I am an Elf owner, I purchased it last year in May of 2014. After driving it for a complete season without incident and never being flipped off by any motorist. More often than not people give the thumbs up and smile with curiosity when they pass. I use for commutes between my location and town (17 kms round trip). The route I use has a maximum speed limit of 60 kmh , I can clearly see anything coming to and from me. When I experience a situation where I may be a liability to road traffic I simply pull over and let vehicles pass however most are willing to wait and watch until they can pass safely. Over all I am very well pleased with this bike and recommend it to anyone looking for an alternate form of transportation. It helps our environment, health and is economic when you do the math.
From a CEO of Organic Transit, Maureen Costello on June 16, 2019: "One of our proudest achievements is that there was not a single death in an ELF in seven years. Even when people got in serious accidents they survived. Hard as this all was we felt like angels guarded us and the ELF owners. Rob's most serious concern was keeping people safe. He once said to me, "there are precious souls in these ELFs." We took it very seriously. You are all precious souls to us. God Bless."
This is just the cutest thing I have seen for a long time!! If everyone in the city uses one of these, just think of all the smog people won't have to breath! I want one!! Stay in shape and get to where you are going at the same! Kids in town can use them to go to school and get to work. They should make them affordable so everyone can buy one!
I don't understand the people who say "This wouldn't work in every scenario therefore it's a terrible idea." Dude, this is a bicycle with a little protection from the rain. It's not for people who have to commute 70 miles to work daily. It's not for people who have to take a highway to work. It's not for people who live in rough mountain passes. It's not for people who live in places where you get a foot of snow every day. It's for people who live in mild climates and live within 10 miles of work or the grocery store. For those people, the savings on fuel, maintenance, and licensing might be enough to make the switch.
Attach paddles to the rear tire and add pontoons. PACIFIC, GO FOR IT. (but, triple your insurance) :) (for those without a sense of humor, IT'S A JOKE)
Brilliant! Contraptions like this are a glimpse into our future. The International Energy Agency reports that there is less than 46 years of oil left. The world as we've known it is going to change drastically.
In my you tube searches I keep bumping into the ELF and of all the electric toys out there this one is the most practical and usable and not a toy but a solution.
No insurance required (in the U.S.) however several insurance companies do offer bicycle insurance for some states.In some countries like the U.K. cyclists are offered insurance anywhere there.
one criticism, zero suspension? it looks small and light enough that some old school chevy valve springs would be enough to give 1-1.5" worth of nerf to soften impacts of rougher pavement. sparing some damage to tires, rims, bearings etc while helping make the ride a little more comfortable. up front it could be as simple as what old RC pan cars used, and at rear not really much more complicated.
"elastomeric suspension"? Front and rear wheels are BOLTED directly to the axle and frame. The only suspension is the aluminum frame flexing. TIRES are not suspension, springs are.
In places with an average of 35°C all year round, few bike lanes and extremely aggressive drivers where I live in Asia, or 6 months of winter, freezing rain going close to sideways in the wind, ice covered roads and only slightly less aggressive drivers where I lived in Canada, I'll skip the ELF. I really don't know what paradise this thing was meant to operate in but I'd like to visit.
I just checked... Looks like they are now starting new at $9,100. shipping included. You must pick it up at a dealer called Garry Small Saab: portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bid/5690769821.html
Very cool, but it needs some kind of removable side panels. (A plexi-glass sheet perhaps?) Rain doesn't always fall straight down. And the first time an SUV passes you going through a puddle, well... need I say more?
wonderful vehicle probably buy one. remember something water is 8lbs per gallon X 55 gallons 440 lbs plus the wait of the container. that said be careful to make sure you spread the weight around.
Santiago Chile is having a big change in terms of using bicycles. The ELFs can fill the percentage that does not use bicycles for all the unconviniences that ELFs can cover. Now price is something to think about; may be producing it here not just for Chile but for the rest of the countries (biger markets).
+casey suriel Brooklyn! No one would be dumb enough (I hope) to steal the entire thing seeing as NYC is not populated with the ELF. But I could imagine coming back to it after work, with no wheels, solar panel, chair, or chains. Just a big shell of what it once was waiting for me. Until I move to a nice suburbia setting, I'll get a Hoverboard(Self Balancing Scooter) instead. I can at least carry that indoors.
+jlly16 Personally I'd just get an electric scooter with a foldable steering tube, they're much better for reliable and safe personal transport and they're much faster. Hoverboards just don't seem like they're that great for getting around outside of a mall that has butter smooth flooring
Turning in the rain looks wet--those fenders can't possibly be adequate enough to avoid rebound splashing off the frame. That said, it looks fun. I was looking at other Velomobiles but they were all too expensive. If they could just mass produce this thing, it might only cost $3k. A reasonable trike costs less than that--this just has a shell and some accessories.
It actually uses a 480 watt/hr rated Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. These can be good up to around 3,000 full battery charging cycles. Sometimes less (or more) though but at least around 1,000 cycles. Basically a 480 watt/hr Lithium Iron Phosphate battery can be purchased for around $500 or so.Maybe a little more.Myself I have a 240 watt/hr Lithium Iron Phosphate battery on my 250 watt electric assisted motorized bicycle.
