Urban Transport

The SPARTA ION CITYSEAT - intelligent electric-assist bicycle

By Mike Hanlon

November 23, 2006 Bicycles are a part of European culture, particularly in the flat countries of Holland and Belgium, and with well known Dutch brand Sparta celebrating its 90th birthday next year, and 75 years of motor-assisted bicycle production, the brand’s latest model is a logical development, albeit, a stylish and very practical one. Created for Sparta by internationally-renowned Dutch design company FLEX/INNOVATIONLAB, the EUR 1945 (US$2500) SPARTA ION Cityseat has the same classic lines of other ION bikes before it, but is equipped with electrical pedal assistance which can be activated at will by the rider with an extra “push in the right direction’. The Cityseat has a slightly longer frame which incorporates the 9 or 10-amp battery, with the pedals moved slightly forward and the saddle lowered for maximum seat comfort. The ingenious design – multiple frame sizes are available and an adjustable handlebar column - ensures ergonomics can be adjusted for every rider. Similarly, the ION’s compact and completely silent motor is hidden in the rear wheel hub so it looks just like a normal bike but provides pedal assistance to 25 km/h for up to 55 kilometres, and as much as 90 kilometres with the range extender battery fitted. The operating display on the handlebars handles all functions -, battery strength, pedal assistance setting lighting controls, speedometer, odometer and when removed, it disables the machine. You can switch to one of the three different power settings at the push of a button and the ION’s software even tells you when the bike is due to go to the dealer for maintenance. Like the Aprilia ENJOY we raved about, the ION has three different levels of pedal assistance to choose from, depending on the situation: ECO – The first setting provides comfortable support at a constant cycling speed, enabling you to get the best yield from the pedal assistance for leisure cycling or travelling to work. NORMAL – In addition to comfortable support at a constant speed, the second setting provides extra power when you set off. POWER – The third setting provides the most power under all circumstances and is mainly suitable when cycling in more adverse conditions, so you need to put in much less effort when cycling against a strong wind. Read More

Is the Sideways bike the big idea?

By Mike Hanlon

November 13, 2006 We’ve written about the sideways bike and its delightfully eccentric Dublin (Ireland) inventor Michael Killian before, and the response was so great that we thought our UK-based readers might like the opportunity to see plugging his invention on Sky One's The Big Idea TV show in a bid to win UKP100,000 next Saturday (November 18 at 9pm). The new prime-time series aims to discover the next great British/Irish invention or business idea. The bicycle is the world's best selling form of transport with 100 million sold each year – twice the number of cars sold - so a profitable niche market might exist for the more creative among us. Michael’s premise in building the sideways bike is that Left-Right balance is the most familiar and primary balance used for riding a conventional bicycle. Front-Back balance has little visual input and is the primary balance used in riding a surfboard, windsurfer and snowboard. Front-Back balance is a finer instrument than Left-Right balance and offers a greater degree of artistic freedom e.g. skiing (Left-Right balance) is faster than snowboarding (Front-Back balance), however people prefer to snowboard because of the greater artistic expression. Read More

The Fuel Cell Wheelchair

By Mike Hanlon

November 3, 2006 We’re growing more convinced by the day that the future of mobility does not look like the automobile – we suspect the old concept of lugging a few tons of steel around to carry one or two people will be seen as excessively wasteful very soon, and accordingly expect the market for short-distance, one and two person transport to offer a plethora of interesting alternatives. Like this one! Suzuki is showing an interesting fuel-cell-powered wheelchair prototype named the MIO to assess customer interest. The MIO features a fuel cell that uses methanol as a fuel source to generate hydrogen and therefore electricity. The tank holds 4 litres and that’s sufficient to provide MIO with a range of approximately 25 miles. There’s also an LCD display showing fuel level and power sources. Therefore, unlike wheelchairs that rely solely on mains charging of the battery, it addresses users’ fears of being stranded at some distance from their home. Read More

