This weekend I happened to be in Asheville, NC, a charming mountain city that has a special municipal dump just for emptying out dangerously overfilled dream catchers. While there, I saw a fascinating vehicle tooling around the city, and managed to get a couple of pictures, which I now share with you, out of my own free will. Let’s see what this thing is!
It’s a strange, pickle-like machine, highly aerodynamic looking, and rolling on four wheels, so it’s not exactly a recumbent bicycle with a shell, as was my initial guess. It’s pretty close to that, though, and, thanks to a sophisticated vehicle-identifiying procedure known as “typing in the URL seen on a sticker on the thing,” I was able to conclude that this peculiar diminutive streamlined machine was a Velomobile Quatrevelo.
Velomobile appears to be a company that does specialize in making aerodynamic shells for human-powered bicycle or bicycle-like machines, and the Quatrevelo does appear to be one of these machines. It’s a clever, highly streamlined design, with a plastic aeroshell covering an 11-speed human-pedaled drivetrain that powers both rear wheels:
As you can seem there’s even a trunk at the rear, and the thing includes LED lighting, rear view mirrors, and other useful accessories.
I do think this one was different than the basic human-powered Velomobiel, though. It whizzed down the street with a speed and smoothness that didn’t feel like pedal power, and made a characteristic audible whine that suggested an electric motor was at work here. Also, that reflective area at the rear sure looks like the silhouette of a cat’s head.
I checked to see where that QR code on the upper fairing of the machine would take me, and sure enough it went to the URL for Velocite, LLC, a Western North Carolina-based company that specializes in selling electric motors for bicycles. In fact, this particular machine seems to be referenced on the site, and some details are given about it, including this video of what seems to be a similar vehicle, though I don’t believe the same one:
The one referenced to be driving around Asheville has a body of carbon fiber, an electric motor assist, and the owner has taken it over 60 mph?! Damn.
Also, I like the little optional kids’ seat at the back there on the one in the video.
The lack of a full windshield surprises me, from an aerodynamic context; wouldn’t leaving that cockpit open cause significant drag? And be really windy for the driver? I’m no aerodynamicist, but it does make me wonder.
This thing was getting a lot of attention on the street, and it’s easy to see why; it’s quite striking looking. I just like to see people driving weird, experimental things of almost any type, so good for you, carbon fiber, electric/pedal streamlined torpedo guy! I hope you have fun in that thing!
And, no I’m not going to comment on that bumper sticker. And not because of the deceased brain worm, either. But maybe a little.
It’s Pickle Rick’s car.
Will DT get this reference? If there is an over/under on this, I will go with under.
Dillightful!
I really want to own or build something like this, but no pedals. Just electric.
I have.
https://i.imgur.com/1KvhZN8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j75uGn7.jpg
It was 91 lbs. With coast down testing, the CdA value was estimated at 0.20 m^2.
I could pedal it in a sprint to 35 mph on flat ground without even using the motor, and could still do 20+ mph rolling averages with the motor disabled pedaling my ass off. In its last operational iteration, using the rear hub motor, set up for 10 kW peak power, it was able to do 0-30 mph in about 2 seconds, taking a V6 Dodge Charger in a stoplight drag race to abut 35 mph before the Charger overtook me. My 46.8V pack limited my torque curve and top speed, and had I ran a 72V pack at the time, I might have done 0-60 mph in under 8 seconds. Top speed on a full charge with the 46.8V pack was 50 mph, dropping to about 45 mph as the voltage went down.
Range on the 1.5 kWh battery was 150-200 miles at 30-35 mph cruising speeds. I could take a 200 mile trip from St. Louis to Kansas City for pennies.
It is currently being upgraded with additional hub motors in the front wheels. I have a 72V Molicel P42A battery pack I put together that will be configured for 20 kW or more peak power with AWD and 400+ Nm of torque.
I’m working on a more streamlined body that encloses the front wheels, and the goal is 80 mph flat ground cruising speeds on under 3 kW from the battery. In theory, the acceleration will be able to fuck with a Dodge Charger Hellcat. Well see.
Already has hydraulic disc brakes up front and DOT rims and tires, with roll cage and safety harness. Targeted complete weight is under 120 lbs.
It will still be pedalable with the electric drive system disabled as a “bicycle”. But using the electric drive system, its legality will vary depending on jurisdiction. I have a switch to limit the electric assist to 28 mph/1 horsepower where class 3 ebikes are defined. Some places, I could remove the limit, and still legally be a “bicycle”.
Oh hell yes.
Hey Toecutter 1st I love your hybrid hpv/ev velomobile.
Did you build the underlying tadpole trike yourself? If not what trike is under the shell?
And the shell what material did you use? Is that cloroplast?
The trike is a KMX framekit purchased from Utah Trikes. A custom gas shock suspension designed by a mechanical engineer has been added for the front and rear, widening the front track and extending the wheelbase. That body was made of coroplast.
The next body is being made with the same material, except curved with a heat gun and wrapped in carbon fiber/bonded with resin, and with a chrome molybdenum steel roll cage.
If you see this and don’t think Toecutter, you haven’t been hanging around the comments section long enough.
I want to build an actual microcar off of this design archetype. Something that has ridiculous acceleration to compete with hypercars, can be built for the cost of a moped, cost under $20/year to fuel, while providing most of the comforts and conveniences of a normal car.
