZamboni

I just designed a machine that once it’s started, it never stops. I’m going to use to power a process I just developed that will transform common lead into gold.


40 posted on 02/26/2015 9:10:01 AM PST by tbpiper
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