Another take on the future of mobility – the T3 MOTION

By Mike Hanlon

October 19, 2006 There’s no reason to assume that we have a clear picture of what the future of mobility might look like, even just a few years down the track, and the all-new T3 MOTION is different enough to challenge the notion of what personal transport could become. It was unveiled at the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the body which is most likely to benefit by employing the new beastie. The T3 costs just 10 cents per day to run, charges from a wall outlet, has a top speed of 25 mph and depending on how much you spend on batteries, will have a range of between 15 miles and 75 miles. With a cost of US$6188 plus US$1800 for the long-range batteries, we see a huge market for these machines in everything from paper delivery to security – most significantly it rapidly improves response times because it is potentially so fast from point A to point B where cars can’t go – shopping malls, in lifts, down corridors, pedestrian environments, beaches, parks, historical sites. And as far as personal mobility goes, it’s reportedly very easy to drive and could enhance mobility for our aging population. It looks like a bunch of fun too. Read More

Opel’s Flex-Fix integrated bike carrier system

By Mike Hanlon

October 5, 2006 General Motors recently debuted this innovative integrated rear carrier system for bicycles named Flex-Fix” in its new European-only Opel Corsa, but such has been the reaction that it will also offer the exclusive extra with the new Antara as of early 2007. The four-wheel drive crossover Antara is currently debuting at the Paris Motor Show and will be available at Opel dealerships in a few weeks. Opel now sets new standards in exterior on-board flexibility with the practical Flex-Fix system as it can carry two bicycles and be easily pulled out like a drawer from the rear bumper, so no tools are needed at all. Two major benefits compared to conventional bicycle carriers are the more convenient loading, as bicycles do not need to be lifted as high, and the fact that Flex-Fix is always available, because it is an integral part of the car. Read More

NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) technology set for pedal-electric hybrids

By Mike Hanlon

September 12, 2006 One of the many inventions with which the extraordinary Leonardo da Vinci is credited is the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), a technology that has only just come into common usage 500 years after his foresightedness was committed to parchment. NuVinci is a new highly adaptable and scalable variation on the CVT theme that looks set to make its mark – developed by Fallbrook Technologies, continuously variable planetary (CVP) NuVinci technology promises a practical and economical CVT for both human-powered and motor-powered vehicles and machines. The NuVinci CVP is applicable to any product that uses a transmission, including bicycles, light electric vehicles, agricultural equipment, automobiles and utility class wind turbines and an announcement overnight heralds the first use of the new technology by well-known electric-powered vehicle manufacturer Currie Technologies in hybrid electric bicycles and electric scooters which will combine the NuVinci CVP with the Currie Electro-Drive drive system. The first product will be seen before the end of the year and already looks set to give the pedal-electric hybrid bicycle remarkable new capabilities. Read More

BRP’s four-wheel EXIT Concept aimed at Gen Y

By Mike Hanlon

September 1, 2006 Gen Y consumers (14 to 23 year olds) are a complex lot, an intriguing market to attract. They are environmentally-conscious, thrill-seeking, competitive and they like to define their own counter culture. In seeking to address these fickle consumers, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) has developed an interesting new and innovative motorized recreational vehicle aiming to provide the highest fun factor with the lowest amount of horsepower. The BRP EXIT, is a 4-wheel crossover vehicle, positioned somewhere between a trial motorcycle and a BMX bicycle. Powered by a low horsepower Rotax 4-TEC engine, it is lightweight, small and simple with a high fun factor. To make it light and easier to handle, the frame of the EXIT is a minimalist steel centre beam known as a Surrounding Spar Technology (SST) frame, like the ones used on BRP's all-terrain vehicles, supporting an equally minimalist polyethylene body structure. Read More

The Standing Wheelchair

By Mike Hanlon

August 17, 2006 With Segway releasing its second generation design earlier this week, this Standing WheelChair concept showcased on CoolHunter becomes much closer to reality – indeed, we’d be very surprised if the remarkably fertile mind of Dean Kamen, who is responsible for both the Segway and the iBot hadn’t thought of this along the way given that the iBot morphs both concepts, and can be further extended to the four-wheeled Segway Centaur. Then there’s traces of BRP’s Embrio one-wheeler, Tommy Forsgren’s Hermes concept (still one of the most inspiring and appealing designs we have ever seen) and of course the use of Osmos’ wheel technology always adds a bit of sex appeal to any design. The

standing wheelchair allows people to stand upright. For those with full mobility, it looks like fun, for those who are handicapped in their mobility, such a device would be enormously empowering. Read More

