Design Sojourn | Strategic Industrial Design Blog

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Image collage from Ecoble

Check out this amazing and inspirational feat of engineering called The HumanCar. A human powered car that is, I am sure, inspired by the famous foot powered Flintstone mobiles.

It apparently can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour (128.75 Km/h) and is designed to make driving a participatory experience. The four riders need to work together to get it going as well as steering by leaning into a turn. A rechargeable battery and motor, jumps in when you feel like taking a break.

Though it is safer than a bicycle, due to its road safe impact resistant skeleton, I do wonder about its ability to be handled by one person, its lack of seat belts (80mph come on!), and weather protection. Regardless, it is a marvel of engineering especially with the way the rowing movement is converted and transmitted to the car’s forward motion.

Check out the images from the official press release:

The HumanCar Inventor Charles Greenwood and his prototype

Where the magic happens, the transmission box.

The drive shaft that transmits the energy to the wheels.

The HumanCar’s exoskeleton prototype.

Check out the very cool video on how it works.

It can be yours for $15,000 and they are taking pre-orders at the official HumanCar website. Looks like good clean environmentally friendly but sweaty fun!

Via: Ecoble