I hope this product trikebike can reach here in my country because we need also like that organic bike for our delay commute specialy when rainy season
Both US car-bike factories went down during the pandemic. Sol Mobile bought interest in Organic Transit but is not yet making new ones. It is still in NC. Updates are in the Facebook pages. There are less than 1,500 of these on US roads today and some are broken down. The market for used ones is brisk.
This ELF does a lot of things really well. Every vehicle has it's downfalls in one way or another. Pointing out things like it's crash worthiness or lack of speed is silly. It's a bicycle class vehicle. You don't go to every bicycle or motorcycle video and point out how you have no protection in a crash. Let's go watch some car videos and complain about how they don't offer any exercise for the driver. That's the logic I see in some of these comments.
the market is out their,pricing,infrastructure,a simple low cost suspension in the front and a single swing arm in the rear could make for a huge improvement in ride quality.Tweaking the aerodynamics is where the vehicle could gain the most improvement in both range[electric and rider endurance]90 percent of your effort on a bicycle is wasted on overcoming air resistance,while this is better then a standard bicycle,their is plenty of room for improvement.Aerodynamics are worth a huge boost in performance and range.A motorcycle that gets 50 mpg stock,with a aerodynamic nose and tail[not a streamliner]it will easily double to 100 mpg usa,or 2 liters per 100Km.So the Elf could really take a load off you and your pocket book,while having some good old fun.
Tire choice can change the ride comfort as well, minus the bigger weight penalty (inefficiency). If you try a road bike, then a mountain bike, you will see what I'm talking about. The fatter tire is cushy. That's the nice thing, using bike parts, the thing is like mechanical lego- modify as wanted.
idk about that "protection from the elements" part....maybe if they added something to cover those gigantic openings on the sides....oh and how do you stop people from stealing it?
I love it, but...does it have to be so wide and so big? And it does need a leaning mechanism (cf. Drymer from Holland). If you must make it so wide might as well make it so that a child can also ride as passenger in a back seat.
When you see the feet bobbing under this vehicle, YUP, FLINTSTONES. *_8D_* HEY POOPEYE DUDE, THIS ==> *_8D_* is a laughing face. It's used where someone is making fun of or a joke about... or even a simple PUN. Hopefully you understand ONE OF those explanations. (GOOD GOD the simple things some people just DON'T understand)
[the late JERRY REED] *"It's a joke son."* *_Popeye Gordon:_* "Not even close, loser. Flintstones had no pedals" ______ GORDY DUDE... Lighten up, someone stole your ELF? CHEEEEEZE!!! ______
The video reports the cost is about $4,000....Going on to their site, that is less than half of what the webpage for the company says it costs....the beginning price is $8496.
You missed the publishing date on the video when it was produced, so yes its natural for price to increase, its like looking at the Ford F150 and needing something like the 450 or 650 and your going to be paying much more. Sure computers started out high but then price came down but lasted in that lower price for a few years, you would be lucky it last you more than say 4 years at a couple hundred bucks. Thus why you see computers costing thousands since they can be upgraded part by part as needed to operate efficiently as possible along with the recommended upgrades of said OS programming.
I like the idea it's 5 ft tall so people can see it. it is ideal for warm weather climates. Wish it was 2k and not 4k -then i think it would pay for itself after 3 summers
Fiber cam ve plastik kullanılması çok iyi olmuş. Bu sayede denizlerdeki plastik kirliliğini en aza indirmiş oluruz, dünya insanları olarak. (Uzaydanmı geldik? 😃)
Solar panels are best fixed to a structure, out of the shade, and pointed at the sun. On vehicles, they add weight for little power. A lot of vehicle designers don't get this, but engineers know better.
wow so thats how solar panels work, pointed at the sun and out of the shade. and those panels weight next to nothing bud. they are the flexible type, made of very thin plastic.
cody mason Its better to just plug it into a solar array on the roof. The roof is out of shade and always optimal oriented to the sun. The solar on the Elf is only 60W in the best case scenario, but if the solar is pointed the wrong way or shaded it will not make much power at all. Check out solar race if you check out a solar race car, you will see that all of its top surface is photo-voltaic cells.
my apologies. I still think the weight of the panels compared to the battery and electric motor is negligible. that way you have a passive solar charging system as well as a plug in option. seems pretty cool to me.
THEY SEEM TO BE A NICE THING TO Maybe rent to do little things "shopping trips, get light workouts, for older people who no longer drive cars.but here in Detroit, U need to enclose it against bad weather. Put some doors, A wiper,enclosed the floor area against water from rain/snow.
Not needed. As I already reminded you, you are exercising while pedaling and you are out of the wind. Heaters are VERY power hungry and require a substantial expensive extra battery for something not even needed. So much smarter to dress in layers and peel off a layer once you warm up. You can also use a heat pad on the seat, warmed in the microwave before leaving.
bike components with e-unit cost them ~$2K +solar panel +shell material &labor(?) So, $4-5K price is fair considering payoff in 6 mo if it is used to commute AND workout.. I would buy it, if I were 9 to 5 clerk of $30K salary.
is it too wide for bike path access? are there going to be shocks ? I could hook up a bike trailer to rear wheel shafts like a bike? will the price come down when sales go Wild? 4000 sounds reasonable , Henry ford changed the world using low price (he got rich too).