Second generation Segway takes self-balancing technology to the next level

By Mike Hanlon

August 15, 2006 Segway has unveiled the second generation Segway Personal Transporter (PT) featuring two new and interesting technologies - LeanSteer and a wireless InfoKey controller. The new line includes the versatile Segway i2 and a cross-terrain model called the Segway x2, as well as six product packages tailored to specific commercial and consumer market segments and riding environments. LeanSteer in many ways completes the Segway PT control interface, making it even more intuitive and appealing. Now, all aspects of movement are controlled by the direction the rider moves their body. Lean right to go right, lean left to go left - the Segway PT responds as the rider naturally leans in the desired direction of travel, rather than using a handlebar grip for turning, offering an even more intuitive and enjoyable riding experience that is easy to learn. The advanced design of the new Segway PT and its sophisticated software allow it to differentiate between the rider's steering and changes in the terrain, keeping the rider in a stable and comfortable position when traveling over uneven ground. The new wireless InfoKey controller is an all-in-one key and information center. It allows the rider to set the speed of the Segway PT, and acts as the speedometer, odometer, trip computer, and battery gauge. The InfoKey controller also activates a security system when the unit is parked. If the device is disturbed while the anti-theft alarm is activated, the wheels lock and the device emits an alarm. At the same time a visual alert is sent to the InfoKey controller to notify the owner of the disturbance. The InfoKey controller is small enough to fit onto a keychain or be carried in a pocket. Read More

World MegaMarathon record – 5000 kilometres in 41 days

By Mike Hanlon

If you figured that Greg Kolodziejzyk’s 24 hour Human Powered Vehicle record was about as exhausting as it gets, you’ll need to have to lie down after this article. There are more dangerous events, but surely none tougher than the New York Megamarathon of 3100 miles (4989 kilometres) which has just been run and won for a second time by German Wolfgang Schwerk. Schwerk set out on June 11 with 14 other runners aiming to win the race and break his own world record of 42 days and 13 hours for the distance. Leaving his nearest competitor more than 100 miles behind him, he ran the distance in 41 days, 8 hours, 16 minutes and 29 seconds, breaking the record by 29 hours. Just to put all that in perspective, Wolfgang ran an average three marathons every day without a rest day, and averaged only three hours sleep each night. If it had not have been for the permanent heatwave in New York during the event, Schwerk believes he would have run a further 600 miles inside the race time. Read More

New 24 hour Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) record

By Mike Hanlon

July 23, 2006 Greg Kolodziejzyk has officially broken the world Human Powered Vehicle record (HPV) record, setting a new mark of 1046.94 km (650.538 miles), beating the previous mark of 1021.36 km (634.644 miles) set in 1995. “We celebrated with hugs, high fives, and champagne,” said an exhausted Kolodziejzyk, the second forty-something year old to set a world HPV record in the last few weeks. Our lead-up report to the record attempt can be found here. Greg was very gracious upon exiting CP1, thanking his family, the crew and the officials for all their hard work and enthusiasm. He was very pleased with the track conditions, and the fast pit stops, as well as the performance of CP1. See image gallery for record attempt shots. Read More

How far can a human travel under their own power in 24 hours?

