Electric wheelchair

jbelson · Post by **jbelson** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:30 am

Okay, my thought for next year was to take an electric wheelchair and use it as the base for a small art car thingy.
I'm guessing it'll only have enough power to move about 2 people, is that right?
Anyho, does anyone have experience with using these motors? I think I've seen a couch on one, and I know the cupcakes are powered by them.
But really, what were the limitations that you found with them?
If you've done it, would you do it again? What would you do differently?
And how many people do you think it could move (I know weight of frame and body has a lot to do with the whole thing)?

Thanks.

jb

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:01 pm

Unjonharley may have some advice for you.....The Hot Wheelz guys provide electric wheelchairs on-playa, and are bound to be a good source of info as well.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:22 pm

I cut a mobility scooter in half and stubed it up for tractor under my art. Yes it will hual two people. I too am going with pedel power this year. Have had to much bad luck with power drives. With pedel power I can afford to hual enough spare parts to rebuild if need be. Besides all the standrad parts that are brought to the playa by others. I'm over on the 70 side of sixty and ended up pedeling 6 plus hours a day. Around 3-5 miles an hour. Nice, quiet and could hear the music. Inviting all to get off there ass and pedel it. Sides you don't have to fuck with the DMV.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:27 pm

If you have a mobility scooter or spare parts. Please!! give what you can to the HOT Wheelz camp. See MR FIXIT. If you have room on your ride, share it with some one from this camp. It's more fun when you share your toys.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:48 am

This could really be the start of a Pedal Revolution....Lots of discussion about PPVs going on. Martiansky and I are both working on multipurpose multiwheel frames for art vehicles, too. It'd be interesting to make a big pedal-powered island by docking a bunch of Mutant Bikes together.....

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:55 am

One of the unfinished weird concepts in my sketch book is to have a device that would replace the front wheel of your bike and allow it to instead be hooked onto the rear of a bike in front of you. This would then be repeated in order to create the world's largest (or at least longest!) bicycle. Have a camp, people show up, remove their wheels, hook-up their bikes, and ride into history....followed by the world's largest bike wreck no doubt!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:04 am

dragonfly Jafe wrote:One of the unfinished weird concepts in my sketch book is to have a device that would replace the front wheel of your bike and allow it to instead be hooked onto the rear of a bike in front of you. This would then be repeated in order to create the world's largest (or at least longest!) bicycle. Have a camp, people show up, remove their wheels, hook-up their bikes, and ride into history....followed by the world's largest bike wreck no doubt!

~ I get dibbs on "first bike". My experience: I'm a spaz. I tipped my three wheeler over on the street yesterday. Was looking around and my arm jerked. The next thing I knew, I was upside down. Trust me, Iwill fearlessly lead you.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:05 am

robotland wrote:Martiansky and I are both working on multipurpose multiwheel frames for art vehicles, too. It'd be interesting to make a big pedal-powered island by docking a bunch of Mutant Bikes together.....

Did you see these guys ride by?
http://www.pbase.com/civex/image/49174371
I saw this on a blog somewhere. It's made in Europe and costs something like three grand US as I recall. Note that there's at least one empty seat, and I count six people pedaling.

Phil

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:19 am

That's a fun ride....I DID see them! I have visions of something a little larger, though....And possibly GEODESIC.......hmmmm....

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:21 am

phil wrote:
robotland wrote:Martiansky and I are both working on multipurpose multiwheel frames for art vehicles, too. It'd be interesting to make a big pedal-powered island by docking a bunch of Mutant Bikes together.....
Did you see these guys ride by?
http://www.pbase.com/civex/image/49174371
I saw this on a blog somewhere. It's made in Europe and costs something like three grand US as I recall. Note that there's at least one empty seat, and I count six people pedaling.

Phil

~

You boys just must get out more. See a Kinetic Art Sculpure race. Onec you do, there is no going back to art cars. I have filmed all sorts of frame and sprocket set ups. Would you believe a clam from a honda civie? (two man) A yellow sub from two septic tanks. The Yellow Sub was on the playa in 03. How about a 25 foot long piano with 8 or ten people. pushing with there legs as you would a rowing machine? Are you sitting in the corner sucking your thumb yet¿¿