A Velonaut Reacts to Tesla Bjørn's Podbike review

Подписаться 17 тыс.

Просмотров 22 тыс.

50% 1

Original Tesla-Bjørn video: • Podbike prototype revi...
I find this Podbike Frikar very interesting vehicle for some reason, but I haven't been able to testride it yet. But I can watch other people testing it. So here I watch how Bjørn Nyland is reviewing the Podbike Frikar prototype vehicle.
I hope you like this kind of content, even though this technically isn't a velomobile.
Podbike Frikar: www.podbike.com
Thanks for watching! Please subscribe: ru-vid.com?sub_...
My shop with velomobile & recumbent T-Shirts & more: www.saukki.com/shop
My bikes:
Velomobiel.nl Quest Carbon: en.velomobiel.nl
Azub Max: www.azub.eu
My blog: www.saukki.com
Twitter: / saukkico
Instagram: / saukkico
#saukki #velomobile

Спорт

Опубликовано:

9 ноя 2020

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 174

@velotegra7156 3 года назад

An interesting concept, but I think a parallel system (like a regular electric assist bike) is more efficient than a series electric drive arrangement. A parallel system avoids the multiplied efficiency losses of the motor and generator when pedaling. However, the "transmission" of a series electric drive system is much simpler because it can be done purely by electronic control with only a single speed.

@jimj2683 2 года назад

The series hybrid can simulate 100% pedal efficiency by using the battery (in addition to the extra assistance it provides). As long as you have juice in your battery a series hybrid will be better and faster (and much less hassle/maintenance). Having owned an ebike for a few years now I have never actually run out of battery because it is so easy to get a feeling for how much range you have left and how to manage that juice etc... A human will typically only do 50-100 watts steady state, while the battery will supply several hundred watts. It doesn't really matter if you loose 20 human watts when the total watts going to the wheels is 500-700 watts.

@Dare2Doubt 3 года назад

Thanks for your insight Saukki. I've no doubt the Frikar has done well so far because of its apparent practicality and price point - traditional velos are in for a shock if they can't streamline their production methods as well as their body-work. That being said, I'm a purist and prefer a mechanical connection to the drive wheels. I'd be interested in your views on Northern Lights Motors 428

@iDarkfigure 3 года назад

Technical Speculation... If there is a double cable for the Front Brakes... more than likely Drum Brakes, which don't use Hydraulics. I have read a few articles that running Hydraulics on the front end of the Velomobile has a tendency to cook the Fluid from friction/heat soak. I'm surprised they don't have regen when the brakes are applied. Also, this really can't be considered "Human Powered" as the Human Power equation is pedaling a small Generator to apply forward/rear movement through the software. not directly powered by the legs through belt or chain drive. This method has been applied to other so called electric motor powered drive train vehicles which have nothing to do with HPV. the pedaling a motor seems like a redundant feature for minimal return on software governed speed and electric drive motors. It's going to be a Novelty vehicle plagued with ineffective components. The Green House effect that the sealed bubble canopy is akin to sitting under a magnifying glass if the sun is blasting. As you mentioned, window fogging is going to be horrendous... no fresh air! Frosty windows, vision impaired from rain that no wiper system will be able to keep clear. That fan should have duct work that circulates the air not simple at your feet fan and looks like a cheap bolt on like one of those portable windshield defrosters you can buy at the auto parts store. I predict this will be a failure due to the spartan features and the complexity of the drive train. Cool Factor is just a novelty. I will stick with a Human Powered Vehicle, sans pedal assist, mid drive motor, hub motor etc. What's the point. I see these e-bikes with out of shape people just powering the bike on the bike trails without pedaling, no courtesy and no concept of actual exercise from pedaling. Annoying. 2500 pre-orders is hard to believe with such minimal range and little to NO health benefit. By the time they work all the bugs out... it will out of pretty much everybody's price range if it hasn't moved that way already. Thumbs Down on this Podbike... with 4 wheels.

@arildskaalsveen7126 2 года назад

Thank you! I find your comments very interesting. Sound like you are very honest and open minded. I'm on the list of the now 3500 ordes og Frikar and hope to test drive it this month (september 2021). Your comments are a great help in my evaluation later. ❤ Finland/Suomi 😁

@BernardTunes 11 месяцев назад

did you get to test drive it?

@DaveVelo1 3 года назад

Judging by minimal rider effort, it would appear his pedalling does very little to move the vehicle after the motor kicks in. My guess is this vehicle is completely dependent on the battery being charged. Without it, the contraption will go nowhere.

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

I agree. Although they claim it can be driven if the battery runs out, but I doubt it moves very well without battery 🤔

@vitordelima 3 года назад

The human powered generator can improve a lot in the future, and there many possible tweaks for reducing weight. Rowing, stepping and other ways to generate motion can produce a lot of torque/power, row-powered electric cars were made in the past.

@jimj2683 2 года назад

I have tried it now and with a battery if works really great. The chance of running out of battery is extremely low if you are used to the ebike.

@MrArray1967 3 года назад

Thank you for your videos in general and this one in special. As a Dane, I enjoy your Finnish-English language. I find that you make many good comments on the Frikar. Perhaps you should contact the company to become a testpilot. As an experienced velomobile driver you have valuable knowledge to share. I think the reason the Frikar has become so apparently popular is due to: • marketing via internet • increased focus on reduction of CO2 emissions • combined with electric assisted propulsion Thank you again for your work. It's very interesting. Merry Christmas and a happy new year 🎄🎆

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

I actually did contact the company few years ago and asked if I could be a test pilot. But they wanted local test pilots.

