International Velomobile-Meeting 2002

Autumn Meeting of the Manufacturer and Users of Velomobiles

by Prof. Jürgen Eick, Rüsselsheim

The Cab-Bike Co. <www.cab-bike.com> had invited to the meanwhile traditional autumn meeting of the European Velomobil Manufacturers and Users in this year. BIEBERTAL 2002 found again in the former forest house at the foot of the Dünsbergs from the 20. until 22. September. Reinhold Schwemmer, German Eslava and Rüdiger Licher, the Cab-Bike owners, took care with support of their wives for the intended informal experience exchange. The meetings was very well prepared as in the years 2000 and 2001.

A group of  16 Dutchmen had made the 480 Kilometer trip under the "travel management“ of Allert Jacob and Ymte Sijbrandij <www.velomobiel.nl> in their "Quests“, "Mangos “and "Limits“ up to the old forest house in just two days. This performance is amazing in view of the route taken through the densely populated area on the right side of the Rhein river and around Cologne. Whoever tried to travel with a similarly large group knows at which speed one must go in order to achieve such a performance.

Matthias Schiller <www.velomobilwerbung.de> held the first lecture and discussion of the evening. With his one-man company Matthias is trying to help Velomobile prospective clients who have small economical possibilities to purchase a Velomobile.  He showed us, how it is possible to persuade a bank to give a loan based on advertising revenues on the surface of a Velomobile. One can purchase a well prepared documentation from Matthias, which than can be submited to prospective advertisers. In this way it is very simple to get a contractual agreement for monthly advertising. The contract (with one single company) or several contracts (advertising for several companies) are than submitted to a bank and they built the guarantee for a loan (fully or partially) to purchase the desired Velomobile. Matthias himself fully financed the purchase of his "Cab-Bike in this way. He is convinced that "Velomobiles” are very interesting advertising mediums for companies because of its unusual view.

Joachim Fuchs <www.velomobile.info> is organizing the 5^th Velomobile-Seminar in the year 2003. It should guarantee the continuation of the good old tradition of specialized Conferences. The first Seminar took place 1993 in Denmark. Also the third Seminar (1998) took place in that country, while the second (1994) and the fourth (1999) Seminar took place in Switzerland. Since HPV World Championship and the Eurobike should take place at the same time in Friedrichshafen, Germany, the majority of the present people thought that Seminar should be held at the same place one day before the beginning of the HPV World Championship. Joachim informs with his web site about Velomobile activities (general issues, history, special advantages, technology, progress reports etc.). He has links to the different manufacturers.

All discussions took quit a while this evening and all participants went into their beds very late.

As on Friday the weather was fine on Saturday when the 27 Velomobiles started moving down the road. Reinhold had chosen small side-streets for the ride towards Giessen. In this way our more than hundred meters long Velomobile bunch did not disturb so much the always nervous car drivers. We crossed the pedestrian area of Giessen very slowly on our way to "Nudelmacher”. Reinhold Schwemmer and his wife Margitta Hofmann with a friend owned this small pasta making restaurant. All 27 Velomobiles parked in between two houses in a place which could be used only by may be 6 cars (see picture 1).

 Picture 1: Velomobile Invasion in Giessen

In any case this was the ideal place for Peter Lis and his special parallel tandem “Lissy”. While we could be spoiled with a splendid noodle ditches from the kitchen of the house, some passer-bys accepted the friendly invitation of Peter to have a ride in his “Lissy” and were very enthusiastic afterwards. As usual the press was informed about the meeting and they had the opportunity to make some photos for the local redaction of their newspapers.

After our return trip, a small up-hill competition had been organized by the Cab-Bike people. The regional street L3474 rises on a length of 2.77 Kilometer for an average of 6.5 percent from 220 meters to 400 meters height between Biebertal and the place call Konigsberg. At the beginning of this clime, the Velomobile bunch got the start and everyone had to try to ride as fast as possible up the hill. As expected the Dutchmen and specially Ymte could not to be beaten. The fastest german rider was Gerd Janss with his "Leitra“ <www.leitra.de> who arrived sixth showing a remarkable performance.

We didn't remain for a long time on the hill (see picture 2), since the Easterly winds became stronger and the temperature had sunk too strongly. At the end every one was glad to return to the forest house in their weatherproof Velomobiles.

