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Isn't safety an issue too? You'd be turned into pizza toppings in a highway speed accident in one of those. They do show that huge efficiency improvements are
by api 7y ago
Isn't safety an issue too? You'd be turned into pizza toppings in a highway speed accident in one of those.
They do show that huge efficiency improvements are possible, but they are not there yet. I feel like there's probably a happy medium: a larger somewhat heavier car with safety features built around active immobilization and advanced materials. It wouldn't be quite as efficient as these, but it would be more efficient than a conventionally built car.
I also must point out that weight and aerodynamics are more significant for efficiency than size in an absolute sense. Aerodynamics matters the most at highway speeds. You can lengthen the vehicle and add a trunk for cargo without losing too much.
- skyfaller 7y agoKind of depends on the accident, doesn't it? The aerodynamic shell does provide some protection, depending on the design, and no doubt if these were mass-produced safety features could be ironed out. But if you hit a tree, you're lucky to survive regardless of what vehicle you're in. At any rate, people ride motorcycles with no shell despite serious safety disadvantages, and society has no problem with people making that choice. I have to believe that velomobiles with a shell could be made significantly safer than motorcycles. Of course, the biggest threat to velomobiles, bicycles etc. is the automobile, and if collisions with cars/trucks aren't dealt with in some reasonable fashion, all other safety concerns seem rather secondary.
- Retric 7y agoCars are designed to reasonably safely handle head on collisions with a brick walls at 55 MPH. I doubt a lightweight shell is going to provide anywhere near that level of protection.