Sorry for the double post, the cost is bait high ATM , considering similar bikes go for 1500 -2000 but I hope with more demand this will go down in price as I'd like to own one but I can just go and get a fully motorized scooter for 600-850 and it has a higher top speed. Please re-adjust your costs and make this more affordable
It wouldn't it would suck on every level as would using a bicycle, which only a complete moron would do. But It would work great in mild weather and this country has lots of that!
You can use a Ktrax for that. Also human powered, like a snowmobile track and ski for a bicycle. I can ride my bicycle safely in up to 3" of snow. It's a regular single speed bike with winter studs. Some guys race the Iditarod trail with fat bikes in worse conditions. It takes an adventurous spirit.
Butwhy Doesitmatter Shows what I know. I have limited experience with snow. It started snowing once, when I visited Mt Palomar. We got in the Camero and nearly died getting off the mountain. Those wide oval tires were not made for snow covered roads! I was a fool for driving up there in the winter and even more of a fool for thinking I should drive to safety. That car had no business being there, but I still enjoyed owning it.
@tritowns It would probably start easier than your car at 20 below. And unless you have a honkin' 4X4 truck that's chained up on front and rear, it should go about as far as your car will in a foot of snow. (about a foot or two)
I like the egg shape for a body, but this has a much larger frontal area than a biker on a conventional bike. You'd have to peddle much harder (or use the electric assist a lot) in order to make up the difference.
This shape makes it more aerodynamic than an upright bike making it more efficient. Also the recumbent position makes it easier to pedal. I like that it is the same height as an average car making it highly visible.
Sounds wonderful but ... I'd get killed driving around in NEW JERSEY in this thing. There are way too many high-speed highways around here and trying to anywhere NOT taking an interstate would make commuting a total nightmare as one would have to take back roads everywhere. And as for our winters ... this thing wouldn't last a day in the snow. Pity - really does look well designed.
You need to move out of that hell hole if you have any self respect at all. Weather is not a problem - these are used on snow and ice with studded tires. Videos of that are here on youtube.
I love the idea of this thing, but it's cost is still an issue for me. It's going to be a while before I could save up the $5,500 it takes to get just the basic system, not to mention I'd need two of them so both me and my wife can go places.
Yes, two door options. But I don't want doors on mine. Makes it too hot and the windows fog since I am exercising. I don't get wet, the rain just blows past the doors and gets my elbows damp.
About half the cost of a Velomobile and with greater visibility and ease of entry. When the reporter crosses through the intersection, she crosses over bumps and it seems clear that this doesn't have suspension. Without suspension, I would worry that the constant shock of bumpy roads will shake and rattle the shell, causing cracks that can't be repaired. Those cracks would occur, likely, in key stress-points, greatly shortening the life of the shell. Am I correct there are no shocks and, if so, why not? Thank you for your effort to create a sustainable future. This kind of work must continue. Wayne
I like it......but mark my words......when these start showing up in higher numbers in the streets some level of government will start requiring more safety features, a license, insurance etc
Who says it is expensive, look what velomobiles cost today. (starting from 8000) if only it can be made on conveyor for mass production. I hope it stays at 4000-4500. I will buy one
How do you secure these so they don't get stolen..? It would be nice to have a metal loop attached to the frame so that you can lock it to a bike rack. In Portland, 4 bikes are stolen every day.. (every day) in a city, security is a big issue and they ELF website gives no security options (And these are too wide at 3.5 feet to bring into your home or apartment. Might be good for someone who has a garage and a secure, guarded parking area. (Oh... it also needs to be in the sun for solar) Nice idea...! practical..?
All bicycle security options apply to the ELF. In addition it has a removable key for the motor and without the motor power you are dealing with a 160 lb bike under pedal power only. Of the 900 ELFs sold, two have been stolen. One was recovered and the one not recovered was not locked by the owner. At least one owner I am aware of keeps her ELF out on a public street in a marginal neighborhood and has done so for 2 years. She locks it to a sign post by the curb. I keep mine under a car port now but also kept it for the first year out in the open with a golf cart cover to cover it in bad weather. It charges while I am out and about on errands, I return home with a 90% charge. Nice idea and practical. But it is absurd to suggest that any one vehicle is 'practical' for 100% of all transportation requirements.
I designed a very similar H.E.H. (human electric hybrid) over 9 years ago now. All be it with a different drive mechanism. The main thing in the way of my idea is the fact that the UK government do not allow electric assistance over 15mph which is useless for my commute on 40-60mph limit roads. Unless I want to register the vehicle with number plates, M.o.T., road tax and all the other unnecessary bullshit blocking this kind of commuter alternative. For safety, I would need to be able to travel at about 45mph. Even though a fit cyclist can easily top that speed, the law says no go for electric assist for normal commuters. We must change the rules, or alternative transport will not have a chance to break into the mainstream here.
To which UK law are you referring exactly? Micro Cars were approved on January 17th this year. That super ugly Italian 4 wheeler is legal and it has electric assist. Search Quadoe here on UA-cam and you'll see what's going on in London right now.
