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Velomobile's

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  • 05-01-2021 10:40pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭


    Anyone know of any places in Dublin that sell electric enclosed Velomobile's :confused:


Comments

  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,572 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    is a velomobile a brand or another term for a fully faired recumbent?
    there'd be an utterly tiny market for them here anyway; i suspect it's not worth any shop's time to list them (and deal with after sales support)


  • Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭STEE


    They are similar to recumbent bicycles, pedal go-karts and tricycles, but with a full fairing (aerodynamic or weather protective shell) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velomobile


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭cletus


    Your link suggests that there are a small number of manufacturers, and that some of them are diy'ed

    It's unlikely you'll find a bricks and mortar supplier, even less likely for an electric version


  • Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭STEE


    I found this lol It’s called a Raht Racer, or just Raht. Raht is an acronym for Recharging Anthro-Hybrid Transcycle. https://kronfeldmotors.com/ Would this be legal in Ireland ?


  • Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭ridelikeaturtle


    From what I've seen of them (and admittedly it's very little), they're sweet bikes.

    "Legal"? Who knows.

    If you're looking for a confrontation on the road, I cannot think of a better way. It's a slower than a car, faster than a "traditional" bike (arguably), but still a bike, and completely entitled to use the road, so screw everybody.

    I'd have one in a heartbeat.


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,572 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    STEE wrote: »
    I found this lol It’s called a Raht Racer, or just Raht. Raht is an acronym for Recharging Anthro-Hybrid Transcycle. https://kronfeldmotors.com/ Would this be legal in Ireland ?
    it's a motorbike. and may not even meet the regs for motorbikes.

    it develops 45kw, so is 180 times more powerful than the limit for e-bikes. and weighs 250kg.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,415 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    I'm surprised there aren't more covered bikes to be honest. Similar to the above, but just peddle powered. Even some type of bakfiets with cover for the cyclist would probably sell well.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,945 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    I'm surprised there aren't more covered bikes to be honest. Similar to the above, but just peddle powered. Even some type of bakfiets with cover for the cyclist would probably sell well.

    adds a lot of bulk and wind resistance, for fairly marginal benefit (it doesn't rain that much, whereas it is quite often windy).


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,415 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    loyatemu wrote: »
    adds a lot of bulk and wind resistance, for fairly marginal benefit (it doesn't rain that much, whereas it is quite often windy).

    That's true, it's easier to just wrap up properly. I would have thought their gimmick appeal would be high though.


  • Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭ridelikeaturtle


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    I'm surprised there aren't more covered bikes to be honest. Similar to the above, but just peddle powered. Even some type of bakfiets with cover for the cyclist would probably sell well.

    If the roads weren't such a violent environment for cycling, there would be more interest. As it is now, however... a car, truck, or bus would literally run you off the road within the first few kms.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭STEE


    Is there any type of enclosed electric vehicles you can drive on the road that do not need a licence, tax and insurance ? or is anything electrical considered a MPV ? like would the only option be an enclosed mobility scooter then... Heh lol but, thing is I'm not physically disabled


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,945 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    STEE wrote: »
    Is there any type of enclosed electric vehicles you can drive on the road that do not need a licence, tax and insurance ? or is anything electrical considered a MPV ? like would the only option be an enclosed mobility scooter then... Heh lol but, thing is I'm not physically disabled

    something like this?
    https://www.grantsinclair.com/en/iris-black.html


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 20,420 Mod ✭✭✭✭Weepsie


    I'd imagine a recumbent with a bit of modification is the best bet surely


  • Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭STEE


    loyatemu wrote: »
    Yeah I was looking at them the other night They are pretty sweet tbh for "No license required 14 years+" but, the price is ridiculous They cost 5,930 euro :eek: better off buying a car then lol Would they be considered as an MPV in Ireland ?


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,572 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    The raht racer you posted about earlier in the thread is $24k. A faired recumbent well be a few k anyway I think, add a motor and you add a grand to that. What you are looking for is not going to be cheap


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,572 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    just a warning (and this is genuinely intended to be friendly) - please don't talk any more about your business offerings in the thread as boards frowns on this usage (advertising/discussing your business for potential commercial gain), but if users want to PM you directly, i cannot comment on what i do not see!


  • Registered Users Posts: 16 g7sxb


    just a warning (and this is genuinely intended to be friendly) - please don't talk any more about your business offerings in the thread as boards frowns on this usage (advertising/discussing your business for potential commercial gain), but if users want to PM you directly, i cannot comment on what i do not see!
    oops sorry. Deleted it. My bad


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,572 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    it'd be fairly easy to exceed 25km/h on a recumbent, though, and maintain it? i can see the benefit of them on long spins, but if you're regularly exceeding 25km/h, i don't see much benefit from electrifying one (bar tackling hills).


  • Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭STEE


    Would a three wheel enclosed tricycle be legal in Ireland ? You don't peddle it. Its like an electric mobility scooter but, no limited to 8 mph. They go about 20 + mph They are basically a Tuk Tuk with a windscreen, roof and side doors Here's what I mean https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/closed-cabin-scooter.html


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,945 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    STEE wrote: »
    Would a three wheel enclosed tricycle be legal in Ireland ? You don't peddle it. Its like an electric mobility scooter but, no limited to 8 mph. They go about 20 + mph They are basically a Tuk Tuk with a windscreen, roof and side doors Here's what I mean https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/closed-cabin-scooter.html

    it would be legal if it was registered and insured, like a moped but that might not be possible. It wouldn't be covered by the eBike or mobility scooter exemptions I don't think.


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,572 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    as per the above, it would not be classified as a bicycle. it'd probably need licence, tax, and insurance unless it fell into another category i'm unaware of. it's more like a fast golf buggy.


  • Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭STEE


    loyatemu wrote: »
    it would be legal if it was registered and insured, like a moped but that might not be possible. It wouldn't be covered by the eBike or mobility scooter exemptions I don't think.

    Cool That would be great if it was legal :D The link I posted has them for a cheaper price but, they are all from China I think. So, shipping might cost a bit but, I found a pic of one of these things from an Irish website called Go Mobility Ltd https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x48670b4e6000f701%3A0x21b6845e5a1813d7!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNSWhefUBPgq2S6Nox56voBMkLLqWOygRuBJFn0%3Dw325-h218-n-k-no!5smobility%20scooter%20car%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipNSWhefUBPgq2S6Nox56voBMkLLqWOygRuBJFn0&hl=en when I googled "electric mobility scooter" I asked them about the pic and they said "it does not fall under the mobility scooter category due to it's size So we no longer carry it. Sorry" I asked what it was called and he said its called Monster So I googled it and found these UK sites selling it https://ecobilityscooters.co.uk/product/monster/ https://www.mobilitypower.co.uk/product/monster-2/ Its says in the Questions and Answers section "Do I need a driving license or Insurance?
    All our scooters are class 3 mobility scooters. They can be driven both on roads and pavements and you do not need a driving license, insurance or road tax. Green Power scooters are both road and footpath legal. But insurance is highly recommend for your own protection." One customer says in a message "Please note while it does 4-8mph It has speed settings that make it more akin to a three-wheeled scooter or moped and can be registered as an Invalid vehicle with the DVLA" Which all sounds great to me :) but, Whats the story with these in Ireland ? Would it be the same as in the UK :confused:


  • Registered Users Posts: 184 ✭✭mitchelsontour


    They tried this in the USA but it seems to have failed.

    https://organictransit.com/


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,572 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    STEE wrote: »
    Cool That would be great if it was legal :D The link I posted has them for a cheaper price but, they are all from China I think.
    you might be better off asking in the electric vehicles forum; very few of the vehicles you've been asking about are bicycles in any form.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,767 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    STEE wrote: »
    Is there any type of enclosed electric vehicles you can drive on the road that do not need a licence, tax and insurance ? or is anything electrical considered a MPV ? like would the only option be an enclosed mobility scooter then... Heh lol but, thing is I'm not physically disabled

    This was in the news a few months ago:
    https://electrek.co/2020/02/28/citroen-ami-cheap-electric-car/


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭triggermortis


    Have you seen Twike? They were quite popular in Zurich when I lived there


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,480 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    tomasrojo wrote: »

    Not going to be legal for a 14 year old in Ireland though ,
    It's classed as a quadracycle in france so the same class as a renault twizzy ,

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



  • Registered Users Posts: 8,480 ✭✭✭Markcheese


    https://youtu.be/CxUyPjvkqZ0

    The podride was all over the internet a few years back , but I've no idea was it ever built commercially , or what bracket it'd fit into legally ,
    The big advantage I could see in it is that since it looks like a small car ( and is similar height ) that motorist would treat it as one , wether you could use it easily or legally on a bike lane is another matter ..

    Slava ukraini 🇺🇦



  • Registered Users Posts: 11,767 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    Markcheese wrote: »
    The podride was all over the internet a few years back , but I've no idea was it ever built commercially , or what bracket it'd fit into legally ,
    The big advantage I could see in it is that since it looks like a small car ( and is similar height ) that motorist would treat it as one

    Doesn't seem entirely impossible. I get a lot more driving courtesy indicative of fellow feeling when I'm on the cargo bike than on a smaller bike, and I assume part of it is that it's sort of half a car.


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