Free Republic

Aerovelo’s human-powered vehicle “Eta” has broken the world record for fastest human-powered vehicle, reaching 89.59 mph/144.18 kph at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada. This record breaks the previous world record, also held by Aerovelo’s Eta of 86.65mph / 139.45kph, set last September. Analysis of the vehicle performance showed that Eta requires less than 198 watts of pedal power at 90 km/h, which translates to a 9,544 MPGe highway fuel efficiency. According to Aerovelo, this is the highest per-passenger MPGe of any existing transportation technology at this speed. “The efficiency of this vehicle seems impossibly high:...

As a source of renewable energy, consider the homeless person, addicted to drugs or alcohol, pedaling out toxins on an exercise machine attached to a generator. Dr. Sam Slishman has. The emergency room physician was standing under the Eiffel Tower a few years ago, annoyed with the trinket sellers. What a waste, he thought. "Every city has their trinket sellers. These trinkets don't contribute anything," he said. "I'd rather pay them to sit on an exerciser and generate electricity." The idea stuck with him and became part of Endorphin Power Co., his solution for several social issues at once: It...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. 'Pedicabs' provide an environmentally sound - and fun - way to navigate the Big Apple. NEW YORK - As Paula Murgia determinedly pedals her tricycle up Park Avenue, she turns to the passenger in the back seat. "You know, someone gave the Dalai Lama a golden tricycle when he was a child," she says with a great grin. "There's something very spiritual about them." If not spiritual, the three-wheel "taxis" called pedicabs are certainly enlightening, at least about the city of New York. Over the past few years a small band...