Hybrid Car Prototype Incorporates Human Power: Green Vehicles Articles: Eco20/20

Hybrid Car Prototype Incorporates Human Power

Competition seems a strange thing for such an odd invention to have, but for what it's worth, here it is. A second multi-passenger hybrid car has also made claims of 'human-power' and also appears to have actually put real wheels on real pavement, (a third claimant making a small appearance in search engines has proven to be purely a concept. But if any more wanna-be's are lurking out there, don't be trying to steal the thunder; or the oars.)

* The Imagine PS from Humancar® inc.

o Real nuts and bolts

It is possible for a single individual to operate the Imagine PS with a combination of human and electric power, but with a foursome at the oars, the car can easily achieve the preset 45mph limit, (or its true top speed, which exceeds 60mph,) so you'll want to gather three adventure-loving friends or coworkers to row along with you. Yes, row, like in a gym. The batteries that power the vehicle's two electric motors are charged from something too-darkly akin to certain soul-sucking devices you'll find skulking in those masochistic pale-grey holes. But take heart. If the little darling doesn't appeal to you as an exercise-enabled vehicle - slash - teamwork and strength-training apparatus, it can be plugged-in to charge, or be connected to pre-charged batteries. Solar would do the job nicely. Or use a fuel cell, if one is available.

o Authenticity

The Imagine PS isn't for sale yet, but it's for real. Release is expected in 2011. Features will include regenerative braking, a touch-screen display with GPS and biometric data, computing and communication device compatibility, and a bike-like steering method where leaning left or right causes the car to turn, which should lend an interesting dynamic to one of the worst habits of distracted driving: that of pretending to steer while leaning over to fish up something off the floor.

* The Competition?

o A blatant poser

Yes, technically, there is a solar-gas-electric-human-powered hybrid. But the so-called human-power option is only a last-ditch emergency option, little better than getting out to push. With gas among the choices, the car is capable of reaching 90mph and is designed to go 150 miles on a gallon of fuel. Anyway, if all goes as planned, it should enter the market in 2012.

o So what's behind the pose?

The 'human-powered' option is apparently just a gimmick they picked up. The car is a little sleeker-looking than the Imagine PS; but it's not true to the concept.

HumanCar®inc., however, appears to be bent on building a product that is exactly what they claim it will be; which in this case is a street legal, low mass, human & electric powered hybrid vehicle which is also a mobile 110 A/C power generator - slash - exercise, teamwork and strength-training apparatus. It sounds a little over-the-top; but their integrity is deserving of Kudos.