@MrArray1967 3 года назад

@@TheVelomobileChannel OK. Hmm. I think they planned to send one prototype to Germany, but was before the pandemic. And I guess also a few others should go abroad also and of course the most in Norway. Out of a "handful". About the noise in velomobiles in general compared to the low level in Frikar, perhaps it's due to the mass or weight combined with the suspension?

@videosforcatsanddogs214 3 года назад

It needs better motors and a lower weight, so it can go 25 km/h up longer hills for commutes. The dual Heinzmann cargo motor setup in the Bayk Bring S is the strongest setup within the 250w nominal motor rules. The motors are geared hub motors filled with oil, for better cooling. My dream bike would be a carbon fiber BioHybrid with this motor setup and side doors for winter and rain.

@jonathannellis 3 года назад

It seems like a strange design decision to not have a mechanical link between crank and wheels like most e-bikes. As far as I know, there would be a lot of conversion losses in a system like this. Human powered vehicles, or partially human powered vehicles, are great, but there is a point where it's just more efficient to run entirely from the battery.

@geoh1896 3 года назад

Are Belt Drivetrains More Efficient Than Chain Drivetrains? (Lab Testing) www.cyclingabout.com/belt-drivetrain-efficiency-lab-testing/#:~:text=Summary,in%20different%20chain%20lubricant%20options.

@magnusdagbro8226 3 года назад

@@geoh1896 no it's an electric drivetrain. The belt only drives an electric generator.

@videosforcatsanddogs214 3 года назад

The point of this vehicle is to go as fast and comfortable as possible within the 250w/25kmh-limit. Sure some of your leg-power goes to waste, but it is compensated by the batteries. Let us say you pedal 100 watts, but 30 are lost due to inefficiency; the system will just take more juice from the batteries to compensate for the loss. So it would be as if it was 100% efficient (plus additional assist power of course.) Yes, you will need slightly larger batteries for the same range, but your speed will be the same and for most people the slight increase in battery size is worth it for all the positives: Much less maintenance, no greasy chains, little wear, easy to adjust for different body sizes, regenerative braking, no need to use valuable space for a chain-drivetrain. Of course, if you run out of battery, it will be quite slow compared to other velomobiles. But I think it will be quite easy to avoid running out of battery.

@MusaM8 3 года назад

I would guess it's done for the sake of more reliability and less maintenance. Also allows for a less complicated design, easier to slap a generator and a few cables to the battery into it instead of a long chain to the back and gears on the axle. This way it allows you to pedal at whatever cadence you want without any gears.

@dejayrezme8617 3 года назад

@@MusaM8 I think they can save costs doing this, less work needed to connect some electronics than to properly assemble a real drive train. They also use a chassis out of folded and riveted chassis so they don't need to weld or paint. It's really interesting just from the point of view of how to design a produce that can be mass produced and has mass market appeal.

@badguy1481 Год назад

Great Job! Many thanks! BOTH of you!

@KurtFischer 3 года назад

I've been riding recumbents for 30 years now, and to be honest, I'm lusting for a Velomobile now and then, but if someone wanted me to ride this contraption, he'd have to pay me at least 1000 $, per ride of course. :) It must be completely unnerving to ride a bicycle when there is no direct connection between the pedals and the wheel. Nonetheless many thanks for this video, it was very interesting.

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

Yes, it must be weird feeling. Would be nice to test it, though.

@KurtFischer 3 года назад

@@TheVelomobileChannel Of course, you're right. My comment wasn't that serious. I'd take it without hesitation for a ride, just for the fun if it. After all it's just a prototype, and the idea behind is good.

@borisaeckerleswiesenhonig 3 года назад

Hello Saukki, I like this kind of content as well as your usual content 👍🏻 Maybe you want to do a follow up and compare the podbike to the Twike? Thanks for your work, stay healthy, greetings from Germany.

@edmorgan960 3 года назад

Prettty cool, I enjoy seeing new technology.

@OneKiloCat 3 года назад

Thanks for the video! Podbike seems to be an interesting vehicle. Although I think that a QV with electric-assist will beat it in most cases :)

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

Yes, it would 😄

@andrewallen9918 3 года назад

I owned a QV with e-assist and felt even that was too heavy; compare it to the Frikar at 90kg (!) and it was very light at 46kg...if I get the DF4 then I should be able to get it under 35kg with a lighter e-assist and smaller battery; not ideal as I think sub 30kg should be possible with an e-assist aero quad.

@honza-galla 3 года назад

Beat in which cases? And why? Let's talk about ease of getting in and out, inner space, cargo space, look and cool factor of the vehicle. Many people still compare the PodBike/PodRide and other attempts to current velomobiles, but that is not the case. This vehicles are trying to make the e-bikes closer to cars, maybe closer to cars than bikes, but that is what we all need. A 90 kg serving you in city commuting instead of 900 kg and three times more space. The PodBike attracts also car people not only bike people and this is why they have 2500 pre-orders....

@OneKiloCat 3 года назад

@@honza-galla The QV will beat it in performance because it is lighter and have more efficiency in aerodynamics and drivetrain. In a velomobile higher efficiency is higher comfort. In many places the bike-lanes are not good enough for velomobiles and some places don’t have bike-lanes. The most efficient can be to drive in the car-lane and sometimes you really want to push up to 45-50km/h to follow traffic. I don’t see that happen with Podbike. I commute with a Quest and the last thing I want is more weight or less aerodynamics. If someone need more comfort and more cargo space than a QV, the best solution is maybe a car.

