IS A VELOMOBILE THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY FOR HUMANS TO TRAVEL?

Today is a Wednesday, which for me is usually sci-tech day.  But a few newsworthy notes first.

• Inflation last month reached 4.2%, the highest level in three years.  Of course, part of this problem is the war in Iran, for gasoline alone jumped 7%, up 40.5% in the the past year.

• 
  I yesterday reported that for the 38th time since this Iran war started, President Donald Trump promised a peace deal was close?  Well, apparently not now, for he today said Iran is playing us for suckers, and we will hit them...hard.  Very hard.  What will that be?
• 
  It was on March 14, two weeks after the U.S. and Israel first bombed Iran, that I predicted an obvious future target was Kharg Island.  
• The next day, I posted the following:

• 
  How likely will this happen?  Well, In a 1988 interview, Trump indicated that if Iran tries to make us looking like a bunch of fools, I would go and and take Kharg Island.

• Then two weeks later, I further provided key reasons why he should invade that island.

• 
  Here is a number worthy of your note.  $20.1 trillion:  That is the combined wealth of the world’s nearly 3,000 billionaires, an amount equivalent to nearly a fifth of the total value of all goods and services produced by every country on earth in a year. Fifteen years ago, billionaires collectively had $4.5 trillion.  

• 
  I looked further into this, and apparently there might be up to 3400 billionaires, so doing the math, this averages out to $5 billion/billionaire.  
• However, the worth is widely spread, for Elon Must is the richest with $800 billion.  
• It's possible that he could become a trillionaire in two days when there is that initial public offering for SpaceX.  The company is targeting a valuation near $1.7 trillion.  He owns about 42.5% of SpaceX.

So on to my topic of the day, for I was reading an issue of Scientific American, and at the end of magazine was the usual two-page graphic comparison of sci-tech, this one titled Human on a Bicycle.

If you look closely at the two above comparisons, you can see that a human on a bike is an outlier, far more efficient than anything else.  With one exception, a human in a velomobile.

• At a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, or 18.6 miles/hour, a velomobile is 3.5 times more energy efficient than a bicycle, and 20 times more than an electric auto.
• A velomobile is sort of a bike-car.  A human-powered, pedal-driven tricycle or quadricycle, completely enclosed in an aerodynamic shell, like on the right.
• Here is a site to see 30 iconic designs through history.

Some other comparisons:

• 
  A walking human is more energy efficient than one riding in a car.  
• But you only expend 100 calories/mile.
• So if weight loss is your goal....eat less.
• And, incidentally, we evolved to walk upright, because that is the most efficient.
• 
  A horse is more efficient than a human.
• A salmon is more efficient than a horse.

• 
  Those graphics above clearly show the inefficiency of a swimming human, but I wondered whether I would be more efficient walking or running.  From Google AI
  

Energy per mile: Because walking maintains a pendulum-like motion (swinging the leg and conserving momentum), it uses about 30–50% fewer calories per mile than running. [1, 2, 3]

Optimal speed: The most mechanically efficient walking speed is generally around 3.5 mph. If your goal is to travel as far as possible on the least amount of fuel (calories), walking is the clear winner. [1, 2]

• However, the average walking speed is about 3 MPH.
• Walking is my preferred exercise, but 3.5 MPH takes 17 minutes and 9 seconds per mile.  This is something I can only barely do, but don't, because I don't have the stamina to walk that quickly.  It generally takes me 24 minutes to walk a mile in our building hallway, 2000 steps in eight laps, or 250 steps/lap.

• 
  You might think that a hot air balloon might be more efficient, but it needs liquid propane to work, so no.
• I asked Google AI to compare the efficiency of a velomobile vs solar-powered car:

While solar cars successfully eliminate direct energy inputs, they still move thousands of times the mass of the human inside them. The velomobile acts as the "perfect transducer" for a human's metabolism, and completely eliminates the weight and energy loss associated with heavy batteries, electric drivetrains, and large solar panel manufacturing. [1, 2]

Say you decide to get a velomobile.  

• You can self-power one on normal roads alongside cars, but in most jurisdictions are classified as bikes, so might need to stick to certain lanes.  Like a bicycle, you don't need a driver's license, nor insurance.

• 
  There are also some safety considerations.
• Visibility:  that is, velomobiles are low to the ground and are especially unseeable in that car blind spot.  So some models use bright colors, flags, etc.
• Will have problems going uphill.  You can, however, buy one with battery assist.
• Is fine for travel under 20 miles, saving thousands of dollars annually on gas and parking fees. 
• 
  What do velomobiles cost?
• Entry-level and kit models can be found from $3500 to $4500.
• Factory models from $5500 to $7000.
• High-end and E-assist models between $8500 and $12,000.

• 
  Interestingly enough, according to Google AI:

Velomobiles have an exceptionally strong safety record, generally outperforming traditional bicycles in traffic. Their enclosed carbon fiber or composite shells offer excellent crash, rollover, and weather protection, while their bright, highly aerodynamic profiles encourage drivers to give them wider berths. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Are actually safer on the road than bike paths.
• Advised to wear a helmet.
• A video on velomobiles for beginners.  
• 
• Also, a velomobile keeps you healthier by combining the cardiovascular benefits of a rigorous aerobic workout with the practicality and comfort of a commuter car.
• Well, a couple more points.  
• You can get wet on a bike on a rainy day.  Not so for a velomobile.  Also protects you from snow, and keeps you warmer in the winter.
• In really hot weather, velomobiles don't have air-conditioning, so you will need to sell use the ventilation system, plus maybe wear a cooling vest, with breathable seat mats.  Some use a small 12V computer fan to force air circulation at slow speeds.

Finally, about a human self-powering velomobile across the USA.

• From as little as 16 days to as long as 6 weeks and more.
• Racing or touring, from Google AI:

Ultra-Endurance Racing: The fastest known transcontinental velomobile crossing was completed in the Trans Am Bike Race in 16 days, 6 hours, and 40 minutes (by rider Marcel Graber). This averages out to an intense pace of roughly 185 miles per day. [1]

Touring and Expeditions: Organized events, such as the cross-country velomobile tour Roll Over America or guided cross-country cycling tours Trek Travel, typically span 43 to 45 days. These trips involve averaging roughly 85 to 90 miles daily. [1, 2]

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