-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
3-Wheeled Vehicles
- Thread starter JRP3
- Start date
-
- Tags
- Transportation
Yes, "klug" = clever. But looking carefully at this site
www.clever-project.net
shows the following characters highlighted: Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transportation ... .
www.clever-project.net
shows the following characters highlighted: Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transportation ... .
voyager
Active Member
I talked to BMW's Clever project manager approx. three years ago. He explained that it was supposed to be a demonstration project, partially subsidized by the EU by the way, and that they would immediately terminate the project after showing it to EU commissioners. :frown:
Two weeks ago it was announced in the Dutch media that Carver's founding fathers, Netherlands-based Van den Brink, would concentrate on their engineering, rather than on production. They were supposed to have some sort of production deal to have the Carver manufactured in the U.S. Didn't hear anything since then.
Despite raving reviews, tilting three-wheelers have their obvious limits, as a few here pointed out already. To me safety perception is one of them.
Btw, here's another one, to complete the picture, that also has the 'proper three-wheel configuration'. It's called the Energya. Looks like a stealth fighter on wheels. Nice.
Two weeks ago it was announced in the Dutch media that Carver's founding fathers, Netherlands-based Van den Brink, would concentrate on their engineering, rather than on production. They were supposed to have some sort of production deal to have the Carver manufactured in the U.S. Didn't hear anything since then.
Despite raving reviews, tilting three-wheelers have their obvious limits, as a few here pointed out already. To me safety perception is one of them.
Btw, here's another one, to complete the picture, that also has the 'proper three-wheel configuration'. It's called the Energya. Looks like a stealth fighter on wheels. Nice.
Last edited:
Motorcicle safety (perception) is even worse. Now please explain how such safety issues have hindered their adoption and wide usage.
If something is not for everybody it doesn't mean it ain't for nobody!
The problem is the target market. People ride bikes in spite of the safety problems, because of the experience of riding on two wheels is worth it to them. However, compared to cars, motorcycles are a small fraction of the transportation market. Even for most riders bikes are a secondary mode of transport. Three wheelers fall in between cars and bikes and will therefor have an even smaller market appeal.
Will people buy three wheeled vehicles? Sure, but not in great enough numbers to make a difference.
Will people buy three wheeled vehicles? Sure, but not in great enough numbers to make a difference.
You can look at a glass as half full or half empty. You could say three-wheelers come short to "real" cars and short to motorcycles if you only looked at *some* factors. If you look at others picture could be exactly the opposite. This is why it is important how you look at these three-wheelers.
Are they lesser cars or better motorcycles?
In my view, the answer depend's on visuals and their basic configuration. If it has two wheels in front and only one in back then it looks much like a lesser car and immediately you start to look for what it does not have, how it is worse than a car. A negative approach that is bound to fail, you wont like such vehicles.
But if it only has one wheel in front and two in the back and it looks more like a bigger motorcycle, you can easier see why and how it really is also better than ordinary motorcycle.
It gives you much the same maneuverability and "easy-to-park-ness" , but it also gives you roof, steel cage around you, doesn't demand wearing a helmet and special leather suit, it protects you from rain, wind, cold and heat etc, can be driven much bigger part of the year (if not the whole year because of snow and ice on the roads)
I see such three wheelers as a fusion of strengths of both 4 and 2 wheeled worlds. It comes with some compromises but gives much in return. Three wheelers should not try to imitate cars, they should try to improve ordinary bikes. That is also why a motorcycle company has bigger chances with success in such vehicle than a car company does. People will easier look at them as a better motorcycles.
"GM builds cars so this has to be some odd car. I don't like it, it is so small and unsafe!".
"Kawasaki only builds motorcycles. Hmmm now this one here looks like interesting and useful one. It has roof!".
I cannot wait to be able to buy something like that CarverOne or VentureOne. The only thing I miss on them is another door on the right side. Make it a two-door and add some nice and useful interior.
You don't have to appeal to 100 millions of potential buyers to sell 1.000 per year. Carver only built like 100 per year and now says they will concentrate on engineering. But still they've sold them for like 70 thousand dollars a piece.
What difference? I couldn't care less for making a difference.
I just know what I want to buy but there is no-one willing to sell it to me.
Last edited:
Well my general argument has been against those who seem to think Tesla or others should really be focusing on 3 wheeled vehicles, as if that's some way to take market share or what people will buy in volume. My point has always been 3 wheelers are nothing more than a niche product and always will be. Nothing wrong with making them or buying them at all, just don't pretend they will ever replace either a motorcycle or a car in any significant numbers.
No pretending, nonexistent things have hard time replacing existing ones.
3-wheelers are not a replacement for things, they are vehicles that could do some parts of transportation job way better than anything on 2 or 4 wheels. There is nothing magical about 2 or 4 wheels, there is space in-between now mostly unoccupied.
3-wheelers are not a replacement for things, they are vehicles that could do some parts of transportation job way better than anything on 2 or 4 wheels. There is nothing magical about 2 or 4 wheels, there is space in-between now mostly unoccupied.
Last edited:
voyager
Active Member
Couldn't agree more, WarpedOne. Like I said, Vandenbrink no longer concentrates on Carver production. Instead, it wants to make the most of its engineering expertise. Haven't heard anything as far as the Venture.
I still think that compared to 'cars' like the Smart For2 and the Think, a well-designed three-wheeler would be capable of holding its own.
I still think that compared to 'cars' like the Smart For2 and the Think, a well-designed three-wheeler would be capable of holding its own.
They've changed their name into Persu Mobility. Their product is supposed to be:
Agile two-seater whith serial hybrid propulsion. They've licensed DVC technology from Carver. Unfortunately, there is no PR from the company any more. They are still alive, they've eneter X-Prize contest.
There is a club for fans of this vehicle/concept: Fly The Road
voyager
Active Member
Thanks, VFX
Electric car buzz - Portland Business Journal:
"Tinitron" sounds a bit much like "Trinitron"...
Also, it seem their car is one of the old Corbin designs resurrected.
Electric car buzz - Portland Business Journal:
"Tinitron" sounds a bit much like "Trinitron"...
Also, it seem their car is one of the old Corbin designs resurrected.