@OneKiloCat 3 года назад

@@honza-galla Podbike is a cool vehicle but I think it would be much better without pedals and classified as something else then an E-bike, something that can keep up with traffic.

@BossManaatti 3 года назад

Kivaa vaihtelua normi videoihin 👍🏻

@Brian-bp5pe 3 года назад

Thanks for covering this, Saukki. I have been aware of this vehicle for some time, now. The concept has great promise to fill certain commuting transportation niches, such as between home and the local train station. It lends itself well to the idea of the ride-sharing bicycle scheme, where you don't own the vehicle, but are able to subscribe to a temporary rental service which gives you access to vehicles at one, or several different locations. I think Podbike is considering that idea, but it seems they would also like to sell these to individual owners - not sure what they have in mind, as they were/are presenting both as possibilities. Practically speaking, these can not be legally imported into the U.S., or Canada at this time. There is much ambiguity in the law over what constitutes a "motor vehicle" at this level. If a vehicle is classified as a motor vehicle, it must meet a host of regulatory requirements; to the point where the vehicle would then become an entirely different proposition. By-the-way, the same regulations may adversely affect four-wheeled velomobiles fitted with e-assist, of any kind. It might be possible to import a four-wheeled velomobile into the U.S. and then add the e-assist, after the velomobile is already in the country. The risk then for the owner would be an encounter with law enforcement during a routine traffic stop. At that point, a zealous police officer could choose to write a ticket and/or confiscate the velomobile under the present traffic code.

@jensumayer 3 года назад

Traffic code in the US is state law. So we need to differentiate. In Ohio a bicycle has two or more wheels and is propelled by human power. If you add electric assist under applicable definitions, you turn it into an e-bike. That may not be the case where you live.

@Brian-bp5pe 3 года назад

@@jensumayer @Jens Mayer Trust me on this Jens, it is a U.S. Federal regulation, under the Commerce Commission. I've spent way too much time looking for a way around this. All States write their laws in accordance with existing Federal Law. If you look into how each state defines the concept of "bicycle", they all conform to the U.S. Commerce Commission definition. Ask Podbike why their machine is not being offered in the U.S. and Canada. The explanation is clearly stated on their website. Podbike has a competitor, also a Norwegian company; it is called PodRide, also not exporting their machine to the U.S., or to Canada, with a similar explanation on their website.

@jensumayer 3 года назад

@Brian Under the regulations of the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, §1512.2 any vehicle with four wheels is not a bicycle. I can see how what you are saying can cause problems when importing. I wonder how importers of the Quattrovelo are getting around that. It appears that the main difference is that in the Frikar, the pedals are used solely to charge the battery and have no direct action on the vehicles' wheels.

@Brian-bp5pe 3 года назад

@@jensumayer Well Jens, I think there are at least two aspects of this problem which come into play with these bikes. On the local level, if you have ever watched RU-vid accounts of velomobile owners' encounters with the police during traffic stops (there are dozens of these on RU-vid), the officer will often ask a question like, "Is there a motor in that thing?" Interestingly, I don't recall a single one where the velomobile owner says, "Yes!" in response. The police would seem to have an almost obsessive interest in ridding the streets of illegal vehicles. Perhaps for them, such vehicles are "low-hanging fruit" and easily prosecutable in the courts. As for the QV, the problem would arise if it is motorized. Only very recently (within the past month) has Velomobiel.nl begun to offer an electric motor for their stable of new velos. I don't know if they have successfully sold any QV E-bikes for export to the U.S. If there are Velomobiel.nl E-bikes currently in the U.S., they were converted to such after they had already passed through U.S. customs. On the state level, it may be possible to have each individual state modify its traffic code to include four-wheeled velomobiles in their state's bicycle definitions, but that would need to be a state-by-state effort. Something nobody (except people like us) is concerned over. As Saukki pointed out, Velomobiel.nl in its entire history has built less than 2,000 velomobiles, of all types and some enthusiasts own more than one - so, the number of owners is even less. Furthermore, only a small fraction of velomobile owners reside in the U.S.A. Adding the other builders into the mix would only increase the total by a relatively small number (relative to the number of non-velomobile bike owners, overall). Once things settle-down a bit from the turmoil of our recent electoral adventures, bike activism in the state legislatures may become a worthwhile endeavor, again. You are fortunate to have an activist attorney for these issues in Ohio (if that is where you live).

@user-kk4cb6sj5c 3 года назад

Hello from Ukraine! Keep doing your video! Its very interesting!

@videosforcatsanddogs214 3 года назад

For Americans with their rules, I would recommend the upcoming Iris e-Trike with up to 1000w motor.

@emmabird9745 2 года назад

Interesting. Three motors sounds heavy compared to a conventional pedal assist. All very well showing it on the flat but what about hills? Fast down, can it regen down? How taxing is up? I had a electric front hub for my regular bike a number of years ago which gave good help on shallow hills but made steep ones harder because of the weight. I like your comments on fogging, practicalities, etc.

@vagrantrandomstuff2312 3 года назад

motor tends to overheat right? how will they fix that? with traditional pedal bikes you can pedal all you want.

@youneshadad9766 3 года назад

Thanks for informative video, I'd like to know what are your thoughts about Velotilt

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

That’s very interesting consept.

