Electric Velomobiles: as Fast and Comfortable as Automobiles, but 80 times more Efficient
solar.lowtechmagazine.com
About a quarter of the existent wind turbines would suffice to power as many electric velomobiles as there are people.
  • frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml
    6·
    2 months ago

    I feel there’s probably some reasons they haven’t become popular.

    • Don’t turn as nimbly as a bike

    • Can’t put them on your shoulder and carry them indoors, onto a train, etc. like as a bike

    • Don’t climb hills as well as a bike (source)

    • 20× the cost of a bike, maybe that could be brought down by economies of scale if they were more popular

    I could imagine a velomobile being preferable if you’re commuting from a satellite town to the city, and the journey consists of a long straight road.

    I’d definitely say they’re worse for getting around the city, and their comparative advantages are bought at the price of significant extra overhead.