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Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#21

Post by arethuza »

zik wrote: post #16

It's a velomobile. They're somewhat unusual but surely not so unusual that they're worthy of a newspaper article? There are quite a few manufacturers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile#Velomobile_manufact...

I think the news story is also that it was spotted on the M25 which is the orbital motorway round London that is quite busy and that it is, in fact, perfectly legal.

Edit: Also it is the BBC which has a track record of regarding unusual vehicles as entertaining:

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/top-gear-technology-cent...

From the 'review': "Against: The crash protection is a bit fleshy"

Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#24

Post by agurk »

vanilla-almond wrote: post #17
adrianN wrote: post #5

IMHO the future of personal transportation is vehicles like that. We don't have the space in cities to support 2-3 tons of steel per traveler, and plain bicycles are uncomfortable in bad weather, or when you are physically impaired. But small (electric?) velomobiles with three or four wheels are perfect for city commutes when cycling is not an option. They also don't need 15-20kWh/100km like an electric car would.

> three or four wheels are perfect Presumably, not like the three-wheeled Robin Reliant car that launched in the UK in the 1970s :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

To be pedantic it's a Reliant Robin (Reliant being the brand).

They actually are pretty stable vehicles, contrary to their reputation. For that clip you linked to it's like everything in Top Gear - staged for TV[0].

[0] https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/entertainment/news/...

Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#25

Post by hevi_jos »

gnikif wrote: post #19
adrianN wrote: post #5

IMHO the future of personal transportation is vehicles like that. We don't have the space in cities to support 2-3 tons of steel per traveler, and plain bicycles are uncomfortable in bad weather, or when you are physically impaired. But small (electric?) velomobiles with three or four wheels are perfect for city commutes when cycling is not an option. They also don't need 15-20kWh/100km like an electric car would.

The future of personal transportation is no personal transportation.

Only in totalitarian dystopias.

I have been in socialist countries with diesel buses traveling empty everywhere most of the time. Then at peak hours getting full.

The theory was that they are much more efficient, and they are when they are full and you are transported like cattle, not moving directly where you want, and having to wait for them.

Bicycles or motorcycles are much better for moving around the city.

Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#26

Post by [deleted] »

arethuza wrote: post #6
adrianN wrote: post #5

IMHO the future of personal transportation is vehicles like that. We don't have the space in cities to support 2-3 tons of steel per traveler, and plain bicycles are uncomfortable in bad weather, or when you are physically impaired. But small (electric?) velomobiles with three or four wheels are perfect for city commutes when cycling is not an option. They also don't need 15-20kWh/100km like an electric car would.

Such as the Renault Twizy? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twizy

[deleted]

Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#27

Post by Digit-Al »

arethuza wrote: post #21
zik wrote: post #16

It's a velomobile. They're somewhat unusual but surely not so unusual that they're worthy of a newspaper article? There are quite a few manufacturers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile#Velomobile_manufact...

I think the news story is also that it was spotted on the M25 which is the orbital motorway round London that is quite busy and that it is, in fact, perfectly legal. Edit: Also it is the BBC which has a track record of regarding unusual vehicles as entertaining: https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/top-gear-technology-cent... From the 'review': "Against: The crash protection is a bit fleshy"

M25 not M24

Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#28

Post by cm2187 »

vanilla-almond wrote: post #17
adrianN wrote: post #5

IMHO the future of personal transportation is vehicles like that. We don't have the space in cities to support 2-3 tons of steel per traveler, and plain bicycles are uncomfortable in bad weather, or when you are physically impaired. But small (electric?) velomobiles with three or four wheels are perfect for city commutes when cycling is not an option. They also don't need 15-20kWh/100km like an electric car would.

> three or four wheels are perfect Presumably, not like the three-wheeled Robin Reliant car that launched in the UK in the 1970s :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

aka Mr Bean's car

Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#29

Post by hyperpallium »

pjc50 wrote: post #12
arethuza wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Such as the Renault Twizy? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Twizy

I was also thinking of the venerable Sinclair C5. The downside to these is having all the (percieved and real) vulnerability of the cyclist as well. And they still need quite a bit of space for parking.

"26 years" is oddly precise, but the sinclair C5 was 1985, 34 years ago, so it's probably just how long he's served or something. https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_C5

BONUS "Micro Men" documentary/drama about Sir Clive Sinclair vs Acorn (from which grew Acorn RISC Machine -> ARM) https://youtube.com/watch?v=XXBxV6-zamM (1h 24m) "A man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?"

Re: Homemade Electric Motorcycle Stopped on M25 in Hertfordshire

#30

Post by narrowtux »

cm2187 wrote: post #28
vanilla-almond wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> three or four wheels are perfect Presumably, not like the three-wheeled Robin Reliant car that launched in the UK in the 1970s :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

aka Mr Bean's car

Mr Bean's arch-enemy's car
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