Rob Cotter is trying to solve many problems but his thesis statement starts like this: forty percent of car trips in the US are two miles or less. He calls this a systemic problem that contributes to our passive culture, our national problem of obesity, and global warming.
His solution is ELF - a solar powered bicycle that he says is the world's most efficient vehicle. This TED talk, I'd bike to work if only... is a great introduction to the ideas that went into the design and construction of the ELF.
The ELF hopes to make short commutes more fun, practical and affordable. The basic idea is that you can use the electric engine to get to work and then bike yourself home. Your ELF will sit in the sun all day and recharge and you won't arrive at work sweaty and smelly.
http://organictransit.com/gallery/
Legally classified in all fifty states as a bicycle, ELF can go anywhere a bike goes. The vehicle weighs 150 pounds and can carry a payload of 350 pounds. The 600 Watt electric motor can reach speeds of 20 miles per hour and travel over fifteen miles on a charge.
Charging takes 2.5 hours through an outlet or approximately seven hours to charge using the 100 Watt roof mounted solar panel. All three of the wheels use standard bicycle tires for easy maintenance. Riders from 5' 2" to 6' 6" can use ELF with the configurable seat.
Overall the ELF is 105 inches long, 48 inches wide and 5 feet tall, designed to fit in bike lanes. The vehicle is currently in production and several options are available including colors, instrumentation, cargo shelves, a rip stop nylon cover, extra batteries and wheel covers.
Base price for the ELF is $5495, before taxes and delivery fees. The vehicle is in production and the company is hiring for several positions. Organic Transport, the company that produces the ELF, ran a successful Kickstarter in early 2013 to help fund the first round of production.
Yesterday after a conference at Oakland University I saw my first ELF in the parking lot. I'm a sucker for three wheeled vehicles and this was no exception, with a small footprint and great styling. The QR code that immediately gave information about the vehicle and its company was also a big plus.