Brian Graves I don't see that it's a problem. A car is very heavy and high powered which means it carries a lot of inertia, that potential energy is imparted into any other object it runs in to. The pedal powered equivalent has to be designed to be as light as possible and has a greatly reduced kinetic force on any impact. That, in my opinion, is just one of the vital differences between the two. ;)
On a leisurely bicycle ride in a country town on Main st. where everybody and their cousin lives, I've been wanting safe roads as some towns don't have them and we're unwillingly stuck in the middle of moving traffic! Nothing is done as bicyclists put their lives on the line. Walking and handicap pedestrians are also out in limbo where they can't, safely, cross an intersection at the borderline of 2 country towns! If there is no money to be gained from these bicyclists and pedestrians well the gov just won't help them one iota.
It is safer than any bicycle or motorcycle, that is a huge selling point. I use mine safely on highways and busy streets. I use mine on bike paths with no issue whatsoever. The standard for bike trails is now 10 feet wide.
Not here in my country Scotland it's not fast enough for safety on Rd with cars definitely to wide for a lot at least of the paths here , and I do lie it ; as I said if you had wide enough paths it would do well and looks fun good luck with it any way .
No because there usually big tractors and people don't tend to be such asholes with big tractors what is wrong with you why are you arguing over this use your common sense besides as I said if there were safe places to use it then I would love one but there aren't most pathways are two narrow it's just a fact here , I did say here in my country didn't I ?
From a CEO of Organic Transit, Maureen Costello on June 16, 2019: "One of our proudest achievements is that there was not a single death in an ELF in seven years. Even when people got in serious accidents they survived. Hard as this all was we felt like angels guarded us and the ELF owners. Rob's most serious concern was keeping people safe. He once said to me, "there are precious souls in these ELFs." We took it very seriously. You are all precious souls to us. God Bless."
I am an Elf owner, I purchased it last year in May of 2014. After driving it for a complete season without incident and never being flipped off by any motorist. More often than not people give the thumbs up and smile with curiosity when they pass. I use for commutes between my location and town (17 kms round trip). The route I use has a maximum speed limit of 60 kmh , I can clearly see anything coming to and from me. When I experience a situation where I may be a liability to road traffic I simply pull over and let vehicles pass however most are willing to wait and watch until they can pass safely. Over all I am very well pleased with this bike and recommend it to anyone looking for an alternate form of transportation. It helps our environment, health and is economic when you do the math.
From a CEO of Organic Transit, Maureen Costello on June 16, 2019: "One of our proudest achievements is that there was not a single death in an ELF in seven years. Even when people got in serious accidents they survived. Hard as this all was we felt like angels guarded us and the ELF owners. Rob's most serious concern was keeping people safe. He once said to me, "there are precious souls in these ELFs." We took it very seriously. You are all precious souls to us. God Bless."
This is just the cutest thing I have seen for a long time!! If everyone in the city uses one of these, just think of all the smog people won't have to breath! I want one!! Stay in shape and get to where you are going at the same! Kids in town can use them to go to school and get to work. They should make them affordable so everyone can buy one!
I don't understand the people who say "This wouldn't work in every scenario therefore it's a terrible idea." Dude, this is a bicycle with a little protection from the rain. It's not for people who have to commute 70 miles to work daily. It's not for people who have to take a highway to work. It's not for people who live in rough mountain passes. It's not for people who live in places where you get a foot of snow every day. It's for people who live in mild climates and live within 10 miles of work or the grocery store. For those people, the savings on fuel, maintenance, and licensing might be enough to make the switch.
A car isn't fit for every situation so therefore, it's a terrible idea, i mean, how else am i gonna cross the pacific?
Attach paddles to the rear tire and add pontoons. PACIFIC, GO FOR IT. (but, triple your insurance) :)
(for those without a sense of humor, IT'S A JOKE)
oggyreidmore i
As per your suggestions which e tricycle is better for long,journey.
@@najirhusenshaikh8169 Thy aren't for long journeys. Take a car.
Brilliant! Contraptions like this are a glimpse into our future. The International Energy Agency reports that there is less than 46 years of oil left. The world as we've known it is going to change drastically.
In my you tube searches I keep bumping into the ELF and of all the electric toys out there this one is the most practical and usable and not a toy but a solution.
No insurance required (in the U.S.) however several insurance companies do offer bicycle insurance for some states.In some countries like the U.K. cyclists are offered insurance anywhere there.
Fantastic!
I would love to ride one of these across country.
one criticism, zero suspension? it looks small and light enough that some old school chevy valve springs would be enough to give 1-1.5" worth of nerf to soften impacts of rougher pavement. sparing some damage to tires, rims, bearings etc while helping make the ride a little more comfortable. up front it could be as simple as what old RC pan cars used, and at rear not really much more complicated.
It has front elastomeric suspension. Many choose the three inch tire option. Mine smooths out the bumps by keeping them less than fully inflated.
"elastomeric suspension"? Front and rear wheels are BOLTED directly to the axle and frame.
The only suspension is the aluminum frame flexing. TIRES are not suspension, springs are.
In places with an average of 35°C all year round, few bike lanes and extremely aggressive drivers where I live in Asia, or 6 months of winter, freezing rain going close to sideways in the wind, ice covered roads and only slightly less aggressive drivers where I lived in Canada, I'll skip the ELF. I really don't know what paradise this thing was meant to operate in but I'd like to visit.
