Human-Electric Hybrid Velomobiling 101

What a fantastic time we are living in. This is an era where incredible technology and modern philosophies about energy conservation and pollution free transportation are working together to make the seemingly impossible possible. For those who embrace an active and healthy lifestyle, are concerned with the welfare of our planet, and like to go really fast I present to you the sport of Human-Electric Hybrid Velomobiling.

I have recently had the pleasure of acquiring the first production e-Hornet Velomobile from Bluevelo and it has literally been a life changing experience. This compact electric assist vehicle has in most situations replaced both my car and my road bike to become my primary means of both transportation and sport riding. Commuting 10.9kms to work used to take me 14 minutes by car. My e-Hornet commute is instead a 25 minute petroleum and emission free experience with the added bonus of an awesome feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment. Heading to work is mildly uphill and seeing as I don’t want to sweat much I tend to go fairly heavy on the throttle of the Power in Motion electric motor. Keeping true to my personal philosophy of “human-electric hybrid velomobiling” I pedal along with the motor at a comfortable cruising pace to both conserve on the output of the battery and get my blood flowing. Even though I could easily go the distance at a governed speed of 32kph without so much as a turn of the pedals I have vowed to never ride the Hornet in that manner.

I find cars are very respectful of my space and feed me endless smiles and thumbs up as they pass. I’ve gotten very accustomed to riding in harmony with in town traffic as my assist motor affords me very quick acceleration from traffic light to traffic light. Getting back on topic my commute home is a very different animal from my ride to work. No longer concerned with my body temperature or energy conservation, sometimes I chose to forget the motor altogether and speed home aux natural so to speak. Other times I’m feeling all about the speed so I pedal gently with the motor during the inclines and under acceleration and really put the hammer down on the downhills or with any tailwind. Most my ride home is spent in excess of 40 and even 50kph in these cases. The feeling of exhilaration when you throttle off and propel yourself  beyond the limiter of the motor is completely indescribable. I’m going to loosely define this style of high speed, short distance riding as “Sprint Hybrid Velomobiling”. The mission is to complete a relatively short distance at the highest speed possible in a vehicle still classified as a legal bicycle with no concern for battery power conservation.

Their is another breed of HEHV (human-electric hybrid velomobile) rider who is concerned less with maximum short distance speed but instead is using these incredible vehicles to efficiently complete long distances at average speeds that are untouchable by road bikes or non-electric assist velos. For now I will refer to this riding style as “Endurance Hybrid Velomobiling”. By combining the rider’s own strength and endurance with an electric assist, the door is opened for riding in any conditions including very hilly terrain and even massive climbs. As always what goes up must come down and nothing descends faster than a velo leading to unheard of average riding speeds. There are a few great places to read about actual experiences of endurance hybrid velomobiling. Please take the time to check out this link to a post about a rider’s 30 mile commute in mountainous terrain. (click) It’s a great piece about how a rider in an electric assist Quest Velomobile balances his own endurance with battery conservation to complete a tremendously difficult ride.

I will continue to follow and report on the evolution of this great new sport as more people join the hybrid velomobile community. Please contact me with your own stories and videos and together we will work to increase the awareness of alternative energy transportation that really works. Thanks.

 

Velomobile Pro for Business. A Fresh New Media.

Here is a great new advertising media. It’s so good because the impressions are very high in numbers like a rolling billboard with a giant bonus. Everyone that witnesses a velomobile fly by remembers the moment like they just saw their first Ferrari or Lamborghini. Viable human powered electric assist transportation in a world in need of a better way to get around. Check out this pic.

Spiaggia Velomobile

This velo was invited to ride in the Easter parade on the main street of the Beaches area of Toronto passing by Spiaggia Trattoria restaurant. I was recently invited to be a part of the “Keep Winter Cool” event for March break in the village at Blue Mountain in Collingwood. Last year they featured a solar powered D J to highlight a fantastic alternative energy inspired event. It happens each year during March break. What a perfect venue for a North American made human powered vehicle with the added advantage of turning heads and attracting attention for all the right reasons. Here’s a cool link to a 360 degree tour of a quest velomobile.

There are a number of great reasons to use velomobile advertising. Unlike a billboard, you can take your company themed wrapped velomobile to where the action is. They are always a welcome presence at high traffic events like parades, sporting and fitness themed events, or any promotional or community events. The vehicle itself is the perfect conversation piece as a means of zero-emissions transportation a time where everyone is looking for new ways to be environmentally friendly. They have tremendous functional value as company vehicles promoting your business as you or your

employees ride instead of drive to work. The optional electric assist motor makes this a realistic way of getting around without having to expend too much energy.

I can’t wait to keep everyone in the loop of the evolution and growth of the velomobile industry as I work to get as many people excited about this great product as I am. Aside from the limitless advertising potential and ecological value, these velomobiles are extremely fun to ride. It’s so far a small but very dedicated community of riders some of which have logged over 100 000 kms in their velos. My website highlighting all the business programs, velomobile models and options can be found at www.Velomobilepro.com.

Vinyl Wrapped Team Velomobile