An interesting comparison: The Cd*A product for the insight is about the same as for a bicyclist. The Insight is bigger, but it's better shaped. (For aerodynamics--bicyclists tend to be nicely shaped too, but in a different sense.) That makes it tempting to think that one could add pedals to the insight and be able to cruise at low speed on pedal power alone. But it's so much heavier than a bike that the rolling resistance force is much higher, even if the rolling resistance coefficient is similar.
So here are some numbers, just for fun:
Moderate biking at 15 mph--a pace that someone in moderately good shape can maintain for a while-- takes 100 W.
Fast biking--a sprint for the same 15 mph rider--takes 200 W.
Super-athletic biking at 30 mph takes 600 W.
So here's what that means in the insight:
100 W gets you 5 mph. Pretty slow but faster than walking for the same energy input!
200 W--one person working very hard, or two at a moderate pace--gets you 9 mph.
400 W--two people working like crazy--gets you up to 16 mph.
600 W--one Lance Armstrong--gets you 20 mph.
And 1200 W (two Armstrongs) gets you up to 30 mph.
You could also use it for assist--sort of an ultra manual version of MIMA. Can't quite maintain speed in lean burn? Start pedaling! But as you get to higher speeds, the amount you can help gets less and less important--at 40 mph, 200 W of pedal power only gets you 1.7 mph extra; at 60 mph, less than 1 mph extra. Still, that's at least as good as some of the mods I've seen discussed here.
And here's where it might actually be useful: You're in autostop, and you want to creep forward a car length--just pedal! Or you are rolling in autostop (or forced autostop), and could almost roll to an upcoming stop sign or downhill or whatever, but aren't quite going to make it. With pedals you could roll a little further, or go 5 mph faster, which sometimes would be just enough to avoid turning on the engine.
Ever notice how much the mpg reading drops during parking lot manuvering? Pedals could be used for pulling in and out of the parking space. Now I'm starting to convince myself that this is actually a good idea. Also, it would be nice to get some exercise while biking.
The extreme of this type of vehicle is a "Twike" (http://www.twike.com/). Super light electric/human hybrid, said the get the equivalent of over 500 mpg. Not legal in the US, apparently.
Charlie
So here are some numbers, just for fun:
Moderate biking at 15 mph--a pace that someone in moderately good shape can maintain for a while-- takes 100 W.
Fast biking--a sprint for the same 15 mph rider--takes 200 W.
Super-athletic biking at 30 mph takes 600 W.
So here's what that means in the insight:
100 W gets you 5 mph. Pretty slow but faster than walking for the same energy input!
200 W--one person working very hard, or two at a moderate pace--gets you 9 mph.
400 W--two people working like crazy--gets you up to 16 mph.
600 W--one Lance Armstrong--gets you 20 mph.
And 1200 W (two Armstrongs) gets you up to 30 mph.
You could also use it for assist--sort of an ultra manual version of MIMA. Can't quite maintain speed in lean burn? Start pedaling! But as you get to higher speeds, the amount you can help gets less and less important--at 40 mph, 200 W of pedal power only gets you 1.7 mph extra; at 60 mph, less than 1 mph extra. Still, that's at least as good as some of the mods I've seen discussed here.
And here's where it might actually be useful: You're in autostop, and you want to creep forward a car length--just pedal! Or you are rolling in autostop (or forced autostop), and could almost roll to an upcoming stop sign or downhill or whatever, but aren't quite going to make it. With pedals you could roll a little further, or go 5 mph faster, which sometimes would be just enough to avoid turning on the engine.
Ever notice how much the mpg reading drops during parking lot manuvering? Pedals could be used for pulling in and out of the parking space. Now I'm starting to convince myself that this is actually a good idea. Also, it would be nice to get some exercise while biking.
The extreme of this type of vehicle is a "Twike" (http://www.twike.com/). Super light electric/human hybrid, said the get the equivalent of over 500 mpg. Not legal in the US, apparently.
Charlie