Really odd comment. Every condition you mentioned represents reasons to use the ELF with it protective body shell. We use studded tires when needed.
Nice! Try using this in a Chicago winter!
These start at $8000 in Portland, Oregon. That $4000 base price is misleading...
I just checked... Looks like they are now starting new at $9,100. shipping included. You must pick it up at a dealer called Garry Small Saab: portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bid/5690769821.html
That's crazy. An Elio is like $7300 and it's really powered by an engine and carries two.
Update: They are now $9,000 to $11,000 in Portland. They are cute though..! :)
FU NDA lol elio....
Very cool, but it needs some kind of removable side panels. (A plexi-glass sheet perhaps?) Rain doesn't always fall straight down. And the first time an SUV passes you going through a puddle, well... need I say more?
A good product from North Carolina, USA.
wonderful vehicle probably buy one. remember something water is 8lbs per gallon X 55 gallons 440 lbs plus the wait of the container. that said be careful to make sure you spread the weight around.
Santiago Chile is having a big change in terms of using bicycles. The ELFs can fill the percentage that does not use bicycles for all the unconviniences that ELFs can cover. Now price is something to think about; may be producing it here not just for Chile but for the rest of the countries (biger markets).
I like it! It needs to get up to about 40 to 45 mph though (in some cases/places)
I think, they can upgrade it to your request for extra thousand $.
That's a legal battle.
I would buy one, i live in NYC. My only gripe is theft.
+jlly16 i completely agree, i also live in ny, the bronx
+casey suriel Brooklyn! No one would be dumb enough (I hope) to steal the entire thing seeing as NYC is not populated with the ELF. But I could imagine coming back to it after work, with no wheels, solar panel, chair, or chains. Just a big shell of what it once was waiting for me. Until I move to a nice suburbia setting, I'll get a Hoverboard(Self Balancing Scooter) instead. I can at least carry that indoors.
I wanted a vehicle that was covered Canopy style), but not a car.
+jlly16 Personally I'd just get an electric scooter with a foldable steering tube, they're much better for reliable and safe personal transport and they're much faster.
Hoverboards just don't seem like they're that great for getting around outside of a mall that has butter smooth flooring
+OT Sales 2 you could always replace all the nuts and bolts with security ones that require a specific tool to remove
Awesome thinking. I live in Orlando that would be a great commuter because I am only 9 miles from my office!!
Turning in the rain looks wet--those fenders can't possibly be adequate enough to avoid rebound splashing off the frame. That said, it looks fun. I was looking at other Velomobiles but they were all too expensive. If they could just mass produce this thing, it might only cost $3k. A reasonable trike costs less than that--this just has a shell and some accessories.
Along time ago I lived 13k form work and I would pass the same cars 3 or4 times on the journey there and back
I've seen "still" photographs of the ELF on Facebook, but this is the first time I've seen the ELF in a Video. It looks better in the Video.
That gets along well, doesn't it? And you don't get wet!
The wheeles as it turn can also generate power in addition for solar and heat power...
It actually uses a 480 watt/hr rated Lithium Iron Phosphate battery.
These can be good up to around 3,000 full battery charging cycles.
Sometimes less (or more) though but at least around 1,000 cycles.
Basically a 480 watt/hr Lithium Iron Phosphate battery can be purchased for around $500 or so.Maybe a little more.Myself I have a 240 watt/hr Lithium Iron Phosphate battery on my 250 watt electric assisted motorized bicycle.
Another welcome mean of eco transportation system for the year 2015 and 2020!!
Fakat farklı ve özgün tasarım olmuş. Tebrikler
I hope this product trikebike can reach here in my country because we need also like that organic bike for our delay commute specialy when rainy season
FINALLY. I found what I was looking for. It took me three or four year
Do you own one now?
ELF would be an excellent dual mode PRT! You could power and control them externally when in rail mode.
I can't believe i haven't seen more on these. I can't even see that they're made in NC anymore
Both US car-bike factories went down during the pandemic. Sol Mobile bought interest in Organic Transit but is not yet making new ones. It is still in NC. Updates are in the Facebook pages. There are less than 1,500 of these on US roads today and some are broken down. The market for used ones is brisk.
@@popeyegordon thank you for the update :)
I like! ....the ride, the app, the concept - Keep up the good work, OT!
Nice ! And now a new one for commuting outside the town. I mean lighter and faster !
This ELF does a lot of things really well. Every vehicle has it's downfalls in one way or another. Pointing out things like it's crash worthiness or lack of speed is silly. It's a bicycle class vehicle. You don't go to every bicycle or motorcycle video and point out how you have no protection in a crash. Let's go watch some car videos and complain about how they don't offer any exercise for the driver. That's the logic I see in some of these comments.
the market is out their,pricing,infrastructure,a simple low cost suspension in the front and a single swing arm in the rear could make for a huge improvement in ride quality.Tweaking the aerodynamics is where the vehicle could gain the most improvement in both range[electric and rider endurance]90 percent of your effort on a bicycle is wasted on overcoming air resistance,while this is better then a standard bicycle,their is plenty of room for improvement.Aerodynamics are worth a huge boost in performance and range.A motorcycle that gets 50 mpg stock,with a aerodynamic nose and tail[not a streamliner]it will easily double to 100 mpg usa,or 2 liters per 100Km.So the Elf could really take a load off you and your pocket book,while having some good old fun.
