Source: website Pedilio | The velomobile is a sustainable alternative to the enviroment polluting concept of passenger car traffic. Most daily rides are short trips with only one person in the car. If you want to go shopping, the weather is bad, or the way is too long and too strenuous for using the bike, the velomobile offers a number of evident benefits. Nothing is more obvious than the combination of mobility and human activity. Pedilio is set in motion by pedal force. The powerful electric motor amplifies your own muscle power many times and makes you addicted to more activity.
Energy independence by solar power
Consistent lightweight construction minimizes energy and resource consumption. In combination with solar cells, Pedilio is independent of charging stations for the everyday short distances. The electricity from the solar roof feeds the traction battery both while driving and when the vehicle is parked. Thus, for short distances of 20 to 30 km per day, the vehicle requires no further charge. With mains charging, this range increases by up to 120 km, depending on the battery configuration
Weather protection and fresh air
The solar roof and the car body protect against rain and splashing water from above and below. On the sides, the vehicle is open, offers plenty of fresh air and nature experience and above all allows easy access and exit. With the comfortable cruising speed of 25 to 35 km / h you can easily master the daily trips to the train station, to your office or to school. The luggage box with textile cover easily accomodates the daily shopping and offers space for a beverage crate. The driver sits at eye level with the other road users, has optimal overview and is well seen. Driving yourself and enjoying your ride stress-free is a valuable lifetime. This pleasant way of mobility stimulates reflection on the “appropriate” design of the human living environment.
Simple and intuitive technology
Using state-of-the-art technology for the chassis and electronics, attention was paid to the simplicity, repairability and interchangeability of the components. Contrary to the trend towards digitization, the digital networking of driving functions was deliberately avoided. For individual and free movement it is not necessary to depend on apps and data networks.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 185 cm x 90 cm x 136 cm (l x w x h)
- Weight: approx. 68 kg including e-drive, accumulator and enclosing
- Payload: approx. 130 kg (driver and luggage)
- Wheels: 4 wheels 20″ x 2,15″ independant wheel suspension
- Pedal drive: driving right rear wheel, 21 derailleur gears
- e-drive: hub motor integrated in left rear wheel 500 W (peak 1000W) motor assistance: adjustable factor 2 to 5, in correlation to human power additional motor features: start assistance, reverse gear, regenerative braking
- Max. speed: max. 25 km/h or 45 km/h depending on licensing (pedelec or light four-wheeled vehicle class L6e)
- Travel average speed: approx. 25 – 35 km/h
- Travel distance: approx. 60 (120) km per charge (1 or 2 accumulators)
- Solar charging: solar moduel 100 W, delivers range extension for additional 20 to 30 km per day
- Accumulator: Li-Ion 48V / 13 AH (26 Ah)
- Brakes: 4 hydraulic disc brakes
- Lighting: 2 headlights, rear light, brake light, indicator lights
- Frame: steel tube frame, powder coated
- Enclosing: carbon fibre / PET
Thomas Viebach
“Since the 80s, I am fascinated by human-powered vehicle concepts. As with almost no other product, the bicycle is all about lightweight construction, efficiency and reduction to the bare essentials. At that time I also was interested in the search for alternative energy concepts and I realized that we have to use our precious energy efficiently.
In 1985, the participants in the “Tour de Sol” through Switzerland proved that a new way of mobility using human power and solar energy is possible. It became clear to me that electric mobility in combination with solar energy could lead to a very fundamental change in the transport concept, towards small, light, slow, un-aggressive and therefore safe vehicles.
Together with Detlef Schmitz, I participated in the World Solar Challenge in Australia in the 1990s with our self-constructed solar racing cars. Although we were far behind the winning teams with our modest technical capabilities, it was an unforgettable experience for me to cross the Australian continent over several thousand kilometers with our solar car only powered by the sun. At night, we camped in the bush and in the morning with the sunrise we could continue our journey.
This experience of independence through the use of sun energy deeply formed my way of thinking since that time. It is only possible to guess what positive effect it would have on a society if it provides itself completely and independently with regenerative energy sources.”
