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Both the moped shown here and the electric mini-car are classed as motorized bicycles. Actually, though, the 825-pound mini-car uses less energy per mile than does the 150-mpg, 100-pound moped!
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AN ELECTRIC MINI-CAR FOR URBAN DRIVING
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California aerospace engineer Paul R. Shipps has had long
and varied experience in the design, development, and
testing of rockets, aircraft, and other advanced vehicles.
Six years ago, when Paul started his own small
advanced-vehicle design, consultation, and testing
business-however-he had something more down-to-earth in
mind: the creation of energy—efficient,
environmentally kind, day-to-day personal transportation.
In recent months, Paul says, even this work has been slowed
in order to allow for the attack on a still more urgent
problem: the rapidly multiplying government regulations
which have already made the use of innovative and efficient
mini-vehicles like the ones he has in mind nearly
impossible in this country.
Paul's written a $3.00 booklet, Electric Mini-Cars for
Urban Driving, which began as an educational handbook on
electric cars, efficient energy use, and small car safety.
As it turned out, though, the fact filled publication is
also an expose of our nation's poorly-thought-out vehicle
safety regulations.
At present, only one Shipps-designed mini-car—the
three-wheel, 2.5-horsepower, maximum-30-mph "Sportster"
shown here—qualifies for marketing. Paul expects to
have plans for the vehicle available (for $15) by the time
you read this. And he'll soon be offering three-part kits
which can be assembled into your own Sportster at a total
cost of about $1,200 (excluding batteries). With the kits
will come full-size template blueprints to simplify
construction for the amateur.
Paul estimates that it will take one individual three
months of spare time to put together one of his mini-cars.
If you'd like to order a copy of his booklet, a set of his
plans, or the first section of a three-part kit, write to:
Paul Shipps, 3E Vehicles, P.O. Box 19409, San Diego, Calif.
92119.