Tire choice can change the ride comfort as well, minus the bigger weight penalty (inefficiency). If you try a road bike, then a mountain bike, you will see what I'm talking about. The fatter tire is cushy. That's the nice thing, using bike parts, the thing is like mechanical lego- modify as wanted.
Most of it's pros are already present in a bicycle, especially a good recumbent.
idk about that "protection from the elements" part....maybe if they added something to cover those gigantic openings on the sides....oh and how do you stop people from stealing it?
I would feel like a nerd in this!
Thats ok, nerds are cool now.
I love it, but...does it have to be so wide and so big? And it does need a leaning mechanism (cf. Drymer from Holland). If you must make it so wide might as well make it so that a child can also ride as passenger in a back seat.
I'm still waiting for those hover bikes, damn it!.
...reminded me of The Flinstones
When you see the feet bobbing under this vehicle, YUP, FLINTSTONES. *_8D_*
HEY POOPEYE DUDE, THIS ==> *_8D_* is a laughing face. It's used where someone is making fun of or a joke about... or even a simple PUN. Hopefully you understand ONE OF those explanations. (GOOD GOD the simple things some people just DON'T understand)
Not even close, loser. Flintstones had no pedals
[the late JERRY REED] *"It's a joke son."*
*_Popeye Gordon:_* "Not even close, loser. Flintstones had no pedals"
______ GORDY DUDE... Lighten up, someone stole your ELF? CHEEEEEZE!!! ______
Flagged, downvoted and reported to G+ for trolling. Blocked.
BLOCKED?! WOW, that's the best thing I heard from you.
POOPEYE DUDE, you really need to go back to school, you NEVER learned what a JOKES is.
The video reports the cost is about $4,000....Going on to their site, that is less than half of what the webpage for the company says it costs....the beginning price is $8496.
You missed the publishing date on the video when it was produced, so yes its natural for price to increase, its like looking at the Ford F150 and needing something like the 450 or 650 and your going to be paying much more. Sure computers started out high but then price came down but lasted in that lower price for a few years, you would be lucky it last you more than say 4 years at a couple hundred bucks. Thus why you see computers costing thousands since they can be upgraded part by part as needed to operate efficiently as possible along with the recommended upgrades of said OS programming.
I like the idea it's 5 ft tall so people can see it. it is ideal for warm weather climates. Wish it was 2k and not 4k -then i think it would pay for itself after 3 summers
Mine paid for itself in full in less than three years because I got rid of my car.
really neat but how often do you have to replace the lipo....I know they can get expensive
Love biker untuk Indonesia 🇮🇩🇮🇩👍
WONDERFUL & ECONOMICAL VEHICLE
Imagine being able to travel safely at incredibly fast speeds! Introducing the IT! Now with Flexi Grips!
lov having 4 of them .can it be use in burke county N.C. I wonder !!!!!!!!!!
Are you kidding? These are MADE in N.C.
Would love to bring this out where I'm at at a community center here in New Jersey would love to make it out here
I love the idea. I want one.
Fiber cam ve plastik kullanılması çok iyi olmuş. Bu sayede denizlerdeki plastik kirliliğini en aza indirmiş oluruz, dünya insanları olarak. (Uzaydanmı geldik? 😃)
Tuyệt vời, động cơ chạy bằng cơm, ngày xac ba lần, vợ con đều thích...
Can you buy these in England,they seem a good idea.
nice video thanks friends
Solar panels are best fixed to a structure, out of the shade, and pointed at the sun. On vehicles, they add weight for little power. A lot of vehicle designers don't get this, but engineers know better.
I don't know much about the subject, but the panels are more for trickle charging while the ELF is parked.
wow so thats how solar panels work, pointed at the sun and out of the shade.
and those panels weight next to nothing bud. they are the flexible type, made of very thin plastic.
haha yeah, and vehicle designers and engineers NEVER work together right?
cody mason Its better to just plug it into a solar array on the roof. The roof is out of shade and always optimal oriented to the sun. The solar on the Elf is only 60W in the best case scenario, but if the solar is pointed the wrong way or shaded it will not make much power at all. Check out solar race if you check out a solar race car, you will see that all of its top surface is photo-voltaic cells.
my apologies. I still think the weight of the panels compared to the battery and electric motor is negligible. that way you have a passive solar charging system as well as a plug in option. seems pretty cool to me.
THEY SEEM TO BE A NICE THING TO Maybe rent to do little things "shopping trips, get light workouts, for older people who no longer drive cars.but here in Detroit, U need to enclose it against bad weather. Put some doors, A wiper,enclosed the floor area against water from rain/snow.
very beautiful and amazing
great for the warm weather but in the cold weather it would be a different story
No you are exercising so you stay warm and out of the wind chill.
Popeye Gordon a little heater would be nice
Not needed. As I already reminded you, you are exercising while pedaling and you are out of the wind. Heaters are VERY power hungry and require a substantial expensive extra battery for something not even needed. So much smarter to dress in layers and peel off a layer once you warm up. You can also use a heat pad on the seat, warmed in the microwave before leaving.