@dejayrezme8617 3 года назад

I've seen some discussions and looked into the "thesis" about this. It's clear the podbike won't win over HVP or velomobile enthusiasts. But it promises two huge features: 1. You can easily step into and out of it without "climbing" 2. It keeps you dry in bad weather (if the windshield won't fog up) No other bike or velomobile offers this! There are reasons to be sceptical and especially the electric drivetrain is unlikely to allow you to really ride faster than 25km/h because you loose about half the power. But it's interesting how much those two points get glossed over in the discussions. Those are two huge entry hurdles for mass adoption of low power vehicles. There are also interesting manufacturing ideas here. The chassis is made of bend and riveted aluminium which is easy and cheap to assemble - no welding, no painting. Three motors are cheaper and longer lasting than differential and chains. Even just the cost of work to assembly. All in all I'm rooting for this even though I have no interest in buying it. Hopefully they improve the concept and add a mechanical drivetrain so you actually have a chance to drive > 25kmh. Besides all that it looks futuristic, cool and comfortable. PS: The aerodynamic of the "hatchback" are ok from what I understand. PPS: They don't have a 1:1 "gear" which is probably problematic. It's not the belt slipping. You'd need a power meter in the input and some kind of "force feedback" to have a real good feel for acceleration. I'm hoping they will fix that you get a better "mechanical" feel. But ultimately it would be great if they switched to mechanical drivetrain.

@dejayrezme8617 3 года назад

@Podbike I'd be curious about numbers, both for input power required and output power delivered to the wheels above 25 km/h. If you managed to optimize the efficiency of the electric drive train above 60% that would already be quite an achievement. Personally I don't think that matters too much. But it would be interesting if someone could offer a kind of "mechanical conversion kit" for the podbike.

@dejayrezme8617 3 года назад

@Podbike Thanks for the responses, I very much admire the concept and think it's exactly what is needed! Green, usable and affordable individual transport for everyone. I'd be curious if you will implement a "virtual gear box" that provides fixed ratio of crank rotation to wheel rotation? I assume you'd need an encoder on the crank and the right electrical controller to implement a kind of "force feedback" at the generator. To reproduce the classical feel of cycling but while making the cyclist feel super strong. Wish you the best of success!

@dejayrezme8617 3 года назад

@Podbike Could this be implemented later? E.g. is there a rotary encoder at the crank? And a way for the controller to change the resistance of the trump and offer force feedback? I believe it should be theoretically possible to basically make electronic transmission feel the same or better than manual transmission. You could easily find a beta tester with experience in arduino and programming firmware do this for free ;)

@jimj2683 2 года назад

@Podbike Great answer. I think very few people are aware of this or are even able to understand it, so it would be cool with a video explaining it and showing it in practice. For example: attach some watt-measuring pedals and see how fast the podbike goes at different power levels. Then compare it to a regular bike and e-bike.

@totalelimination8339 3 года назад

Hi there I was just wondering in the UK can u ride this without having to put a numberplate keep the good content coming

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

Good question. They claim it to be a e-bike with 25 km/h speed limit, so you shouldn’t need numberplate.

@Ahti333gm 6 месяцев назад

Not sure if you're gonna see this, but I would be very interested if you may be able to test-ride this soon. From what I've read they have started to ship out their first orders to norwegian buyers last year. Also it's winter now, good for testing how much the bubble will fog up.

@lorneaanderson5533 3 года назад

I like the looks, and protection from weather. Thanks for the more real video of how difficult it is to operate, and 30 minutes of run time. 6 hours or more, would be my preference. Been watching for years, they are close to just what I would like. Probably a 500 watt would be better, and 750 would be just right. I would hate not pedaling fast enough up hill getting stuck.

@rockrl98 2 года назад

If I manage to pull my head out of my ass, I would sure make something you like

@adamt195 3 года назад

I do find the podbike idea fairly interesting. Canyon also announced something similar earlier this year. Its really cool to see very utility/comfort focused velos for commuting and grocery shopping. If only the laws in europe let you have a more powerful motor, and maybe you could have a 2 seater model. The Schaeffler Bio-Hybrid is also one to look at. Unfortunately in the US, anything with 4 wheels is illegal (if the police are even aware of that law, is maybe a different story). Maybe if the law was changed, I could see people using more of these in urban areas, especially the Armadillo cargo bike and the Bio-Hybrid Cargo in New York city.

@HarryPotter-kd3bh 3 года назад

quattrovelo with power assist is legal in US

@Brian-bp5pe 3 года назад

@@HarryPotter-kd3bh Maybe, maybe not. It could depend on how the police officer is feeling that day and whether you bring a good attorney with you to court.

@HarryPotter-kd3bh 3 года назад

@@Brian-bp5pe you likely won't need an attorney since the citation that the officer writes wouldn't be able to reference any laws (since pretty much every commercially available velomobile- except for a few novelty designs- doesn't qualify as a motor vehicle and, in fact, is best described as a "bicycle" (where bicycle= tricycle= recombent without fairings= etc.). As far as road/ traffic citations are concerned it's 100% legal. If you behave improperly, THEN the officer may seek to confiscate the vehicle but this would be an illegal confiscation and would result in immediate withdrawal. An argument for damages paid to the velonaut would be easily made in civil court and an attorney needn't be present. If you're selling crack from the velomobile it's a different story.

@Brian-bp5pe 3 года назад

@@HarryPotter-kd3bh The way YOU would best describe something may not be the way the local prosecutor, or the courts would describe the same thing. Besides, who needs that kind of trouble, crack cocaine notwithstanding? I would like to think that a QV with or, even without E-assist could travel without harassment by the police, but that is not what has been happening. That comment of yours about selling crack cocaine from a velomobile is amusing, only because it is a thought that might cross the mind of a very unprofessional police officer. Having said that, velomobile owners who are simply out on the roads, doing what the normally do, are routinely stopped by the police.

