That said, it’s very fun to go fast! I recently put a large hub motor on a small bike, loaded it with four small car batteries, and took off down a dirt path. A grin involuntarily formed on my face. After all my ranting against speed here I was enjoying it.

I agree with you about trying new technology. Our current most visible traffic control technology is the traffic light. I have always felt that traffic lights benefited motorists at the expense of bicyclists and pedestrians. I was pleased to find this idea confirmed in the book Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City. Another point this book makes about traffic lights is that they were never really scientifically confirmed to be the best solution to the problem of congestion. And in fact people have recently shown that in some contexts traffic flow actually improves when you take out traffic lights. Without traffic lights motorists are forced to pay attention to each other, and negotiate with each other, as pedestrians do. I think we can remove traffic lights and use other methods to control traffic based on new technology such as cell phone signals. Within a city, a radio signal can enforce a 25mph speed limit. Because they are going about the same speed, eBikes and NEV automobiles can ride together rather than get in each others’ way. (In this futuristic scenario gasoline-powered vehicles have been phased out ) However, in the country the speed limit signal can be increased to 45mph. If two cars are approaching an intersection at the same time, the signal will require them both to slow down so that they can negotiate the crossing. I agree this seems a bit big-brotherish, but my point is that what we have now doesn’t work for us slow moving vehicles. If we as a society want to embrace slow moving vehicles we need to change our traffic control methods. We have the technology, we just don’t have anyone thinking about it creatively yet.

You seem really concerned about these goofy laws. Three wheels vs. four, the arbitrary wattage and speed limits…
And yet you have no quandaries at all about challenging the cultural and infrastructural status quo.

I say build the best mousetrap, and people will change the laws rather than allow the spectacle of an obviously superior product being banned from roadways.

To that end, I’d say safety is key. Rollbars and airbags.

I think in the end, the ideal ends up looking like a cross between
http://www.smartusa.com/electricdrive/
and
humancar.com
and a transcontinental solar racing cars,
and a recumbent tandem like Kurt Ritchie’s Beast: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92904566@N00/799316939/

I still think human power should provide a big portion of the power. 250W isn’t out of the question, and a set up that engages more muscles (like rowing, as used in the humancar) could well obtain much more. With the aero advantages of fairings and reduced frontal cross-section, I think you could easily get well over 30 mph on flats with no motor assist, then hit the 1000 W motor on uphills to keep the speed close to a constant level of 30 mph.

I’m thinking lots of carbon fiber, but that can be expensive for homebuilders… I don’t know how one could have decent crash protection while keeping weight down, without synthetics.

Another alternative is to introduce even more technology into current cars, so they drive themselves and communicate with each other or some central grid. They could draft off each other, reduce crashes, and avoid congestion. Not the same human-centered experience, and in fact even more alienating, but at least it cuts down on environmental impact and fatalities, so maybe we can move both directions at once?

http://eco-fueler.com/

A little different but still cool and forward thinking.

alas the only production velomobile with capacity for a passenger i’ve seen is the ~30K$ Twike.

i know that a stoked velomobile with 200-mile assisted day range and substantial cargo capacity is imminently feasible.

Now I see it as an alternative to a car. There are more errands you can run, with less effort.

What about crazy light cars? VW recently had a three wheel prototype that got 100 MPG+ and a 0-60 in 5 seconds or something stupid fast. IIRC, I read it would fall under motorcycle registration because of the trike layout.

Maybe think along the lines of a 3 wheel pedal car, but with assist. Recumbent seated would be best for handling. With three wheels, weight is less of an issue because of tipping. Sealed Lead Acid batteries are pretty cheap for watt/hr/$$ factor, but heaviest for watt/hr/mass. Somebody has to have a go-cart style three wheel frame out there that can be rigged for pedaling. Some Avid BB7s with big rotors can easily be rigged to a hand brake on the steering wheel/bar, even doubled up for the front brakes.

Okay, you got me thinking…. now i just have to learn to weld.