This book is about the design of vehicles with wheels that are powered by human muscles alone. These can provide affordable, sustainable, and healthy transportation to people around the globe. The term Human-Powered Vehicle, or HPV, is sometimes used to denote a sub-class of vehicles including only high-performance bicycles or tricycles equipped with aerodynamic fairings. More generally, the term refers to any semi-recumbent bicycle. But the term should properly refer to any means of carriage, conveyance, or transport that is powered solely by human muscles.
This book is limited to design of human-powered vehicles for land use. There are many reasons why the design and use of such vehicles is beneficial. In developed countries, using an HPV in lieu of an automobile (or in lieu of a second automobile for a family) can save $5,000 to $10,000 each year, while improving health and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants. Greenhouse gas emission will be reduced by more than 4,000 kg per year due to the corresponding reduction in energy consumption of more than 17,000 kWh. In addition, infrastructure for cycling is far less costly than highways designed for automotive traffic.
Human-powered vehicles were originally designed for transportation, and that is still their most important use. HPVs today provide clean, quiet, and efficient transportation. Perhaps the most compelling reason to use HPVs is sustainability: the environmental footprint of HPVs is typically much, much smaller than that of other modes of transportation. Despite these commonalities, HPVs are used by a variety of different people for a wide range of diverse reasons, including recreation, competition, cost, health, transportation, and concern for the environment.
The contents include manufacturing processes and materials, performance modeling, handling, drivetrains, structures, components, human performance, and design strategies.
Acknowledgments
Preface
Chapter 1 : Rationale for Human-Powered Vehicle Design and Use
Chapter 2 : Overview of Human-Powered Vehicles
Chapter 3 : General Structured Design of Hpv’s
Chapter 4 : Physiology of Human Power Generation
Chapter 5 : The Human-Machine Interface
Chapter 6 : Manufacturing Processes and Materials
Chapter 7 : Road Loads
Chapter 8 : Speed and Power Models
Chapter 9 : Aerodynamic Drag
Chapter 10 : Bicycle Handling Performance
Chapter 11 : Multi-Track Vehicle Handling Performance
Chapter 12 : Drive Train Design
Chapter 13 : Land Vehicle Frames and Structures
Chapter 14 : Bicycle Components
Index
About The Author