@jimj2683 2 года назад

I agree, however if more power is allowed, these things will just get heavier and more dangerous to pedestrians. I think they should focus on bringing the weight down instead.

@JamesParus 3 года назад

they should tape the roof with some reflective tape to keep the heat out, and prevent sun shining directly to the riders head.

@jeffrey5961 4 месяца назад

good review.

@Room-180 3 года назад

Hi, I suppose you know that Podbike was on the Laidback Bike Report on the 6th September 2020? (Podbike-The Future of Sustainable Transport?) To the winter range: I always take the battery of my pedelec inside when I am at work to get the full capacity. As the Podbike battery is removable, this should be possible here, too. But anyway - something without a display where you need a smartphone, is a nogo anyway.

@katcorot 3 года назад

Interesting its using the Grin Tech battery from Vancouver, BC Canada. or Ebikes.ca. I got my lights in my velo running off one just one of those battery packs

@johnspooner1403 3 года назад

Ironically, the Frikar would not be legal in Vancouver due to the four wheels. Hope that changes.

@amarillo7604 3 года назад

Olá, há alguma possibilidade de fazer um vídeo mostrando a montagem desse veículo maravilhoso?

@jensumayer 3 года назад

Website lists battery range as 60-90 km. I assume that is including the rider's efforts. That would work for your commute. I think this will be an option for people who have difficulties getting into a velomobile or put out 150 Watts consistently. It is a different segment on the continuum of individual mobility.

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

60-90 km range sounds reasonable. It must be the prototype which had such a bad range. As I said in the video, this vehicle is closer to a car than regular velomobiles. So I guess it appeals to different kind of people. 🤔

@Brian-bp5pe 3 года назад

It really could benefit from having a good recharging capability, once it arrives at its destination(s). I don't recall the details on that.

@EdouardTavinor 3 года назад

@@Brian-bp5pe because the battery is quite small I imagine it can be charged from a domestic socket quite quickly. It doesn't appear to be removable however.

@morningstar9233 3 года назад

How do you think the Frikar compares to the Iris etrike? I'm interested in both these vehicles in the 25km/hr limited, pedal assist format to avoid needing a number plate. Not sure which is the better option. I believe they are similarly priced, but which is better?

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

Iris has regular e-assist bike drivetrain, but Frikar has fully electric drivetrain and pedals connected to a generator. I don’t trust that kind of series hybrid drivetrain. I would like to have a physical connection between the pedals and driven wheel(s). But on the other hand the Frikar is close to production, but I don’t know anything about Iris.

@morningstar9233 3 года назад

@@TheVelomobileChannel Thank you for your considered reply. It greatly assists me in my decision process. I see your point about the drive chain and share your view on this. Would be great to see you do a review of the Iris etrike if you get the opportunity.

@runedyrting8476 3 года назад

I thought it looked heavy. At least 3 motors and a generator plus battery etc. That`s a lot of extra weight- and cost.

@lungadlamini6658 Год назад

I love this podbike

@svelobikes9049 3 года назад

Hey, do you like the Vélomtek velomobiles? They made some prototypes and they are almost ready to produce the VT1. I talked to the company founder, he's very nice!

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

I’ve heard of them, but I think I need to take closer look at their products 🤔

@treavy-n1d 3 года назад

And made with hemp plant fiber and can get you to a place 100 miles away on a single charge

@TorsteinHagen 3 года назад

Hello Saukki from Trondheim ,Norway! Well I have a long time ago ordered one. Bjørns video is several months old now and they have been improving the Frikar since then. It is obviously not aimed at velomobilists, or cyclists. They aim to make cardrivers park and use Frikar instead for their commute. There will be a lot of options on battery size, fan size etc.the prise is also very reasonable compared to the upright e-bikes. Having biked velomobiles since 2005 I will not let go of that sensation. The Frikar will be used for winter commute.And I am open to new ideas.

@razorsorensic4458 3 года назад

i just found away to make aquest xs electric, grin motors have a hub motor that can be installed on a single side rear wheel fork or on both front wheels pretty good for quest owners

@NanoDex 3 года назад

Saukki check out the PodRide and comment on that one too!!

@magnusdagbro8226 3 года назад

Will you be selling your Quest? I hope not because I don't live too far from you and I would have trouble resisting.. 😅

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

My Quest is already sold 😁

@NoobixCube 3 года назад

I think, while it’s valid to compare vehicles like the Podbike, DryCycle, ELF, and PEBL to velomobiles, they are at least as different from velomobiles as velomobiles are from bicycles. That is to say, they aren’t entirely unrelated, there are clear similarities in service of similar goals, but the use case of an everyday vehicle results in different design priorities, compared to conventional velomobiles. Velomobiles really are designed for going fast in a velodrome, or for long-haul, low effort riding, while this new class of velo-cars, for lack of a better word, are focused entirely on the daily commute. I’m sure velomobiles are plenty comfortable once you’re in, but, in service of saving every gram, and presenting the sleekest profile possible to the wind, velomobiles are sparse and cramped on the inside. Velo-cars are designed more for comfort, at the expense of efficiency. I think it’s a fair sacrifice to make, and, among velo-cars, the Podbike has sacrificed the least in terms of aerodynamics. While the Podbike does have its shortcomings, it’s going to come in at less than half the price of the DryCycle. I don’t think the shortcomings of the Podbike versus the DryCycle are going to matter when, for the price of a DryCycle, you can buy two Podbikes and have enough left over for an OLED TV. I really don’t like that series-hybrid drive train, though. While the company claims it is EN15194 compliant, I’m not sure that’s 100% true. I thought a condition of EN15194 was that the pedals could drive it without the motor being engaged. I trust that they’ve thoroughly read their regulations, so I’m probably wrong about that.

