Human-electric hybrid vehicle
Encyclopedia
A human-electric hybrid vehicle is a hybrid vehicle
, or more specifically a hybrid human powered vehicle
, whose drivetrain
consists of a human being and an electric motor
/generator
(and one or more electricity-storage device(s) such as a battery(ies)
or ultracapacitor(s)). Some vehicles are able to operate off both human power and be plugged in to operate on battery power.
It can have characteristics of a bicycle
, velomobile
or other lightweight human operated vehicles with the addition of faster acceleration
and regenerative braking, allowing a higher average velocity
, especially in hilly terrain.
Some vehicles have a clutch and three or more wheels, allowing the operator to continue pedalling and charge up the electricity-storage device during traffic stops.
Here are some examples:
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
, or more specifically a hybrid human powered vehicle
Human-powered transport
Human-powered transport is the transport of person and/or goods using human muscle power. Like animal-powered transport, human-powered transport has existed since time immemorial in the form of walking, running and swimming...
, whose drivetrain
Hybrid vehicle drivetrain
Hybrid vehicles are vehicles with two or more power sources in the drivetrain. There are many different types of hybrid vehicles, although only the gasoline-electric hybrid is currently commercially available....
consists of a human being and an electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
/generator
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
(and one or more electricity-storage device(s) such as a battery(ies)
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
or ultracapacitor(s)). Some vehicles are able to operate off both human power and be plugged in to operate on battery power.
It can have characteristics of a bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
, velomobile
Velomobile
A velomobile or bicycle car is a human-powered vehicle, enclosed for aerodynamic advantage and protection from weather and collisions. They are virtually always single-passenger vehicles. They are derived from recumbent bicycles and tricycles, with the addition of a full fairing . There are few...
or other lightweight human operated vehicles with the addition of faster acceleration
Acceleration
In physics, acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. In one dimension, acceleration is the rate at which something speeds up or slows down. However, since velocity is a vector, acceleration describes the rate of change of both the magnitude and the direction of velocity. ...
and regenerative braking, allowing a higher average velocity
Velocity
In physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
, especially in hilly terrain.
New generation vehicles
There are a number of private individuals and companies working on lighter vehicles using advanced materials engineering (especially carbon fiber) and lighter electrical components (ultracapacitors).Here are some examples:
- AeroRider http://www.aerorider.com/en/aerorider.html
- Concept hybrid recumbent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eknnzNGzDBU&feature=related