Maximum Cost of Personal Transport Vehicles

Basics

• For an alternative transport method to be worth it (over a bicycle or car etc) it needs to both:
  • Provide more functionality than a bicycle or similar vehicle
  • Be cheaper than something like a used car

• Thus designs have a maximum price of around $5,000 or so

User:Eric's Bit

• In my search for a Two Wheeled Velomobile for University use, as I don't yet have a car, and parking is hard to find+ gas is pricey, yet it rains too much in florida for biking to be considered reasonable in my opinion, I have found most designs I find to be either too incomplete, not durable enough, or beyond the price of a used car, such as a Honda Accord, plus lots of gas money (~$2,000-5,000 + Gas Money). Some designss arem so expensive, a new car would even be cheaper.

Designs I Considered Semi-Adequiat

Organic Transit's ELF 2fr

Pros:

• Two Seats
• Cargo Trunk
• Enclosed
• Pedal AND electric
• Bicycle style wheels

Cons:

• No Doors
• Flismy Construction
• Cost ($8,895.00 – $9,794.95)

Zbee

Pros:

• 3 Seats
• Durable Construction
• Hot Swappable batteries

Cons:

• Shipping
• Cost (~$4,254.75)
• No Doors

Lit Motors

Pros:

• 2 Seats
• 2 Wheels
• Fully Enclosed with Solid Doors
• Steering Wheel
• Gryoscopically Stabalized

Cons:

• Cost ($24,000 (Could be A new car and $4,000 gas + matinence)
• Motorcycle Style Wheels
• ONLY electric (ie no pedal power)
• Probably not Sidewalk Legal

Monoracer

Pros:

• 2 Seats + Carggo Trunk
• 2 Wheels + Low Speed "Training Wheels" for stability
• Fully Enclosed with Solid Doors
• Steering Wheel
• Gas and Electric Models
• Insane Acceleration + Speed

Cons:

• Supercar Like Price (~$100,000
• Not Sidewalk Legal (Obiously)

In Conclusion

• Anything close to what is considered desirable is either incomplete or too expensive. Thus this leaves a place in the market for inexpensive, quality, open source, personal transport vehicles

See Also

• Velomoobile

Two Wheeled Velomobile