ELF car

http://organictransit.com/

Payload is the weight the ELF will carry (driver and cargo) and does not include the weight of the ELF. (150lbs)

We are required to limit max speed on flat under electric power to 20mph.

22% grade is tough and I have no data beyond seat of the pants but

we have been able to gear the ELF to meet our customers’ needs thus far.

There are lots of ELF owners in mountain settings across the US and Canada.

We have commercial users pushing the ELF much harder than our claims. 

   That is 500 lbs on a one HP motor with one to one gearing????! But at least it does use a small drive wheel.

Two large lithium batteries, but a third one would help with climbing steep hills.

One HP hub motor, not on the drive wheel.  They used a gearless hub motor with direct gearing to the drive wheel, because hub motors operate slowly. However they are energy monsters without gears. If you live in steep hill country and you need to move heavy weights up 8% grades or worse, this machine really needs a two or three speed gear box.

We have steep hills and two children that keep getting bigger and bigger, so I would need a larger motor and a second stage gear reduction. A two speed gear box would be ideal.

Most experienced cyclists know that a faster crank cadence with a lower gear reduces stress on the legs yet maintains the same speed. This is true for motors as well; the Elf car could use a lower gear reduction and a larger wattage for a faster cooler operation when climbing steep hills.

Low Gears need to be a prerequisite for all powerful motored bicycles!

The best way to add a lower gear to the Elf would be a 12 to 14 inch rim pulley that would not let the belt slip when wet.   A 4 to 1 reduction would help a lot.

Cross ridges inside the rim to fit the belt's notches' pitch would do it for sure.

Held on to the drive wheel with tabs, they should be made in factory so that they are all the same. You can buy a small pulley for the motor that already have these ridges.

These rim pulleys were used on some of the first motorcycles. And they still can work on motorized bicycles if there is room for them to fit, as there appears to be on the rear frame of the Elf.

http://commutercycling.blogspot.com/2010/10/secrets-of-motor-pedal-hybrid-design.html 

How to put a 23" (19") moped tyre on this trike, it needs a new rim:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=39751

http://commutercycling.blogspot.com/2016/01/bicycletires-do-not-do-well-on-really.html

http://organictransit.com/gallery/

Rear hub; Needs a larger sprocket for a lower gear, but the brake is in the way.

right side of motor

The reason they used a Hub-Motor was the water resistant case and the fact that these motors operate at a slow enough speed that more gear reduction was not needed. Not the best choice as far as I am concerned.

left side of motor

steering

steering

front axle

the pedals need clips

Emcycle

The Emcycle: tilting, fully-enclosed 500w pedelec weighing just 80 lb (36 kg) maximum total combined weight is 400lbs (181.43 kg) that leaves only 320lbs (145 kg) for the driver and cargo. 

It looks like the Elf-car is going to have a lot of competition soon. But I don't like the monocoque plastic and carbon-fiber body. Not that I see any way around using plastic composite for the body of a velomobile. And there is the fact that it is too narrow (24”) for such an open side; you will get wet in a heavy rain. And it could use larger moped tires.