Alternative Cars

Ultra light weight, alternative power versions of todays cars:

First, Cars kill more people than anything else. Period. Between 50,000 and 60,000 each year just in the USA. 911 was ~3,000. Big deal.  In Y2K, it was estimated that the Economic Cost of Traffic Crashes was over $630 Billion USD.

• http://www.ksl.stanford.edu/people/kpfleger/auto/
• http://www.ksl.stanford.edu/people/kpfleger/auto/causes_of_death.html Written BEFORE 911
• http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/2003/html/table_02_01.html Federal statistics

And the #1 cause of accidents? "Pilot" Error: Why not build a Sane car that doesn't depend on the driver?

Also:

• Bicycle cars Welding a pair of Bikes together to make a small car.
• Bicycles
• Regenerative brakeing

Name	Size (LWH) / Curb Weight	Seats / Cruise & Top Speed / Range	Suspension / Steering	Brakes	Chassis	Drive Effiency / Strength	Power Source	Price: New / Used
Nano Car ^ A.K.A. "the 2500 car"	10' 2" x 59" x 63"	4 40-60mph? ?	4 wheel ?	?	metal mono-body	54+ MPG 50 HP	Gasoline Bosch 624 cc four stroke engine	$2.5k (not imported to the US)
Twike ^: Very nice, quick, light, pedal and electric power, regerative brakes. Not sold in the USA. No solar panels. twike.com twike.ca vmunoz.addr.com/twike/	8' 8" x 48" x 48" 485-550lbs	2 w/ luggage 30-52mph 50-25miles	3 wheel trike, independent suspension, struts front and rear Tiller w/ adj damping, turning radius 12'	F:mech disk (CH) or drum (D) R:hyd drum, parking, electrical regenerative	Aluminum space frame w/ roll bar. Thermoplastic Luran® S body.	5-gears w/ AC synch motor, Rated 4-6kwh / 60m, 10%pwr from pedaling, Starts on >20% grade.	Battery: Ni-Cd, 2-3kWh (1kWh blocks) Charger: 2kW (2hrs)	$15k-6k (not imported to the US)
Didik Sun Shark ^ how it was built ^ Brilliant! Solar & pedal power. Never put in production. didik.com/shark.htm didik.com/ev_build.htm	9' x 27.5" x 52"? 220 lbs - 600 gross	1 -50 mph -30miles	2 main wheels, 2 small ballance wheels which retract in motion.	? no regenerative brakeing	steel chassis and frame with a fiberglass body and blown polycarbonate windshield. Enclosed cabin, rain and wind proof.	2 motors, pedals	Solar: 8 amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells, 8% effecient, 22% more range. Battery: 2 high capacity, deep cycle, lead acid Human: Pedal	$2,500 (single prototype, never produced)
GO-ONE ^ http://www.go-one.de	265cm X 76.0cm X 98cm +/-28kg Carbon-fibre or +/- 32 Kg Fiberglass Track: 72cm Wheel-base: 135 cm	1 ? ?	3 wheels		carbon fibre backbone and shell		Human: Pedal Listed here because electrics are promised soon.	Germany and UK only
Rhoades Car ^ Available, well made, pedal with electric assist. Slow, no solar or regerative brakeing. cyclecar.com sunvee.com solar powered adaptation Bicycle cars	77" x 37" x ? to 108" x 55" x ? 75 - 125 lbs + 30 lbs motor + batteries	1-4 -18mph 30-60miles	4 wheels, independant front suspension handlebars or butterfly steering wheel	Hand operated. Standard drive; disc on left rear wheel. Positive traction, drum on left rear wheel. Optional rear brake on right rear wheel.  not regenerative	Jig welded, 2" square tube, powder coated. VERY well made.	24 volt 750 watt Powerdrive motor assist	Human: Pedal Battery:	$4,800 - 5,600 (2 seat, 4 seat electric not priced)
Corbin Sparrow FAST! No longer in production, no solar or pedal power nor regerative brakeing. mw.net/sparrow04.shtml myersmotors.com	x x 57"  1350 lbs	1 seat, 6cf trunk 50-75mph 60-20miles	3 wheel, Double A-Arm front, Single sided swing arm rear Spring over hydraulic shocks Tilt steering wheel, Rack & Pinion steering	All disc brakes not regenerative		Brush DC motor continuous "E" rating 25 hp (20 kW), 40 hp peak Cog-belt	Battery: 598lbs of Lead Acid motorcycle cells Charger: 7.02kw (6hrs@110v, 2.5hrs@220v)	$20k-10k (no longer made) May again be available from Meyers Motors ^ (Bible thumpers) as the MM NmG for $24,900 (plus tax, title and delivery)
GEM-E2 (also E4 or E6 4 and 6 seat models) http://www.gemcar.com Global Electric Motor Cars	99x70x55" 1,140 lbs	2 seats 15-25mph <35miles NEV: Legal only on streets posted 35MPH or less.	4 wheel standard	no mention of regenerative brakeing	?	5hp (12hp peak) DC motor	Battery: 6 12V Led Acid (options for gel cells available) Charger: 110V 15Amp	starting at $6,795.00 gemcar.com
Xebra http://zapcars.com/ Zap Cars	10x4.6x5' 1,441 lbs	4 seats 40 mph <25miles	3 wheel standard			DC	Lead Acid 110V onboard	$11,700 zapcars.com
Tri-Magnum rqriley.com/tri-mag.html	146-1/2" x 65" x 42" 1200 lbs	2 seats, >100mph 225m (4.5g @ 50mpg)	3 wheel VW Beetle front, Goldwing rear	Disc brakes	VW, custom, goldwing fiberglass over foam^	50mpg Goldwing MC engine. 6 cylinder, electric start and reverse. 5-speed, constant mesh, return shift (MC transmission)	Gasoline: 4.5g tank. (included here as some have been converted to hybrid)	$3500 + Goldwing + Labor + $99 plans
Trimuter ^ rqriley.com/tm.html	146" x 67" x 45" ~1500 lbs	2 seats, 35-60mph 60miles	3 wheel trike Front: Leading arm w/anti-dive geometry Rear: Independent semi-trailing arm	Drum front & rear	Custom welded. fiberglass over foam^	Baldor #7544	10 each, 6-volt lead-acid	~$3500 + labor + $95 plans
Heibao EV 2002
Solectria Force

