this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2023
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What do y'all think of this open-source, solar-roof e-bike thingy? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by Fried_out_Kombi@lemmy.world to c/technology@slrpnk.net
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/7654367

https://vhelio.org/

I personally think it could be a great alternative to cars and bikes for those who need to take a whole family somewhere or a decent amount of stuff.

Only modifications I would make would be ride-by-wire and an extra set of pedals (so you can have two people pedalling without the annoyance of normal tandem bikes having to pedal at the same rate), and a more powerful motor (only 250W is legal in France, where this was designed, whereas 500W is legal here in Canada)

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[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 20 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Hi! I am not part of the project itself but part of a publicly funded project aiming at making its production easier. Had lot's of reads and discussions with protagonists of the vhelio.

Vhelio is part of a group of projects funded by the French government to develop alternative vehicles. Some bikes, some electric cars, some things in between.

No one says the vhélio will by itself solve the transportation needs. It is seen as a puzzle piece to fit in a precise niche (urban and suburban trips in flat areas). The motor is too weak for slopes and we really want to make the laws around the power limitations evolve. Anyway, you can have a bigger motor but then the vehicle enters a different category: it is not an electric-assisted bike but closer to am electric scooter.

The part that I find great in the vhelio is that it is open and friendly to modifications. We may be able to circumvent power limitation by putting two motors, someone I know would like to make a version where the pedals only ever charge the batteries and the vehicle is always motor-driven, so that you can pedal at a constant rhythm, much healthier.

The design will have to evolve, several parts are unsafe (notably it has a lot of hard corners and if you hit into a wall at high speed the driver breaks both legs). Another friend thinks it has far too many screws and could be simplified, the vhelio team is working on a soldered frame.

I think it is better to see it as a platform than a single product.

[–] rekliner@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for some actual info rather than the rest of opinion and commentary here... Also for working to make the world a place.

Frustrating that one of the hurdles is red tape around engine size that needs a quirky solution like multiple motors.

[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Very frustrating! And we know that the path to change that is ~10 years. In the meantime, we will have to find a way to homologate them as registered vehicles, a process that's not exactly designed for small projects like that but thankfully we have a governmental agency on our side to open some doors. Right now we are mostly using a loophole (and a bit of a gray area) of "self build vehicles" that can be insured but not bought or sold. That's a reason why these are only sold in kit.

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

Good information, thank you!

[–] fine_sandy_bottom@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is all really interesting.

As an early iteration it's great, but without wanting to sound critical - it really does demonstrate a lot of problems.

To me, this format is too specialised to see much use in Australia for example. I can't think of many suburbs that would be flat enough for one person to drag around 3 bodies plus the machine even with a bigger motor. I cycle regularly, but it wouldn't take much of an incline with a headwind to make hauling 3 bodies plus machine a real challenge.

[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Don't haul 3. See it as an electrical tricycle (=great because you wont fall even at low speed) that can occasionally carry some things, and that recharges while parked. Honestly with a 1000W motor, I think it would be a very good product.

[–] Fried_out_Kombi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I think it's really the EU e-bike regulations that are the limiting factor. In Canada, we can have 500W, and the US allows up to 750W or 1000W iirc. Much more feasible than the paltry 250W allowed by EU.

[–] Draegur@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago

that's cool :3

i'd definitely use one to commute to work and back, or hit up the grocery store

i just wish there were more enclosed leg-powered gear-assisted wheeled vehicles in general to protect from inclement weather as you get around.

homo sapiens legs are amazingly developed anatomy and providing them with a momentum conserving and force distributing mechanism like bicycles do is one of the best ideas we've ever had. severely underrated.

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think it’sa wonderful idea. Maybe some sort of removable panels for inclement weather?

[–] Fried_out_Kombi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I've seen at least some picture or videos where they have a detachable wind/rain screen for the front. Would probably help a lot with rain, wind, and snow.

Edit: found it: https://youtu.be/yDrjuy76_pg?si=eOPy6l8a5ikp4S8e

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks!

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don’t get how this is Open Source.

[–] Fried_out_Kombi@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

They have all the documentation and design files for making it yourself on their site here: https://communaute.vhelio.org/d/83-documentation-du-vheliotech-version-100-mai-2023

[–] Gork@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It could use a small trunk or something similar for bags.

[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The displayed configuration is one driver, one passenger and normally 1 to 2 kids, but the kids seats can be replaced by a cargo area.

[–] skyfaller@slrpnk.net 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Could a "frunk" (trunk in front of the driver) help protect the driver's legs? Not big enough to block vision, just big enough to hold some bags.

[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Oh yes, many people mentionned that there is a huge need to change the fact that any collision will result in either broken legs or shredded pedestrians. Some sort of bumper is needed. Could be a light body or a frunk. The design is opened though and I know of two forks already, so feel free to experiment!

[–] lwuy9v5@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I feel like the solar panel wouldn't do much for it?

[–] HubertManne@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

considering the aptera can run totally solar I would think this would get even more out of it

[–] roo@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Would I be wrong to say it's not that accessible? I've seen better examples with more accessible designs.

[–] HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

My problem would be how thrown together this looks. Cars are sleak, comfortable and safe(ish) - this looks like something someone threw together in a Thai chopshop to carry tourists around.

[–] Perroboc@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

reminds me of this

[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 year ago

Haha, pretty much this unironically! (I need that license plate)

[–] anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Looks better than the version I have saved on my phone.

[–] keepthepace@slrpnk.net 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This is how a car without its body looks like. This is pure functional skeleton. There are projects that propose fairing for bikes which add weight but increase aerodynamics.

That's a whole world to invent. Not sure you want doors on something that doesn't go much faster than 20km/h but maybe you do and it is a good idea.

[–] roo@lemmy.one 0 points 1 year ago

I noticed that too.

[–] Franzia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

NGL its worse than other solutions to the same problem. We already have tandem bikes, group bikes with rooves. This one seems to have been designed without any of the wise solutions products have considered.

[–] Nuklia 2 points 1 year ago

We already have tandem bikes, group bikes with rooves.

And this is not one of those. It's effectively an electric assisted trike with a solar charger for the battery.