By Mike Hanlon

July 15, 2006 Last week we reported on Fast Freddy Markham’s world one hour human powered vehicle record of 53.43 miles, set on a recumbent bicycle with carbon fibre fairing that resembles a torpedo – now think how hard it is to average 53.43 mph in your car and wonder just what the limits might be for human powered vehicles given our ever-growing understanding of science. Next week there’s a serious attempt on the world record human powered vehicle distance record for 24 hours. A similar eight-foot long torpedo-shaped recumbent christened Critical Power has been designed and built using SolidWorks and COSMOS software for the attempt on the 1,021.36 km (634.6 miles) record. Forty-something year old triathlete Greg Kolodziejzyk will attempt the record at Redwood Acres Motor Speedway in Eureka, California, sometime between July 19 and 24, depending on weather. To take the record, Greg only needs to average just over 42 km/h, which can be achieved with a continuous output of 110 watts – not much more power than that required for a light bulb. But he’ll need to do it non-stop for 24 hours. Great story! Read More

Cyclepods build a better bikerack

By Mike Hanlon

July 11, 2006 The problem with most public bike racks is that if you did lock up your pride and joy, you’d come back to find the wheels had been liberated. Cyclepods offer a unique cycle storage system manufactured from recycled materials, which allow eight bikes to be secured in a two metre diameter space, approximately half the space that traditional bike racks require for the same number of bikes. Cyclepods also encourages sustainability not by just being made from recycled materials, but also by encouraging people to cycle through design – the Cyclepod locks the bike frame and the wheels, securing the most expensive and highly targeted parts of the bike from thieving scumbags (yes, we lost one recently). Cyclepods’ founders, James Steward, 24, and Natalie Connell, 22, (pictured) recently won the UKP10,000 first prize at the UK final of the 2006 Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Awards. Read More

World human powered speed record - 53.43 miles in an hour

By Mike Hanlon

July 6, 2006 The world one hour record for human powered vehicles was broken early on the morning of July 2 when "Fast Freddy" Markham pedalled 53.43 miles (85.987 kilometres) in one hour winning the prestigious Dempsey - MacCready Hour Record Prize. Neither Markham or the Easy Racers Team he rides for are strangers to world records - it was Fred's 20th world record and recumbent bicycle manufacturer Easy Racers has set many more than that. The most remarkable thing about the record is that Markham, who was also the first human to better 50 mph, 60 mph and 65 mph, is just shy of his fiftieth birthday. Though he held the world one hour record on three previous occasions, Markham's win was an upset as the last time he held the title was in 1989 - 17 years ago. Previous holders of the record include Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Francesco Moser, and Chris Boardman, all much closer to their prime when they snared the title. Indeed, on the day Markham beat the previous world record holder of 52.33 miles, Sam Whittingham and other athletes attempting to become the "World's Fastest Man" such as Matt Weaver (Personal Best 51.42 miles), German Lars Teutenberg (PB 51 miles), and Slovenian Damjan Zabovnik (current European flying kilometer record holder at 73 mph). Shortly after the event, Markham acknowledged the ride as "probably my greatest performance ever." Fast Freddy, we salute you! Read More

Correction - chainless bicycle is not new

By Mike Hanlon

June 28, 2006 Last week we ran a story about the Dynacraft Dekra-D Drive bicycle which has a shaft drive shaft instead of a chain and hence offers less maintenance and greater safety. The problem is you see, that we said it was a new design and though several readers wrote to declare they’d seen such bikes previously, no-one actually proffered up a source until now. Reader Reggie Hill wrote to say that he’d seen a picture on ParisDailyPhoto blog and we looked and … to our enormous embarrassment, Parissienne blogger Eric Tenin had a picture of a bike built in 1899 with a very similar drive mechanism. We contacted Eric and he supplied us with detailed images of said bicycle, built by none other than the Peugeot Brothers, who went on to build an automotive empire of the same name. So thanks to Reggie, thanks to Eric and his great blog (if you can't be in Paris, you can at least check out the daily piccie), and ahem … sincerest apologies to the 174,304 visitors who have read the story in the last week and thought it was a new design.

sorry

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World's smallest and lightest foldable bicycle

By Mike Hanlon

June 26, 2006 Fold-up bikes are certainly not new though none to date have deserved the moniker “portable”. Most use the same heavy chain sets and bulky 16 to 20 inch wheels and traditional materials and are at best luggable. The A-Bike is a folding pushbike that is claimed to be small enough so that you can take it on public transport with a no-bicycles policy. The US$300 A-bike utilises automotive grade, engineering polymers for its structural components, saddle and handlebars and has a level of stiffness, fatigue and impact resistance comparable with aero-grade aluminium. By using these new materials, the A-bike’s weight has been reduced to just 5.5 kg (12 lbs), which is manageable for even slightly-built individuals. Whatsmore, it can be folded inside 10 seconds into a compact 26” x 12” x 6” (66 x 30 x 15 cm) package and has pneumatic tyres, so riding it will not dislodge the fillings in your teeth. In our opinion, the A-Bike looks to be the first viable foldable bike for those who wish to mix modes of transport and we see it as invaluable for yachts and motorhomes and campers where a simple vehicle for short-distances is a boon but storage space is limited. Read More

Bicycle design eliminates chain, derailleur and sprocket

By Mike Hanlon

Most childhoods would be incomplete without an incident involving lost skin and a bicycle. Indeed, given that the bicycle is the world’s favourite means of transport (more than 100 million bicycles are sold each year – double the number of cars) and they all feature a highly-efficient but potentially dangerous chain drive, we’d suspect that most people will have had an unfortunate recollection of an incident involving a de-railed chain, lost skin, grease and perhaps a destroyed garment or two. So we like the idea of a bicycle without a chain. US-based Dynacraft has introduced just such a beastie - the Dekra-D Drive bike has an internal drive shaft which offers less maintenance, greater safety and a cleaner solution than a conventional chain-driven bike by replacing the parts of the bike that cause the most problems and require the most maintenance - the chain and derailleur. Read More

Carbon fibre monocoque wheelchair

By Mike Hanlon

June 15, 2006 With the post-war baby boom now moving towards senior citizenship, markets for many specialised goods and services devoted to elderly needs are about to mushroom and one that’s certain to reach unprecedented heights is that of wheelchairs. The proportion of the population using wheelchairs increases sharply with age with roughly 3% of people over 65 using them and as an unprecedented number of fashion- and status- conscious boomers reach their seventies, designer wheelchairs and other mobility aids will be big business. Accordingly, when a manufacturer of WRC and Formula One race car parts turns his hand to wheelchair design, we expect there’ll be an equally exclusive market for high tech practical wheelchairs and the Trekinetic K2 launched at the UK’s Mobility Roadshow last weekend certainly fits that bill. Built by designer Mike Spindle, the K2 is entirely new in every respect. Gone is the old tubular frame, replaced with a carbon fiber monocoque based around the seat. Similarly, the layout has been rearranged with two large wheels with adjustable camber at the front and singular rear trailing castor for excellent stability and the ability to negotiate uneven (off road) terrain. It also has adjustable height via an adjustable nitrogen shock absorber, is extremely light, folds up for easy transportation in just a few seconds, has a unique brake-steer system, an automatic inbuilt umbrella and although it’s not cheap at UKP1800, it has no equal in the world of wheelchairs. Read More

SegSeats for Segways

By Mike Hanlon

June 13, 2006 The Segway is seen by many (us included) as a significant step in the history of personal transportation. We’re still waiting for the logical evolution of the Segway in the recreational vehicle mould (the outrageous Centaur Concept we dubbed the wheelie machine) but we’re still keen to see Dean Kamen’s next evolution of the Segway. In the meantime, we figure it’s worth mentioning the SegSeat – an accessory seat designed to enhance the Segway and mobilize the millions limited until now to scooters and wheelchairs. The SegSeat glides forward and back upon a braced rail, allowing sitting riders to emulate a standing rider's typical leaning movements that control the Segway. SegSeats are also collapsible, allowing standing riders to use modified vehicles without interference. Read More

MotorBoard to release 10 pound carbon fibre electric scooter

By Mike Hanlon

June 4, 2006 Personal electric transportation options are growing rapidly, and we expect this evolution to continue to accelerate as the early adopters evangelise the options, battery technology moves to the next, much-awaited level of power density and increased volumes drive pricing down. In the electric scooter area, one of the most acclaimed manufacturers is Motorboard. The company’s latest 2000X model has regenerative braking, a clever front suspension, folds up for ease of carrying, retails for US$449, weighs under 20 lbs, and goes up to 15 mph. Upgrades to the 2000X are imminent, including a larger NiMH battery, a space-age nanotechnology Lithium battery, and a carbon fiber version that will tip the scales at half the current weight. There’s also an official blog where those amongst us (guilty, yer honour) who figure you can always hack or tweak a better gizmo can learn and share their modification experiences. Read More

Segway usage by police and security growing

By Mike Hanlon

May 31, 2006 It started life with one of the most disasterous Public Relations gaffes of all time, but has been gaining ground ever since and it’s still one of our favourite toys. Late last year, Segway introduced its i180 Police package, which has become the basis for many of the purchases by municipal police and private security firms in recent months, with an order announced yesterday for 100 extra Segways from the City of Chicago. Worldwide, more than 125 law enforcement agencies now use Segway HTs to patrol a variety of environments, including high-density urban centers, universities, medical center campuses, shopping malls and airports. Another dozen federal and municipal agencies use the products for bomb squad response and explosive ordinance disposal. Read More

High performance electric-human hybrid bicycle

By Mike Hanlon

May 31, 2006 Electric bikes and scooters hold much promise in the future transport equation, particularly for short distance commuting, but one of the limiting factors is their rather sedate speeds and limited range. The Optibike is designed to overcome these obvious deficiencies with a range of 25 to 30 miles (40 to 48 km) and very clever microprocessor-controlled electronics and Shimano XT 7 speed Derailleur gears which enable the motor to be assisted by the rider at all speeds. This means the Optibike will run at 20 mph (32 km/h) on the battery alone, cruise at 25 mph (40km/h) with gentle pedalling and with some aggressive pedal assistance, run with the traffic at 35+ mph (60 km/h). For those who are prepared to settle for a shorter battery life of 30 minutes, the Optibike can have its top speed increased to 46 mph (75 km/h). Read More

Vespa's very sporty three wheeled scooter

By Mike Hanlon

May 18, 2006 Piaggio launched the first Vespa model in 1946, creating an iconic presence in the personal transport revolution that evolved in the following decades. Sixty years on, the Italian company has come up with another revolutionary product: the PIAGGIO MP3, a three-wheeler with two independent tilting front wheels that operate in a “carving” motion. The PIAGGIO MP3 provides safety, road grip and stability levels that no two-wheeler can match, with lean angles of 40 degrees or more possible from novice riders. Available in 125 and 250 forms initially, we’re licking our lips at the prospect of the 500 version. Extensive image library. Read More

The GEM 6-passenger neighbourhood electric vehicle

By Mike Hanlon

April 21, 2006 Now here’s a vehicle that we exect to see a lot more of. Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) has launched a six-passenger street-legal local transportation vehicle for shuttling groups of people. The top spec GEM e6S has a larger battery pack to extend driving range to 40 miles and a utility bed to carry passenger luggage and other cargo. It is designed for planned communities, airports, military bases, parks, resorts, city centres and educational, industrial and commercial campuses where ruggedness and continuous-duty and low cost of operation are an issue. GEM vehicles have a top speed of 25 mph, can be driven on roadways posted up to 35 mph, and meet all federal safety standards for Low Speed Vehicles. They are classified as zero emissions vehicles. Read More

The TRIX human-powered carving trike

By Mike Hanlon

April 22, 2006 UPDATED WITH NEW PICS The first prize at the 10th International Bicycle Design Competition in Tapei is a rip-snorter. A brief look through our powered three-wheeler portfolio shows we love trikes and the carving concept of steering in particular. The TRIX uses rack and pinion steering to offer a carving-like experience to human-powered trikes, removing the utilitarian feel of the flat turning arc of a rigid frame and replacing it with pure fun without removing the intrinsic cargo-carrying benefit of the three-wheeler. The steering also means a tighter turning circle and significantly improved manoeuvrability as it can slalom between obstacles and lean into curves like a motorcycle. As it is ideally suited to negotiate narrow, or congested streets, TRIX is ideal for city centre life and can be adapted to transport goods or become a space-age rickshaw with a single, front-seated passenger. Read More