Bricycle: an electric recumbent bicycle
Click above for more images of the Bricycle Concept
A man by the name of Brian has taken an interesting approach to designing an eco-friendly vehicle to replace some of the single-passengers cars driving all over the roads in America, and he calls it the Bricycle. Using three wheels -- one up front and two in the rear -- the Bricycle allows human power in the form of pedaling along with forty-eight volts of electric assist at the front. The rider/driver sits in a reclined position inside a canopy of composite bodywork. Brian's design also features twenty-one different gearing choices for the operator.
While a vehicle such as this will likely never see mass-market appeal, it would serve to eliminate a certain amount of traffic and allow those who would choose to ride to work anyway an opportunity to do so with some weather protection. Additionally, the concept shouldn't be too expensive to recreate after the initial design work is complete. We like it.
Gallery: Bricycle concept
[Source: Bricycles.com via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Killroy 1:39PM (8/03/2008)
I have been interested in electric assist velocars like this for a while. The best way to conserve energy is only take what you need. A 3000 lb car burns a lot of energy moving its own mass around while you are just trying to move the weight of yourself.
I would put the two wheels up front for better stability and aerodynamics. Research pressure recovery. Also, round off those edges.
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Nick 3:37PM (8/03/2008)
I love the concept, but 'Brian' obviously has zero sense of styling
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Hans Wurst 6:18PM (8/03/2008)
Before re-inventing the wheel, feel free to peruse your favorite Internet search engine.
This thing is a velomobile, they already exist, with electric assist and all.
I did a bunch of research on them 3.5 years ago but ended up riding a normal bicycle through that summer, and buying an electric car before the 9-month rainy season in Seattle.
I think velomobiles can be fun if you like to be a fanatic of sorts, but would only ever become appealing to the masses if the materials and technology would allow them to weigh pretty much nothing, and let as much air in as you wanted, without creating more drag than you'd experience on a normal recumbent.
If I lived in a less rainy and more bicycle friendly place, I'd probably get a tricycle recumbent, and maybe, just maybe, just for the fun of it, I'd even mess with creating a light-weight shell for it (there are lots of examples on the web), but that wouldn't be because I'd actually believe it would be practical for anything other than doing something silly and loving it.
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Richard 10:36PM (8/03/2008)
Velomobiles are ugly, this has class. I'd like to see a four wheel version though, as it makes for more stable of a ride, but i'm sure a heck of a lot cheaper than a velomobile!
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joseph 3:41AM (8/04/2008)
Richard, have a look at this website for a good looking velomobile
http://www.flevobike.nl/content/view/25/55/lang,nl/
J
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goehring 2:12PM (8/04/2008)
There's always twike.
Pricey, but they are actually on the road.
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Edwin Austin 6:44PM (8/04/2008)
I look at this and I think of Jimmy Durante and Barbara Streisand but I can't figure out why.
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