I saw one of these a few years ago on a bike trail near Cincinnati, but it was all bright orange. I was convinced the dude had just ridden here from Whoville.
And in addition to being a pickle enthusiast, this guy is probably also a single/divorced anti-vax conspiracy theorist.
60 MPH on a bike like that is probably fast enough to kill a bear without having to stage anything.
It would probably kill the operator too.
I assume the bumper sticker Jason refused to comment on has something to do with this. (I’m not bothering to skip through the video looking for it.)
It may be a bumper sticker, but the owner didn’t put it on the bumper (I’m assuming it’s the one visible on the cap/cockpit hood in the top shot).
Ah, missed it entirely. Thanks!
This looks like an early prototype of Ace and Gary’s car
Due mostly to aerodynamics a lot of velomobiles kinda sorta look like Ace and Gary’s car 😉
Asheville, NC. Nashville, TN. Does anyone else ever wonder if Nashville started out as North Asheville then got shortened to N.Ashville and evenutally Nasville or is it just me?
Since they’re 4.5 hours apart, no.
4.5 hours east-west
It’s just you.
Toecutter goes mainstream.
I’ve been wondering where he is re this, figured he’s been busy, out shaving his tires down by hand or something.
Same.
Looked into https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World's_Fastest_Indian
a year or so ago, and didn’t find any confirmation that he shaved his tires as depicted in the movie. Half believable, fully nuts.
I’ve been busy with my job at an engineering firm and helping my disabled mother. Time to do much of anything is scarce.
Ah-hem I have it on good authority that he was busy re- vulcanizing his tires 😉
Before I read the text, I was pretty sure Jason had stumbled across some old French Le Mans racer.
This has “Panhard” and “Rene Bonnet” written all over it.
In invisible lettering, of course.
Local dude here has a running, driving Panhard – just saw it at cars&coffee yesterday in fact.
Can confirm, it is similar size to the pickle (only slightly wider)
Sure wish I could post a picture!
It’s giving me strong ‘Richard Scarry character does hillclimb’ vibes
Check out the Panhard CD Peugeot 66C. 0.13 drag coefficient.
If a stock-engined Miata had THAT shape and adjusted its final drive ratio appropriately, it would top out at over 200 mph and get like 70+ mpg cruising 70 mph on the highway. Throw in a VW 1.9L TDI turbo diesel in place of the Miata’s gasoline ICE, and you’d have an inexpensive-to-build 100+ mpg supercar that can fuck with Vipers and Corvettes.
See Casey Putch’s Omega sports car:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idF6qQR_ws4
This sort of design is the path to inexpensive EVs with 250+ miles highway range using small batteries otherwise appropriate for a “100 mile range city car”. The auto industry is ignoring this sort of efficiency in favor of planned obsolescence and profit maximization, and their EVs are deliberately unrepairable, locked by proprietary software, squandering all of the extra energy that went into making them vs ICE cars. Electric SUVs and trucks are a complete misapplication of EV tech.
An EV, properly designed, should be able to last a human lifetime and millions of miles, and be the greenest possible transport. Tesla is the closest to achieving this ideal, but the tech bloat of their cars is what makes them unrepairable. The rest of the automakers scrambling to catch up to Tesla are worse. A good EV should be as analogue as possible. The only electronics should be in the control system and charger. There shouldn’t be any screens, and everything should be accessible and repairable with basic tools. Non of this is rocket science and the tech of the 1990s was good enough for mass market EVs.
The way EVs are currently designed, they are often worse for the planet than ICE cars. This is on purpose, because the auto industry isn’t about making the best possible cars or saving the planet, it’s about extracting as much money from people as possible, using the threat and force of government to do so.
When the industry inevitably crashes, there should be NO BAILOUTS.
Whoo hoo hoo! Look who thinks they’re a big dill! I bet he’s always acting like a gherkin cutting everyone off!
I mean, that’s cool. But one time we’re were having dinner downtown here in Asheville and a dude drove by on the sidewalk driving a piano he was playing.
If you were here for any kind of meet-up, I’m sorry I missed it. I would have gladly taken the time to shake your hand and tell you how much I have enjoyed your writing over the years.
Asheville is a fantastic city. I hope you enjoyed your visit.
Pedal power? Electric motor? Carbon fiber shell? This is a big dill!
I don’t want to die in a fiberglass pickle.
That sounds like it should be a Violent Femmes song.
Let me go on
Like a pickle on the run
OR Arlo Guthrie
“I don’t want a pickle
Just want to ride on my motorcycle”
I just wanna ride my motorsicle.
Why is there ALWAYS a Breton flag randomly popping everywhere around the globe?
Re: windshield aerodynamics
It’s suboptimal but I don’t think it’ll impact the overall performance a lot.
Also gives a bit of fresh air to someone padeling into a plastic can…
And I was about to ask for the Gwenn ha Du too 🙂
I know right? Feels like they pop up everywhere!
Whoa. I didn’t know you could do emoticons in italics. 🙂 🙁 😛
Monday morning hangover emoticons.
EDIT: the website has completely mangled my input, and there appears to be no option to delete my comment? Great work guys.
So noted! Thanks for educating this old fart! I get the gist despite the mangling.
Also, if you want to delete a comment, we usually just click edit, remove the text and replace it with “…” or “(deleted)” or something like that.