Re: Wind assisted electric vehicle, Electric assisted wind vehicle.

["Rick Pryor" <iamaquarius@mindspring.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawrence Rhodes" <bassoon@jps.net>
To: <ev@listproc.sjsu.edu>
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 9:31 AM
Subject: Wind assisted electric vehicle, Electric assisted wind vehicle.


> Has anyone seen a wind racer mixed with electric components.

ASU used to have a solar rayce car named Pumpkinseed that had two vertical
fins near the rear on top the could be rotated to take advantage of a little
slip from diagonal winds. I imagine one could conceive the ability to turn
them to catch a nice strong tail wind as well.

I had been thinking about a tail sail like a canvas curtain on the back of
my trike to catch a little tail gust from time to time. I would have it on
ropes and pulleys so it could be deployed and stowed easily. The only catch
I hadn't figured out was if it would have to be weighted to drop while
tacked, or if it could be put on a clothesline and reeled back down by sheer
force. Then again, the canopy supports could end up doing all the shearing
if I didn't design it correctly.