@Chapooski 2 года назад

Well said Michael, I agree with everything you wrote. I think that the ingress/egress of most of the velo-cars is poor for various reasons depending on the model; Podbike seat is too low, Drycycle too high of a stepover and the ELF and PEBL both suffer from the front wheels being in way of swinging your legs in and out as well as a wide step across to get into the seat. In other words they are all clumsey to deal with.

@alexderpyracc4053 3 года назад

Where can I buy

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

There’s link in the video description.

@magnusdagbro8226 3 года назад

15-20 km sounds really bad, that's less than I get from my upright e-bike with the same size battery.. at 1000W output and no pedal input.

@MusaM8 3 года назад

On the website it says 60-90km per battery (400Wh)

@robertredziak6461 3 года назад

I wonder if such vehicle can be classified as a bicycle. While serial hybrid sounds interesting, there is also law which prohibits any kind electric support over 25km/h. Also I wonder if such e-transmission can be as much efficient as simple chain drive is. But ok, let me whine a bit more: these canopy hinges also look a bit complicated and probably heavy. And regarding the fan, they should use radial blower instead of a axial fan, as they are less noisy. Also I’m not sure if unsprung weight really matters in such small, light and slow vehicle.

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

I’m sure this kind of drivetrain is less efficient than regular chain drive.

@pedalajones 3 года назад

The effect is that he seems to be pedaling with the fallen chain ... :)

@NUeB_net 3 года назад

Good review showing the faults of that design. As it is an electric vehicle I don't like when they call such things bicycle or velomobile. Maybe "velocar" is a better word for this design, as it clearly aims more at car drivers than cyclists.

@ernestmachpro3341 2 года назад

Podbike's window looks like the one of a double sitters glider. It's so hot when sunshine. I prefer French Mulsanne or Le Mans velomobiles which have better aerodynamic, specially behind.

@jimj2683 2 года назад

With a uv/ir coating it will be much cooler inside than out if you combine it with the fans.

@daniele_go 3 года назад

Nice video, thanks Saukki! Talking about maximum speed: - it is automatically limited to 25km/h for legal reasons - so I don't believe you can go any FASTER than this, since the pedals are not connected to the wheels: if you pedal faster, you just charge more the battery ☹️🤔. Last but not least, this is a pedal car but not a bicycle 🤐

@robertredziak6461 3 года назад

Eeerrm... I can easily exceed 25kms on my upright bike (or I was able to do it, when the weather was better and I could ride it regularly), so why should I bother about such vehicle? The only interesting thing in velomobiles, at least to me, is much higher average speed which can be achieved on long distances comparing to upright bikes. In a city I would prefer to go by normal bike, as it is more visible to others and much more agile, especially in traffic jams.

@videosforcatsanddogs214 3 года назад

You will be able to go faster than 25km/h, but only with power from your legs. It could be that the batteries compensate for the efficiency-loss to a degree, even at speeds greater than the 25 km/limit.

@daniele_go 3 года назад

@@videosforcatsanddogs214 "....from the power of your legs..." But how could your legs push you beyond 25km/h if there is no physical connection with the wheels and the battery by design cannot deliver more power after the legal speed limit is reached?

@MusaM8 3 года назад

@@daniele_go It's legal for the motors to go above 25km/h if the electricity is supplied by your pedalling.

@daniele_go 3 года назад

@@MusaM8 I don't quite understand...if the electricity comes from the battery the 25km/h limitation applies while if it comes from your pedalling it doesn't? Where did you get this interpretation from?

@jacobbockover1628 3 года назад

There are a few cars with solar fans in the roof

@mino73T11 3 года назад

My guessing is that while velomobiles need some technical knowledge and ability to be fully operated at their best, the Frikar or Fricar or whatever (what a bad choice for the name... a freak car? 😅) lets the rider focus on driving and requires the most basic ability and knowledge to be ridden. Apart the look, that's clearly made to meet the tastes of drivers rather than of cyclists, I suppose this is the reason why 2500 pre-orders may even be possible. Honestly, I would like to have one, plus a velomobile too, because the usage would be different. As for the transmission, the overall efficiency may range between 60 and 80%, and for what I know you can actually speed faster than the pedelec allowed speed, but the rider that can keep a Quattrovelo at 45 Km/h would hardly push the Podbike over 30-35 at its best. Looking forward for a test 🤞🏻

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

Yes, this is clearly marketed for different group of people than velomobilles. And I guess they do more marketing than other velomobile manufacturers 🤔

@mino73T11 3 года назад

@@TheVelomobileChannel Yes, clearly! I'm also convinced that the final price is going to make some difference too in favor of the Podbike, provided they will be able to keep it in the range they have devised. The only real worry by my point of view is the excess weight.

@thomasnorb4077 2 года назад

"Frikar" means Free Man/Guy in Norwegian. It's a play on free(dom), man, and car. It gives you freedom (mobility) and is pollution free.

@Vegan_Touring_Cyclist 3 года назад

I started to wrote my thesis in mechatronics on the very same human electric series hibrid system like 8 years ago. My teacher said it is stupid and I should find an other subject. I am curious 😀

@MrArray1967 3 года назад

I must say it's your teacher who was/is stupid. I'm a teacher myself. What's the reason to go to school? To learn of course. Why then hinder leaning if you are motivated. It's the single most important prerequisite for learning anything.

