How to truly do some 'green' wheeling

[XJTodd]

http://gizmodo.com/394530/trailcart-worlds-first-pedal+powered-4wd-off+road-vehicle

Saw this article on LifeHacker:

It seems like something that would have been invented before, and by red-blooded Americans for whom off-roading is a way of life, but the Trailcart, according to TreeHugger, is the world's "first pedal-powered four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle," and it was invented by a clever German fellow named Frank Fraune.
From a technical point of view, the Trailcart is like a hybrid mountain bike and four wheeler. It's got permanent four-wheel-drive and is powered by roughly 290Nm of torque. In terms of conquering rockey terrain, it has 400mm of axle displacement. TreeHugger adds that it has a "double-action mechanical hydraulic braking system" and a Shimano Nexus 8 shifter coopted from the cycling world. The developers are trying to keep the weight at 50kg or less, in order to be transportable on automobile bike racks.

At the moment Trailcart is getting some serious investment from some heavy hitters, including Land Rover, and speaking of Land Rover, the little four-wheeler is involved in testing at Land Rover's "obstacle park" in Wülfrath, Germany. I really really want to try one of these out. There's no word on how much exertion is required to get that thing really moving, but if it takes any kind of physical strain at all, chances are it'll never make it to America. [Trailcart via TreeHugger]"

Now we just need to see how wells it climbs rocks!

 

[srimes]

that thing would be sweet with a motor on it :looney:

 

[DutchVDub]

lol, a motor would make that thing awesome.

It actually looks like it could be sweet for some fun though. If they do come over here I'll check one out.

 

[Kittrell]

I love the speed/motion blurred photos. What is he doing, 5 mph tops.......................:laugh2:

 

[Frank Z]

How are you supposed to get it back up to the top of a hill?

 

[DutchVDub]

How are you supposed to get it back up to the top of a hill?

You pedal

 

[Frank Z]

You pedal

BWAAHAHAHA!

Seriously?!?

 

[srimes]

seriously, if the gearing gets low enough it would be cool to crawl in something like that. A trike/quad can be geared much lower than a bike because you don't need to maintain enough speed to keep balanced. A bike is going to be faster IF it's able to move, but a 4x4 pedal quad could handle rocky creek beds much better.

Could be fun for dicking around a park in, but at this point I wouldn't consider spending more than $200 for the thing, and at that price it'd be a piece of crap.

 

[DutchVDub]

I'd be willing to pay 201$

And yes Frank, seriously.

 

[jdogg4]

So you still have to pedal this thing???? ok I'm out then.

 

[rockhounds4x4]

wait till the aftermarket catches up with the huge demand. whatever.

my kids would love it, but i am not trading my trek for it

 

[jdogg4]

I'm sure you could hook up a little motor up to it then I'm in. I took up 4wheeling not to have to pedel something.

 

[Patriot4x4]

that looks pretty fun, motor or no motor

down hill would be badass! up hill would suck (just like mountain biking )