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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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at least the spandex would be hidden in the shell.
1 posted on 02/25/2015 8:40:08 PM PST by TurboZamboni
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To: TurboZamboni

Enclosed cabin, no climate control, pedaling away? It’ll smell like a gym locker in there inside of a week. Interesting concept but the execution leaves me thinking they’d be better off with a targa top or something to let more air inside.


2 posted on 02/25/2015 8:44:00 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: TurboZamboni
at least the spandex would be hidden in the shell.

How then will they attract the attention of other guys?

3 posted on 02/25/2015 8:44:26 PM PST by fso301
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To: TurboZamboni
If used in throttle-only mode, in which the rider does no pedaling, it has a range of approximately 50 miles (80 km). Full-out, throttle mode will take the vehicle to a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).

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

4 posted on 02/25/2015 8:45:08 PM PST by KarlInOhio (Darth Obama on 529 plans: I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.)
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To: TurboZamboni

spandex is so ghey.


5 posted on 02/25/2015 8:45:29 PM PST by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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To: TurboZamboni

That actually sounds pretty amazing.

Too pricy. But a cheaper model would make a lot of sense for personal transportation, in certain situations, in certain places.


6 posted on 02/25/2015 8:47:00 PM PST by EternalVigilance (Fire 'em all.)
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To: RegulatorCountry; All
Here's the second design they're thinking about:


7 posted on 02/25/2015 8:48:44 PM PST by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: TurboZamboni

Can I get a clear one? With the CO2 build-up and all that light I could grow a bed of kale in it.


8 posted on 02/25/2015 8:49:56 PM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: TurboZamboni

A modern, high quality bicycle is pretty efficient.

I find it hard to believe it would be more energy efficient to run both a motor and generator and have less energy loss than a modern chain drive.


9 posted on 02/25/2015 8:50:36 PM PST by jimbobfoster
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To: EternalVigilance

expensive toy you can’t use half the year here in MN.


10 posted on 02/25/2015 8:51:45 PM PST by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: TurboZamboni

A toy for the rich to go to the convenience store in Phoenix. Imagine driving one of these contraptions right now, in Minnesota.


11 posted on 02/25/2015 8:53:51 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: TurboZamboni

12 posted on 02/25/2015 8:55:35 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: 9thLife; MinuteGal

Stick with an Elio. Infinitely more cool 3 wheel auto, practical, and a heck of a lot cheaper. Google Elio, and check it out. You’ll like what you see.


13 posted on 02/25/2015 8:57:29 PM PST by flaglady47 (The useful idiots always go first)
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To: RegulatorCountry; TurboZamboni

Elio Motors and the Three Wheeled Car - A Moonshot Project ($6800, 84 mpg)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3119736/posts


14 posted on 02/25/2015 8:58:29 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

And if you die in it, they take the wheels off and it’s your casket.


15 posted on 02/25/2015 9:00:10 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: jimbobfoster

reminds me of “ginger” that was going to change the world.

a freakin Segway. yeah. now mall cops are even more hilarious.


16 posted on 02/25/2015 9:00:33 PM PST by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: TurboZamboni

$40k a copy and that’s the best they can do?

Back to the drawing board.


17 posted on 02/25/2015 9:01:07 PM PST by SaxxonWoods (Life is good.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

That’s way more reasonable.


18 posted on 02/25/2015 9:01:40 PM PST by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: TurboZamboni

Good mpg and very car-like.


19 posted on 02/25/2015 9:02:16 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: TurboZamboni

Add a small Coleman generator and it would be a handy way to get around :)


20 posted on 02/25/2015 9:03:15 PM PST by Squawk 8888 (Will steal your comments & post them on Twitter)
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