 Picture 2: After the Up-hill Race

The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to extensive talking about velomobile details. Johan Vrielink and his son André <www.flevobike.nl> had brought the "Versatile“, a new velomoibile development, that was presented for the first time during the Cycle Vision 2002 in Lelystad in June. The company Flevobike which developed and delivered the "Alleweder” some years ago, has realized some remarkable innovations in the "Versatile“. The most important of them been the low entry for the driver, the steering by means of two sticks and the forward opening bonnet (see picture 3). These three qualities are of high value for less flexible drivers. The easy way of getting in and out distinguish the "Versatile“ from the other Dutch velomobiles like the "Alleweder “, the "Limit“, the "Quest“and also from the "Mango“ the shortened and more agile brother of the "Quest“.

Picture 3: „Versatile“ with openned cover.

The organizer had invited Dr. Andreas Fuchs <Andreas.Fuchs@bluewin.ch> from Switzerland. He is the CEO of the company Autork Ltd. (automated torque converters)  www.autork.com which was founded in May 2001.  This company has as target to engineer and to market the chainless electro drive system for bicycles and Velomobiles till 2004. This system has been developed by Juerg Blatter and Andreas Fuchs himself at the University (Fachhoschule) for Technology and Archtectur in Bern, Switzerland since 1996.

The system consists of four components, the pedal-driven generator, the propulsing wheel with motor, the battery and the "intelligent” electronics with display. This latter part has to give to the driver a "Bicycle-Feeling“, although there is not any mechanical connection between pedals and rear wheel. Dr. Fuchs see as special advantages the possibility to strengthen the driving power at the driving wheel just via software. The whole system do not require any chain which could wear or get dirty and it includes an electronic automatic gears. All these components give to the designer of this type of vehicles more engineering freedom.

The advantages are to be notice for example during the bicycle use in the city. In fact more or less 60% of the time the bicycle is used for accelerating and for braking. When braking, a part of the energy could be regained into the battery (recuperation). During the periods of time in which at the driver produces more energy than is needed (as it could be the case on very aerodynamic HPV) the battery can be reloaded. The acceleration processes could be much shorter as with a normal bicycles due to the battery support (comment of the writer: since on multy track velomobiles the feet remain on the pedals, the driver could continue to cycle at the stopping traffic lights. Therefore additional energy can be accumulated to be used during the acceleration process.)

The lecture caused lots of discussions. The main argument of the critics where based on the low efficiency (less than 100%) of the system when passing the precious kinetic energy from the generator to the motor. It would mean that altogether more energy would be required from the driver when cycling on a normal bicycle or velomobile with a chainless system as with the traditional chain drive. Andreas deepen the details and explained that the electronic transmission has been developed as a driving solution for E-supported bikes and not as substitution of the chain itself. Also he claims the height of the efficiency of the system depends largely on the price.

Lecture and discussion showed once again that a good description of a new system in the internet and an exchange of details via Chat or e-mail can not replace the direct conversation. The writer of this paper had the impression that after the lecture and discussion only few listeners doubted that Autork will not become a serious competitor for electric supported drives.

In connection with the Autork discussion the question arisen whether 6V or 12V as main voltage for velomobiles would be better suitable. It was a unanimous opinion that momentarily legislation in Germany, limiting the illumination to a maximum of 3W with 6V and a maximum 6W with 12V was too low for velomobiles. Also the actual obligation of using a dynamo in Germany was broadly regarded as antiquated. Since velomobiles require a stronger illumination during the daily usage, there is only the possibility to carry together both a law-conforming lights and one practical usable illumination as advised by the lawyer Hartwig Leuer who participated at the discussion.

Leuer <hartwigleuer@t-online.de> used the meeting of the manufacturers as an opportunity to deal with an important question as what concerns the issues when dealing with a possible accident with a velomobile. Velomobiles have to be treated insurance-technically differently as bicycles because of its high acquisition costs. According to his opinion this is important when a velomobile is used as auto substitute. While normal bicycle get an insurance reimbursement of 5 €/day, it is the rule that for the smallest car 15 €/day is payed. Leuer succeeded to achieve a reimbursement from the insurance for a velomobile accident of 10 €/day.

Peter Lis showed to be a gentleman of the old type when providing the Cab-Bike ladies with a present as in the name of all participants as a thank for the good meal and the work in the kitchen. However, the evening had by no means finished after it.

How stimulating the meeting proved to be, was shown as the last participants decide to departure for their home trip only at midday of the last day of the meeting.

Rüsselsheim, 30th September 2002