Popeye Gordon good idea
Wonderful ,Allah bless you,thank you so much
bike components with e-unit cost them ~$2K +solar panel +shell material &labor(?) So, $4-5K price is fair considering payoff in 6 mo if it is used to commute AND workout..
I would buy it, if I were 9 to 5 clerk of $30K salary.
is it too wide for bike path access? are there going to be shocks ? I could hook up a bike trailer to rear wheel shafts like a bike? will the price come down when sales go Wild? 4000 sounds reasonable , Henry ford changed the world using low price (he got rich too).
when are they coming out with the tractor trailer version? you know, to move goods across the country
Next year. For real.
With simple electric power available on Ebay, this could be a good purchase if the price is right.
add some doors and then you can ride it when it's pouring down rain! :D
Doors areavailablebut it is just too friggin expensive for an e-bike...
Sehr gut und wie Teuer ist das teil und wo kann man so was Kaufen.?
The battery is changeable easily in less than 1 minute ? Where can we buy this bike in Vietnam?
i build home recumbents on my own,i would love to own this,!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is pretty cool, I'm going to model this and add it to the gmod scars pack, So people with an Oculus Rift can "Try before you buy" in VR
You sound like a geek.
Sorry for the double post, the cost is bait high ATM , considering similar bikes go for 1500 -2000 but I hope with more demand this will go down in price as I'd like to own one but I can just go and get a fully motorized scooter for 600-850 and it has a higher top speed. Please re-adjust your costs and make this more affordable
You were so wrong. over 800 have been sold. Comparing to any gas power vehicle is apples and oranges. We want to live clean.
how would it work in a foot of snow and at minus twenty?
It wouldn't it would suck on every level as would using a bicycle, which only a complete moron would do. But It would work great in mild weather and this country has lots of that!
You can use a Ktrax for that. Also human powered, like a snowmobile track and ski for a bicycle. I can ride my bicycle safely in up to 3" of snow. It's a regular single speed bike with winter studs. Some guys race the Iditarod trail with fat bikes in worse conditions. It takes an adventurous spirit.
Butwhy Doesitmatter Shows what I know. I have limited experience with snow. It started snowing once, when I visited Mt Palomar. We got in the Camero and nearly died getting off the mountain. Those wide oval tires were not made for snow covered roads! I was a fool for driving up there in the winter and even more of a fool for thinking I should drive to safety. That car had no business being there, but I still enjoyed owning it.
@tritowns It would probably start easier than your car at 20 below. And unless you have a honkin' 4X4 truck that's chained up on front and rear, it should go about as far as your car will in a foot of snow. (about a foot or two)
batteries at minus twenty don't work so well..
Boris should get these for Central London
I like the egg shape for a body, but this has a much larger frontal area than a biker on a conventional bike. You'd have to peddle much harder (or use the electric assist a lot) in order to make up the difference.
This shape makes it more aerodynamic than an upright bike making it more efficient. Also the recumbent position makes it easier to pedal. I like that it is the same height as an average car making it highly visible.
Sounds wonderful but ... I'd get killed driving around in NEW JERSEY in this thing. There are way too many high-speed highways around here and trying to anywhere NOT taking an interstate would make commuting a total nightmare as one would have to take back roads everywhere. And as for our winters ... this thing wouldn't last a day in the snow. Pity - really does look well designed.
You need to move out of that hell hole if you have any self respect at all.
Weather is not a problem - these are used on snow and ice with studded tires. Videos of that are here on youtube.
I love the idea of this thing, but it's cost is still an issue for me. It's going to be a while before I could save up the $5,500 it takes to get just the basic system, not to mention I'd need two of them so both me and my wife can go places.
They have 2 seated ones you can buy
How much do one of the two seat versions cost?
I'm guessing about 300$ more I don't know exactly how much
GH
Does it have any kind of doors to go on the side to protect you from splashes & spray on rainy days?
Yes, two door options. But I don't want doors on mine. Makes it too hot and the windows fog since I am exercising. I don't get wet, the rain just blows past the doors and gets my elbows damp.
Can I use one of these in the UK? Would love one! It's amazing. Can u carry someone in it with you?
jasmine - they have a two passenger version. You need a modification to use this in Europe.
i wonder how the suspension is on these things? Bumpy ride?
Very good transportation, and I think is very suitable in Indonesia,bus is it possible for us to have it?Thanks a lot
About half the cost of a Velomobile and with greater visibility and ease of entry. When the reporter crosses through the intersection, she crosses over bumps and it seems clear that this doesn't have suspension. Without suspension, I would worry that the constant shock of bumpy roads will shake and rattle the shell, causing cracks that can't be repaired. Those cracks would occur, likely, in key stress-points, greatly shortening the life of the shell. Am I correct there are no shocks and, if so, why not? Thank you for your effort to create a sustainable future. This kind of work must continue. Wayne
I like it......but mark my words......when these start showing up in higher numbers in the streets some level of government will start requiring more safety features, a license, insurance etc
5:33 The Reporter and Alix laugh with the same laugh at the same time.
tienen mucha personalidad, lucen muy bien.
Muy buena idea, ecologista, saludable y funcional... que precio?