See also:

• http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/842248593/roll-out-the-elf-to-your-city?ref=search The ELF is a peddle car with electric assist and solar panel re-charge. They don't say it, but I'm sure a trip to the store and back would require several days solar charging. Still... For $4,000 it's not totally insane with only a slight coat of greenwash.
• http://www.palmerind.com outdoor, moderate distance scooters. 13 mph, 40 mile range, 550 lb capacity, $5100.
• http://www.sunvee.com/ scroll down a bit for a nice comparison of small electric vehicles
• http://www.didik.com/criticalev.htm Very good overview / FAQ on electric vehicles. One critical passage (which I hope I can quote here without offending the author) is: "These batteries weigh more then normal car batteries and are designed to endure up to 2000 charges. Under normal conditions, this translates to about two years of use. A set of eight deep cycle batteries can cost as little as $800. When the cost of replacing the batteries and the cost to recharge the batteries are considered, the cost to run a small electric car (non-hybrid) is about three times more than a conventional economy gasoline car. Since the cost of electricity tends to more or less follow the cost of fuel, it is unlikely that this ratio will change in the future. Electric cars are fun to have and drive, but you will not save money, nor will you really help the environment." The page then goes on to discuss how best to build an electric anyway.
• http://www.massmind.org/techref/other/bikecars.htm Welding a pair of Bikes together to make a small car.
• http://www.microcar.org Microcar club.
• 

• http://www.solartrike.com $20 plans, $3200 parts + Labor, $3700 prebuilt. 18 to 30? mph, <10 mile range.
• http://www.sunfrost.com/batteryless_car.html Using a 150 farad capacitor in place of a battery to start a standard gas engine (Ford truck in this case) "The capacitor does self-discharge after several days, however, it is easy to keep fully charged with a very small solar panel (about six inches square) even when parked in the shade. A major advantage of the capacitor as a starting device is its potentially long life and its use of more environmentally benign materials as the capacitor contains no lead. The principal ingredients inside the steel case of the capacitor are activated carbon and potassium hydroxide. This mixture could be easily neutralized by a weak acid such as vinegar."
• http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/electricity_laws.html "Many federal and state incentives encourage the use of electricity as an alternative fuel. Select a state below to view electricity-related incentives and laws in that state." For example, the state of California may give you up to $5,000 if you purchase an electic car...

Tires:

• Costco