World’s Smallest Car.
I came across this interesting YouTube video the other day and thought it could be an interesting concept to modernize. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1fGxk2r-bY to see it. The car featured in the video is over 40 years old! While viewing the video, I had one of those “light bulb” moments. As I see it, the problem with electric bicycles, scooters and the like is the lack of weather protection. Why not make an electric tricycle with weather protection? I envisioned a vehicle similar to the video subject with an electric motor for power and lightweight LiFePO4 batteries for an energy source. It could have a simple aluminum frame with a lightweight body of fiberglass, or, even better, carbon fiber. Since this body would be for weather protection only and not load bearing, it would be light weight and simple to build. Given the relatively short distances this vehicle would usually travel, even a heater could be optional, as the driver could “bundle up” to drive it, but not to nearly the extreme that I’ve seen on bicyclists and scooter riders the last few days. As it would have only three wheels, it would qualify as a “motorcycle” and not be subject to all the safety standards of an automobile. I can see this as an AFV Lab project. What think you?
Tags: Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Alternative Fuels, Electric Bicycles, electric-motorbike