@Vegan_Touring_Cyclist 3 года назад

@@MrArray1967 The most important to do what a teacher wants :D at least in this country. I did not learn too much in the school... :(

@michaelbrownlee9497 3 года назад

@@MrArray1967 teachers support the energy sector completely.

@jimj2683 2 года назад

Series hybrid is only stupid if you don't have a battery because the efficiency is lower than a chain drive. But with a battery you can simulate 100% efficiency. And for most riding there is a very very low probability that you will run out of juice unplanned.

@jimj2683 2 года назад

Also a serious hybrid can be made very efficient if you use good components.

@bryanpwo3085 3 года назад

They have put a bigger battery in the first orders with a range from 60- 90 km. They are heavier, but the next generation will probably ship a lighter battery. (I got that from their twitter account.) Also e-assist will shut-off when you ride faster than 25 km/h

@tonycrabtree3416 3 года назад

25 kph is too slow.

@bryanpwo3085 3 года назад

@@tonycrabtree3416 It has to do with European rules. If the E-asist is higher than 25 kph, it can't call itself a bicycle anymore but would be categorized as a moped instead, meaning you can't make use of bicycle paths anymore. Perhaps it could be a future line for the company, but as an alternative vehicle in (European) cities, it serves its purpose very well.

@szkielet137 Год назад

Thank you:)

@TheVelomobileChannel Год назад

Thanks!

@GR-cf4qh Год назад

It seems to me this could be radically improved by ditching the human powered component of the drivetrain and putting in a 4000 watt motor and much larger batteries. The weight and aerodynamics of it simply work against it as a human powered vehicle, but as an EV with a top speed of around 60 km/h I can definitely see where it would have a niche as a commuter vehicle.

@freezze12 Год назад

From UK as soon as he said the crank doesn't turn the wheels I face palmed. As that means it can't be used as bike here!!!

@MichaelEricMenk Год назад

It's complied wit European laws for pedal assist bike. The one wheel gets all It's power from the crank, and the other gets all It's power from the battery.

@rogerrabbit7469 2 года назад

Pedal 2 generator 2 motor 2 rear wheel? You're talking major power loss in the transformation as opposed to basic pedal... chain...rear wheel.

@marksadventures3889 3 года назад

They've a lot of work to do, but i like the look. The fan is crap, the belt drive - hmmm not impressed, I'd like see the lights. 2500 pre orders? Why? It's not finished. The other thing is, smart phone apps will get you in trouble with the cops unless you can change stuff by voice, in the UK getting caught on the roads on your mobile, handy, cell will land you a fine and big trouble. I suggest they retro fit a system that can connect your phone and use a smart drive onboard pc with speed, power, time, etc that links to your phone via an app you can check later at home. I have a Raspberry Pi for such occasions - it will automatically put lights on in darkening conditions, connect to the phone for calls and I can send voice detailed texts - SMS. For rain the wipers would come on automatically too and all the other goodies. I like the trailer hook and the space behind for shopping etc. A biometric start option would be good for security - "Help call the cops - I'm being stolen" at 80 decibels wakes everyone up and scares off thieves.

@MusiCaninesTheMusicalDogs 3 года назад

I don't understand how this could be better than a regular velomobile with electric assistance. It feels to me they're trying to reinvent the wheel. Or am I missing something?! 🤔

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

I quess their target audience is different than regular velomobiles.

@MusiCaninesTheMusicalDogs 3 года назад

@@TheVelomobileChannel Still it looks like to me a regular velo with electric assistance would be better even for those who'd like to leave their cars in the garage and never used a bike or velo before, you know?!

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

I guess a person who has never seen a velomobile before, but is a regular car driver, would feel more comfortable with Podbike than a Quattrovelo. But we who know better, we know that a QV is much more efficient and can do most of the things better than Podbike.

@simondara1971 2 года назад

@@TheVelomobileChannel My point is that no rain gets into the vehicle. You don't have to leave a gap so the top does not fog up. I want a closed vehicle. Not one that is 'a little bit closed, but you still get wet'. I'm 51 years old now, with a bad back. All things to consider...

@videosforcatsanddogs214 3 года назад

I actually prefer the BioHybrid because it will be taller, have space for an adult passenger and be more visible to other traffic. Unfortunately it is said to cost between $10K and $18K.... Podbike is about $6K without options.

@travelsofacycles1584 2 года назад

About the Smart phone app, can't a hacker just hack in useing Bluetooth. My car GPS was hacker sending me turn commands I went 5 miles before I realized and turned off my Bluetooth. They hack in to your bike turn it on, drop back down to its wheels from the standing position and away they go.

@travelsofacycles1584 2 года назад

Yea, I like this video I like your channel. One thing thought, note I ware headphones your lead in. Music 🎶 a bit louder then my ears can stand! wow that night your on the ice spinning donuts with your Quattrovelo hope you have insurance. Had covic not come along I would be riding a Quattrovelo but Blue.

@lootensstieven 2 года назад

I have one in pré order... 10/11/2022

@redsandokan 3 года назад

I had to double check the date for this, as i was convinced this was from the 90s Anywhere other than the arctic circle, you will be able to spit roast a pig in that cockpit, i think the french would call it "a solar rotisserie" Seeing as there are about 10 velomobile riders in the known universe, including your good self would it have killed the makers of this north korean knock off technolego kit, to have reached out for a bit of r&d? a bit of feedback from people who actually use them everyday?, Im sorry for being a bit harsh but I absolutely love velomobiles becouse most of the time they just look amazingly sleek and cool, but this one looks like it drank budget vodka and fell asleep while trying to eat a kebab Im sorry but It looks horrendous, But well done for the effort, Keep up the good work Saukki

@runcycleskixc Год назад

It looks interesting, but, like many of these prototypes, seems to be stuck at the pre-ordering stage for now.

