Excerpts:
A minimal-sized human/solar-powered vehicle with a 3-5 person capacity. A slightly larger version is being formulated. It can travel in both directions, have side-by-side seating, like an automobile, and be fully open to the outside world. Each passenger has a desk, a computer, and a place to put food and drinks.
The CAT
Designed to accommodate a wheelchair, entering from either side or the rear. Passengers may stand/lean, or sit, and are provided with comfortable sashes to give them a feeling of security. 7’, expands to 11’. It can be used as a cargo vehicle. She was captured by a small army of felines.
The Half
A movable ramp enables wheelchairs to enter and leave safely and easily. Seating is provided by fabrics stretched between posts and can be put aside easily. Two seats are provided in front, so there can be two peddlers. It can be a traveling newsstand, with political cartoons from everywhere.
A Trike. 3’ x 6’ x 6’ tall.
This vehicle can travel, facing either the three or the six-foot side, either tandem-style or the more sociable side-by-side. The seats and wheels all pivot and move easily, to enable this to happen. It can be fairly wide open to the air or fully enclosed in a folding polycarbonate shell. It may carry three or more people if slightly larger. One drive wheel is an anchored-in-place, pedal-able unicycle, the other two are 10” hub-motor equipped, electric-powered wheels. Use in dense urban spaces is what is expected here, with a maximum speed of 15-20 mph to ensure safe operation.
Two wheels are all linked together so that when facing the six-foot side, with the pedaler steering, the two wheels turn together. When facing the 3’ side, the pedaler steers and the back wheels go straight, as in all trikes. Batteries are stored under the vehicle, which can be charged in place or slid out like a drawer and rapidly replaced. A solar panel acts as a roof as well as a source of power. The hinges are aluminum, covered by colorful fabric. Closings are Velcro and magnets. Seats are well cushioned and sprung, mounted on tubes that are anchored to the floor. They can be adjusted for height and face any direction. They also allow for the most comfortable, supported standing/leaning posture. Drive wheels are under polycarbonate covers. Passengers and operators are provided with utilitarian, movable “Desks”, connections to WIFI and including computers and telephone lines, and places to put food and drinks.
Current regulations in New York State demand that electric bikes and trikes be no wider than 36”, thus this design. Our next model will be slightly larger, 3’6” x 7’, essential to meet ADA requirements regarding wheelchairs. We are exploring the absolute minimum of space and materials that must be required to begin to accomplish these tasks. This device is not the only or necessarily the best answer to this challenge, but is, rather, a suggested first step in the right direction.
There is a 3/4” plywood floor, with 1/16” polycarbonate windows, some steel and aluminum and wood framing, stainless steel piano hinges, and solid brass hardware. This can be used as a personal vehicle, or for carrying passengers or cargo, as it is, without major modification.
Two 10″ hub motors and a unicycle:
Early development:
3’6” x 7’ model coming next
