Velomobiles: Energy Efficient, Human Powered ‘Pods’ to Replace the Car?

Grant J. Kidney — There is a clean and affordable alternative to driving around all day in some gas guzzling capitalist mobile (car). Introducing a light weight, highly efficient, and extremely futuristic looking vehicle called a ‘velomobile’.

With their roots in European innovation, velomobiles are essentially enclosed bicycles that resemble space pods from a range of science fiction films. 100% human-powered, a velomobile will take you to where you need to be all without having to pay such ridiculous fees at the pump.

Energy efficiency, sleek design

The velomobile: 100% energy efficiency

Because of their aerodynamic design, velomobiles cut through the wind quite nicely thus reducing the energy it would normally take for a biker to reach top cruising speed. This reduction of the total amount of energy input also means that one is able to travel much further distances in a velomobile without getting too tired, sweaty, or burned out.

Some velomobiles are equipped with an ‘electric assist’ which enables riders to easily travel up hills without all of the exhaustion that normal biking would yield. Other velomobile amenities either proposed or now currently in the works include air conditioning and heating units as well as additional seats for multiple passengers.

Velomobiles would make for the perfect inner city transport units in that they cause zero noise pollution and are environmentally friendly to the highest degree. Commuters would also gain valuable exercise all the whilst traveling to and fro the work place.

Oil execs don’t want you to have a velomobile

Despite their high levels of efficiency, the oil elite would never allow for the mass production and popularization of the velomobile. The billions in annual oil profits pretty much assures the power of industry over society. Since the velomobile requires no burning of fossil fuels for energy, there isn’t a dime to be made in the continued usage of these truly ‘green machines’.

We can also count on the morbid laziness of most Americans to stifle any efforts at bringing velomobiles to a position of prominence. Hooked on McDonalds hamburgers, cigarettes, and mercury-filled soft-drinks, the American people would probably never accept a new social zeitgeist that would require them to exert effort of any kind.

The following YouTube clip is a performance demonstration of the ‘Aeororider’ velomobile. Visit the manufacturer’s website here.

You may also enjoy: