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You're referring to the Italian designed Isetta, built under license in several different countries from '54-'61. It was powered by a single cylinder motorcycle engine and chain driven--essentially a motorcycle with a roof, sides and a door. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta
The two biggest factors determining fuel consumption (whether we're talking about gasoline, Diesel or electricity) are weight of the vehicle and how fast you drive it. E = 1/2 mv^2. The lower the "m" or the "v," the less energy required....Other factors like wind resistance and engine design or size contribute little compared to "m" & "v."
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Those little 50cc scooters (Moped, etc) have been around for almost a century and get 100mpg--but they suffer from the drawbacks of any 2-wheeler- poor cargo capacity, exposure to the elements (a big factor in cold or wet weather) and safety issues (no "minor "fender benders" on a bike)..Another "niche vehicle."
You're referring to the Italian designed Isetta, built under license in several different countries from '54-'61. It was powered by a single cylinder motorcycle engine and chain driven--essentially a motorcycle with a roof, sides and a door. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta
The two biggest factors determining fuel consumption (whether we're talking about gasoline, Diesel or electricity) are weight of the vehicle and how fast you drive it. E = 1/2 mv^2. The lower the "m" or the "v," the less energy required....Other factors like wind resistance and engine design or size contribute little compared to "m" & "v."
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Those little 50cc scooters (Moped, etc) have been around for almost a century and get 100mpg--but they suffer from the drawbacks of any 2-wheeler- poor cargo capacity, exposure to the elements (a big factor in cold or wet weather) and safety issues (no "minor "fender benders" on a bike)..Another "niche vehicle."
We had our one shot at a cheap small vehilce that promissed very high fuel ecconomy. Unfortunatley all the investors now want their money back: https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/...nix-based.html. Elio sounded great, but maybe too great and many had preordered their cars.
We had an even better chance in the '60s until the lawyers got involved (notably Ralph Nader) and made it financially impossible for GM to continue production of the Corvair. It was essentially an American made VW back in the days of the 6000lb, 6 seat behemoths Americans usually preferred.
They tried again with the Geo, a 3 cylinder car that got 50mpg in the 90s-- but market forces killed it off.
I thought it was kinda cute, too. Though the French cars that were, I think, 1-person vehicles, where the entire front of the car was the door, lol, were pretty intriguing. But they don't qualify as bicycles, technically. They require a regular driver's license to drive. Are those still around?
My uncle had one he was going to fix and get running one of these days for 40 years, finally sold it. I doubt they are made any longer. They are cute.
The OP car, looks like a fancy golf cart. They have retirement communities that allow them. But can't be used on city roads. I saw a COPS type show where a drunk guy was driving his to the liquor store down the street from his senior community, time the police he did it all the time. Got a ticket for being drunk while operating not legal motor vehicle on road. He of course had lost his DL for DWI years before.
We had an even better chance in the '60s until the lawyers got involved (notably Ralph Nader) and made it financially impossible for GM to continue production of the Corvair. It was essentially an American made VW back in the days of the 6000lb, 6 seat behemoths Americans usually preferred.
They tried again with the Geo, a 3 cylinder car that got 50mpg in the 90s-- but market forces killed it off.
Had to look it up? I keep forgetting I come from a different world than you young Earthlings.
The people that fascinated me were my grandparents' generation. They were born in the days of horse & buggy and gas lamps and lived to see Man on the Moon....And now we have The Millennials- born in the days of the WWW& PCs and now they have iPhones and need the internet to turn their house lights on and off. That's progress?
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I keep forgetting I come from a different world than you young Earthlings.