@TheVelomobileChannel Год назад

But at least the guys at Podbike are trying to do something. I’m subscribed to their newsletter, and according to that, they are getting closer to production. I’m confident they will eventualy get the production started, but it will take some time. It seems it’s not easy to start making velomobile-like vehicles from scratch.

@runcycleskixc Год назад

@@TheVelomobileChannel I surely would love if they succed. I wonder how they will manage to deliver on the several thousand of pre-orders they have received.

@TheVelomobileChannel Год назад

And can they deliver it with such affordable price they are advertising on their website. I consider it to be too cheap to make the company profitable.

@larsbee 2 года назад

I'm sure I would die starting from 25C under that plastic dome ... even without paddling...

@johnparr5879 10 месяцев назад

I would think that front ventilation fan, will bring lots and lots of pollution into the vehicle cabin...... Wonderful *

@szkielet137 Год назад

I ordered Podbike few days ago. Normally I'd buy Northern Light 557 or regular velomobile with electric assist for uphills, but in Poland HEPA filter (or F7 at least) is a must have in the winter, otherwise smog will kill you. Only Podbike is fully enclosed, so ugly Podbike it is.

@thirdjones762 10 месяцев назад

Simple as just tinting...and cut windows out

@martiniusberg2902 3 года назад

Hi Saukki I live in Norway and have sometimes contact with the producer of Podbike 01.12.20. My review Is: It's still a prototype at the end of 2020. It's not a velomobile, it is a replacement for an ordinary car. The motor/battery arrangement makes the Podbike slowly at a 25 km drive range. Driving upwards the hill or a mountain road a Podbike becomes very slow. In the future, Podbike wants to change the bicycle with a stronger motor/battery. The Podbike has an aluminum chassis, Podbike says they don't want to produce with carbon or in combination with aluminum. The load room is quite big. The Podbike has a total weight of 90 kg without the driver. Podbike says they want to make a new Podbike down to a total weight of 70 kg. It's not possible to drive the Podbike in many European countries and some states in the USA. Because of the street laws. Each country has different street laws. The fan inside makes a lot of noises. In the wintertime, the plastic window has a lot of damp It's not possible to test drive the Podbike according to the Coronavirus in 2020, maybe it will be possible to test-drive the next year 2021? Martinius Berg.

@olgerkhan9331 3 года назад

The price is interesting, but the speedlimit isn't sadly

@simondara1971 2 года назад

Price has gone up to 8000 euro minimum...

@jurivlk5433 2 года назад

The problem is always the price of such vehicles. To me, it makes no sense buying a pedaling device costing twice as much as a regular five passengers car! China must help!

@jimj2683 2 года назад

Yup, this will only take off when China copies it. Too bad the quality will probably be so low that you will have to buy a new one every 2 years.

@johanneskoedood2235 3 года назад

fricar is basic like quartrovelo 4 weel it looks more like a fast ebike a lazy bike even you generate the power to cycle

@9unslin9er Год назад

Really like the aesthetics of this one. On my watch list for sure.

@EdouardTavinor 3 года назад

Mm, I'm think the drive train would mean it would be regarded as a car in Germany, so you'd need a driving license and registration plates.

@jimj2683 2 года назад

Nope, it is legal in the EU.

@john-brady Год назад

Way cool…

@idratherbebikin3434 3 года назад

It literally sounds awful!! Btw: I wish the windows in the route be were reversed. It was hard to see the PodBike & you could have been smaller/not the primary focus here.

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

You can go watch the original video. Link in the description.

@InfiltrateIndustries Год назад

This can’t be better (efficient?) than conventional middrives Idk, looks are ok cool, but drivetrain seems over engineered pointlessly. Maybe Bjørn’s visit was a tad too early.

@garry8390 3 года назад

The quest is ugly. The podbike is actually well designed imo

@heikkiparviainen6084 2 года назад

So we are gonna see all these drivers on the road, fiddling with their phones? No officer, I wasn't using the phone, I was accelerating! Oh Right have a nice day. Sorry I stopped you. ????????????????????????

@tonycrabtree3416 3 года назад

This reviewer is terrible for this type of invention. He’s not a cyclist at all. He doesn’t understand cycling, He doesn’t even come close to making a compelling case to own one. He hurt Frikkar in my opinion. E-assist velomobile for commuting is the way to go.

@TheVelomobileChannel 3 года назад

Well you are right about that. But on the other hand, I guess Bjørn is that type of people this vehicle is marketed for. I don’t think they are trying to sell these to cyclist. I think they target environmently aware people who try to find a way to reduce car driving.

@jacekschneider4686 3 года назад

It looks bit useless...

@driewiel 3 года назад

It's........junk.

@sennlich Месяц назад

its all bullshit, nothing some normal guy wants to drive.

@treavy-n1d 3 года назад

Try better.bik the best and only practical and tactical weather proof bike trike micro car with heater windscreen wiper it makes these knock offs obsolete and impractical for urban travel ciz you wont be using this in the rain or snow good luck whennyoyr freezing when yoyr battery dies and the pebl has a 100 mile battery on full charge amd im happt that ill be purchasing a pebl and not a joke bike

@simondara1971 2 года назад

Pebl? Now that is ugly.