Project Pedalus is proving that human powered vehicles are a viable form of personal transportation which will help end the current global energy, environmental, and health crisis. Project Pedalus researches, tests, and develops human powered technologies in order to influence manufacturers to make more efficient vehicles at affordable prices. Along with the technical work, Project Pedalus educates the public on how human powered vehicles help the world on all scales. Team Pedalus will embark on multiple long-distance rides around the country and across borders in Summer 2009 to raise awareness for the mission.
We have much growth to do to ensure that the project is successful, but we need your help. As little as one dollar can help our project succeed. Please visit our individual sponsors page to learn more about how you can help.
The Problem
Our society is based on the consumption of an energy source that is inefficient and harms our health and our environment. Fossil fuels have become the addiction of developing economies and growing societies. This strong addiction has fatal consequences. Demand is raising oil prices exponentially resulting in a highly negative impact on the economy. The symptoms of increasing toxic emission levels are impacting the earth's climate and human health now.
Our Environment
We have tapped into an inefficient toxic energy source that belongs in the earth, not in the air we breathe. Unfortunately, our world chooses to burn 85 million barrels of oil a day. That's 3.6 billion gallons burned every 24 hours which releases 70 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas; this doesn't even include the many other toxic emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Unless there is a significant change in the way we live our lives, these numbers will only continue to grow. The health of our environment and consequently, all people, is suffering at an alarming rate and we must change now.
Fuel Cost
The high cost of fuel we endure now is only expected to grow with increasing demand and decreasing supply. No matter which side of the argument you are on, the facts state that at our current oil consumption rate, we will have depleted all oil stores within the next two generations. However, oil consumption is growing exponentially therefore making the figures more hopeful than reality. As the oil companies realize this crude fact, they will raise prices further to ensure the survival of their corporations.
Our Health
Fossil fuels are destroying our health. The emissions from burning fossil fuels are correlated to increased rates of lung and heart ailments. Not only does our consumption of fossil fuels harm us directly, but the convenience of fossil fuels allows us to live a lifestyle lacking in physical work. Some trips with a large vehicle might be necessary, but future generations will view traveling to a local store to pick up a few items with a heavy gasoline-burning vehicle instead of a 35 pound human powered vehicle as absurd and selfish. Society allows us to be greedy with the consumption of fossil fuels, making us lazy and unhealthy.
Aren't modern vehicles efficient?
No, not even close. The most fuel efficient automobile on the market today, a hybrid from Japan, gets 65 miles per gallon of gasoline. This figure seems very attractive to the consumer who is accustomed to the average 20 miles per gallon. It is unfortunate that the public is not educated in the efficiency of moving machines.
A vehicle running on fossil fuels loses much of its efficiency before it even leaves the factory door. The weight of modern vehicles is so high that each occupant is often less than 5% of the total vehicle weight. Due to the high weight combined with energy lost in the engine, power train, and accessories, less than 1% of the fuel burned is used to move the driver. Add aerodynamic drag to that, which quadruples as speed doubles and you unnecessarily burn large quantities of fuel just to move the inefficient modern automobile through the wind.
We can do so much more with today's technology. In a competition between international teams to make the most fuel efficient vehicles, a team from Switzerland developed an aerodynamic, light-weight car named "Pac-Car II" which achieved 12,645 miles per gallon. That's 194.5 times more efficient than the most advanced fuel saving hybrid available on the market today. You might ask about space for more occupants and cargo and of course if scaled up, it would not achieve such figures; it would only achieve 500 miles per gallon to carry four individuals comfortably, 769% more fuel efficient than anything on the road today.
The Solution
Recumbents and velomobiles are truly the most efficient machines known to man. Velomobiles, very similar to the Pac-Car II, are designed for a sole occupant to achieve maximum efficiency with a limited powerplant, in this case the human inside. The velomobile uses aviation technologies to achieve great aerodynamic efficiency and minimal weight, weighing much less than the driver. Despite having only the power of a single person, the velomobile is capable of not only passing other pedal-powered traffic, but in many cases, the automobiles. This incredible efficiency allows the velomobile driver to not only go faster, but further than conventional human-powered vehicles.
There is a reason why velomobile drivers are always smiling; besides the speed and efficiency, the ergonomics of the vehicle are astounding. The natural reclined seating position and the seat itself are comfortable enough to sleep in. On long rides, pain is nowhere to be found. Add to that comfortable, all-weather capability, great visibility and plenty of luggage space and the velomobile is the ultimate form of personal transportation.