Diesel-Powered Trike Built Almost Entirely Of Aluminum
The super-light Roopod, built by an Industrial Designer from western Massachusetts, is powered by a 2-cylinder diesel engine. Inspiration for the car came when he realized his V-dub weighed 3,000 pounds. “For every gallon of gas that I put in, 90 percent of it is being used to drive the car, and 10 percent to drive me, and that’s just stupid,’’ he said.



This is a real eye-opener. Now we have something to wish for! Thanks Jerry!
This is a real eye-opener. Now we have something to wish for! Thanks Jerry!
Wow, those are some cool lookin rides dude!
RT
http://www.web-tools.us.tc
Wow, those are some cool lookin rides dude!
RT
http://www.web-tools.us.tc
These little projects are all very good science. It makes the touchy-feely crowd all warm and fuzzy. However, none of these, or any other ‘green’ alternatives, have yet address the problem of driving more than 4 people. Most of these accommodate at most 2 people. Out here in the flyover country, we routinely wind up driving 5 – 7 people in a carpool to go out. We have no recourse to mass transit or any other public transportation system.
Until they make a minivan or SUV that gets 50+ MPG, it is all useless. And I ain’t talkin’ about that Hummer parody that costs an extra $20,000 to get the good mileage. What ordinary family of 4 or 5 can afford that?
We’ve had these “advancements” for years now with no practical application. Face it, the automotive industry is content with the way things are right now. If they wait until the last moment, until gasoline prices skyrocket to $5+ before unveiling these “supercars”, it will force people to buy the new cars to go the equivalent distance for the same cost.
When it comes right down to it, it ain’t about the MPG. It is about the $/gal that the family think about.
I applaud these inventors, but despair of seeing any of the technology appear anytime soon.
These little projects are all very good science. It makes the touchy-feely crowd all warm and fuzzy. However, none of these, or any other ‘green’ alternatives, have yet address the problem of driving more than 4 people. Most of these accommodate at most 2 people. Out here in the flyover country, we routinely wind up driving 5 – 7 people in a carpool to go out. We have no recourse to mass transit or any other public transportation system.
Until they make a minivan or SUV that gets 50+ MPG, it is all useless. And I ain’t talkin’ about that Hummer parody that costs an extra $20,000 to get the good mileage. What ordinary family of 4 or 5 can afford that?
We’ve had these “advancements” for years now with no practical application. Face it, the automotive industry is content with the way things are right now. If they wait until the last moment, until gasoline prices skyrocket to $5+ before unveiling these “supercars”, it will force people to buy the new cars to go the equivalent distance for the same cost.
When it comes right down to it, it ain’t about the MPG. It is about the $/gal that the family think about.
I applaud these inventors, but despair of seeing any of the technology appear anytime soon.
I do love the advances in automobile technology, though it rarely applies to the cars that tall people are confined to!
I do love the advances in automobile technology, though it rarely applies to the cars that tall people are confined to!
I agree with AC. The projects raise awareness and are great for individuals. Working moms and dads, especially those in rural areas like myself, with no public transportation, will be held hostage until the oil companies squeeze the last high dollar possible from us while they fight to keep green technologies from making real headway.
Mary
I agree with AC. The projects raise awareness and are great for individuals. Working moms and dads, especially those in rural areas like myself, with no public transportation, will be held hostage until the oil companies squeeze the last high dollar possible from us while they fight to keep green technologies from making real headway.
Mary
I agree with the statement,”However, none of these, or any other ‘green’ alternatives, have yet address the problem of driving more than 4 people.”
And yet from my own personal and experimental first hand diesel/veggie oil and water fuel experimentations I FULLY 100% BELIEVE and HAVE SUPPORTING INFOMRAITON that WE, AS A COLLECTIVE SOCIETY ALREADY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE NOW IN USE… 100mpg plus 4 person vehicles!!
And I believe, as of yet, we SIMPLY have not had “enough” INCENTIVES & a SELF SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE to CREATE & SUSTAIN SUCH ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE POSSIBILITIES!!! (I.E. I blame our COPORATE CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY vs. “not having the technology to do such”!!!!!)
I believe there is and always has been “ENOUGH” CURRENT AND REAL technology ALREADY in existance for such REALITIES to BECOME FULLY REALIZED we simply, as of yet, do not have the SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL INCENTIVES for CREATING and SUSTAINGING SUCH!!! (BUT I AM ALL EXCITED TO SEE US…. HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION)!!
Stephen Podliska/ spodliska@aol.com
I don’t really care for the design of most of these cars, but I would love to have a car that got 100mpg.
I don’t really care for the design of most of these cars, but I would love to have a car that got 100mpg.
gaaaaaaaay big deal i can get a 200cc motercyle that gets 75 mpg its haveing a full size car that gets 105 mpg oh and 50cc schooters get 95 mpg most of thew time! btw