Who says it is expensive, look what velomobiles cost today. (starting from 8000)
if only it can be made on conveyor for mass production. I hope it stays at 4000-4500. I will buy one
How do you secure these so they don't get stolen..? It would be nice to have a metal loop attached to the frame so that you can lock it to a bike rack. In Portland, 4 bikes are stolen every day.. (every day) in a city, security is a big issue and they ELF website gives no security options (And these are too wide at 3.5 feet to bring into your home or apartment. Might be good for someone who has a garage and a secure, guarded parking area. (Oh... it also needs to be in the sun for solar) Nice idea...! practical..?
All bicycle security options apply to the ELF. In addition it has a removable key for the motor and without the motor power you are dealing with a 160 lb bike under pedal power only. Of the 900 ELFs sold, two have been stolen. One was recovered and the one not recovered was not locked by the owner. At least one owner I am aware of keeps her ELF out on a public street in a marginal neighborhood and has done so for 2 years. She locks it to a sign post by the curb. I keep mine under a car port now but also kept it for the first year out in the open with a golf cart cover to cover it in bad weather. It charges while I am out and about on errands, I return home with a 90% charge.
Nice idea and practical. But it is absurd to suggest that any one vehicle is 'practical' for 100% of all transportation requirements.
I designed a very similar H.E.H. (human electric hybrid) over 9 years ago now. All be it with a different drive mechanism.
The main thing in the way of my idea is the fact that the UK government do not allow electric assistance over 15mph which is useless for my commute on 40-60mph limit roads.
Unless I want to register the vehicle with number plates, M.o.T., road tax and all the other unnecessary bullshit blocking this kind of commuter alternative. For safety, I would need to be able to travel at about 45mph.
Even though a fit cyclist can easily top that speed, the law says no go for electric assist for normal commuters. We must change the rules, or alternative transport will not have a chance to break into the mainstream here.
To which UK law are you referring exactly? Micro Cars were approved on January 17th this year. That super ugly Italian 4 wheeler is legal and it has electric assist. Search Quadoe here on UA-cam and you'll see what's going on in London right now.
RunnymedeInstitute
Really? I'll do that. I'd be very glad to hear the rules are catching up. Thank you. :D
RunnymedeInstitute
He is referring to the stupid 250w limit on Ebikes in the EU and Australia. With no ability to register more powerful ones.
The problem is you start blurring the lines between bicycle and car. Cars have government crash regulations and whatnot.
Brian Graves
I don't see that it's a problem. A car is very heavy and high powered which means it carries a lot of inertia, that potential energy is imparted into any other object it runs in to. The pedal powered equivalent has to be designed to be as light as possible and has a greatly reduced kinetic force on any impact. That, in my opinion, is just one of the vital differences between the two. ;)
I will ready to buy this vehicle right now (how much cost)
No insurance? What if somebody crashes into you or vice versa?
Is she from the 90s?
What happens if the chain break or you get a flat tire who would be able to fix?
There are two chains - if one breaks the other one gets you home.
Sou do brasil!
Eles Importam pra cá??
These are pretty darn cool.
Where I can buy one! It's amazing!
OrganicTransit.com
bro i can go so fast on my bicycle, this would be awesome.
You look and sound like a moron.
I want one of these so bad. How illegal would it be and has anyone tried to sup one up for like 55mph? I have a long country road...
Stupid idea. This is a light weight low speed vehicle. The windshield will implode above 45 mph.
it's not there fault but it's not safe on rd , and two big for most paths, I wish there was a safe road like path for theses .
On a leisurely bicycle ride in a country town on Main st. where everybody and their cousin lives, I've been wanting safe roads as some towns don't have them and we're unwillingly stuck in the middle of moving traffic! Nothing is done as bicyclists put their lives on the line. Walking and handicap pedestrians are also out in limbo where they can't, safely, cross an intersection at the borderline of 2 country towns! If there is no money to be gained from these bicyclists and pedestrians well the gov just won't help them one iota.
It is safer than any bicycle or motorcycle, that is a huge selling point. I use mine safely on highways and busy streets. I use mine on bike paths with no issue whatsoever. The standard for bike trails is now 10 feet wide.
Not here in my country Scotland it's not fast enough for safety on Rd with cars definitely to wide for a lot at least of the paths here , and I do lie it ; as I said if you had wide enough paths it would do well and looks fun good luck with it any way .
So when slow farm vehicles get out on your roads they always have rear end collisions?
No because there usually big tractors and people don't tend to be such asholes with big tractors what is wrong with you why are you arguing over this use your common sense besides as I said if there were safe places to use it then I would love one but there aren't most pathways are two narrow it's just a fact here , I did say here in my country didn't I ?
No suspension?
Nice Idea but that thing will fold up if a car runs into it!
at least you're not going under a car if you do get hit, like a cyclist would
MJ Bowks
No, just crushed and mangled!
It is just a covered bike.
So you shouldn't text and drive.
From a CEO of Organic Transit, Maureen Costello on June 16, 2019: "One of our proudest achievements is that there was not a single death in an ELF in seven years. Even when people got in serious accidents they survived. Hard as this all was we felt like angels guarded us and the ELF owners. Rob's most serious concern was keeping people safe. He once said to me, "there are precious souls in these ELFs." We took it very seriously. You are all precious souls to us. God Bless."
I want one now😂😂
Bro I just realized this was eleven years ago 😮
I want to purchase it