58 Human-Powered Prototypes

From Flying Machines to Personal Submarines

— July 1, 2012 — Autos
Perhaps the world's energy problems cannot be solved through manning countless rows of giant hamster-wheels with marathon runners, but these Human-powered prototypes are a good start.

From pedal-powered submarines to human-run helicopters, these designs are not only environmentally friendly, they're also incredibly inventive. A human being -- no matter what shape their in -- cannot produce as much energy as their weight in a fuel source like petroleum or diesel could. This means that the vehicles and machines featured here need to be that much more energy efficient. To illustrate: if a human-powered submarine is not efficient enough to be propelled by the muscle power of its occupant, it could very well sink -- which is very bad for its occupant.
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Charitable Engineering
Charitable Engineering
Human-Powered Drills Bring Hope to the Thirsty Worldwide
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53
Hasty Human-Powered Helicopters
Hasty Human-Powered Helicopters
The Gamera II Chopper is Wright-Brothers Inspired
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52
Cost-Accommodating Cruisers
Cost-Accommodating Cruisers
Bajaj Auto's RE60 Rumored to be the World's New Cheapest C
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51
Pedal-Powered Water Dispensers
Pedal-Powered Water Dispensers
Vitaminwater Company Activate Releases a Cyclable Vending Machine
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50
Eco-Friendly Bicycle Desks
Eco-Friendly Bicycle Desks
WeBike Generate Human Electricity While Working
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49
Pedal-Powered School Buses
Pedal-Powered School Buses
The De Cafe Racer Bso Makes Children Work for Their Ride
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48
Human Powered Energy
Human Powered Energy
Get Your Butt To The Gym and Generate Some Electricity
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47
Human-Powered Airplanes
Human-Powered Airplanes
The ‘Snowbird Ornithopter' by Todd Reichart Makes Man Fly
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46
Pedal-Powered Movie Theaters
Pedal-Powered Movie Theaters
The Cycle-In Cinema is a Pop-Up Generated Solely by Cyclists
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45
Eco Rickshaws
Eco Rickshaws
The Solar Mototaxi Ditches the Two-Stroke Engine and Goes Green
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44
Kinetic Energy Vehicles
Kinetic Energy Vehicles
The Eco-Friendly Humancar is Powered by Your Own Force
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43
Pedal Pod Transport (UPDATE)
Pedal Pod Transport (UPDATE)
Shweeb Human-Powered Monorails Get Funding from Google
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42
Bike-Powered Tables
Bike-Powered Tables
WeWatt Allows Users to Exercise and Charge Devices
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41
Real-Life Flintstone Car
Real-Life Flintstone Car
HumanCar Imagine
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40
Hand-Controlled Snow Vehicles
Hand-Controlled Snow Vehicles
The HPS is a Human-Powered Eco Vehicle for those Wintry Months
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39
Human-Powered Hotel Ammenities
Human-Powered Hotel Ammenities
The Bike-Fueled Cottage Lodge TV Operates on Foot Peddling
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38
Bike Powered Ambulance
Bike Powered Ambulance
The Jaambaaro
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37
Pedal Powered Toilet Paper
Pedal Powered Toilet Paper
Eco Inventions That Stink
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36
Human-Electric Hybrid Bike
Human-Electric Hybrid Bike
Electrobike Model Pi
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35
Bicycle-Driven Billboards
Bicycle-Driven Billboards
'I Pedal Ads' are Eco-Friendly Promotion Deliveries
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34
Eco-Conscious Snow Clearers
Eco-Conscious Snow Clearers
Clean Your Driveway With a Pedal-Powered Snow Plow
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33
Pedal-Propelled Enclosed Kayaks
Pedal-Propelled Enclosed Kayaks
The WiTHiN Human-Powered Boat is Fueled by Feet
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Pedal-Powered Lampposts
Pedal-Powered Lampposts
Project Energizing Neighborhoods Encourages Bus Riders to Feel the Burn
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The Human Powered Bus
The Human Powered Bus
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30
Human Powered Mini Cooper
Human Powered Mini Cooper
Beijing Olympic Mini Rickshaw
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29
Contemporary Motorized Carriages
Contemporary Motorized Carriages
Ulix Neuer Sightseeing Transporter Makes Travel Effortless
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Energy-Efficient Personal Travel
Energy-Efficient Personal Travel
The GoblinAero No Gas Hog Saves Environment and Your Money
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Sustainable City Cabs
Sustainable City Cabs
'Taxi Green Mumbai' Offers an Eco-Friendly Solution for the City
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Crowdpowered Transit
Crowdpowered Transit
Alex Astilean's Speedfit Treadmobile is an Exercise in Innovation
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Human-Powered Helicopters
Human-Powered Helicopters
The Gamera Project is Enviromentally Friendly and Physically Demanding
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High-Class Pedicabs
High-Class Pedicabs
The Eclipse Rickshaw Features an iPod Dock and Speaker System
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23
Motorized Hybrid Bikes
Motorized Hybrid Bikes
Izip Express Bike Combines Motor and Human Power
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Badass Shell Tricycles
Badass Shell Tricycles
The Hase Bikes KLIMAX is a Three-Wheeled Terror
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21
Streamlined Hubless Rickshaws
Streamlined Hubless Rickshaws
The Rig Wheel Concept Redefines Roadside Cycling
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20
Pocket Pedal-Powered Submarines
Pocket Pedal-Powered Submarines
The Scubster is the First Ever Submarine 'Driven' on Human Power
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Steampunk Segways
Steampunk Segways
The Pedal-Powered Wooden Legway
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Flinstone Inspired Pedal Car
Flinstone Inspired Pedal Car
Twike Electric Hybrid
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Solar Pedal Boat
Solar Pedal Boat
Jonathan Mahieddine's Eco Design
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Hybrid Electro Trikes
Hybrid Electro Trikes
The TW4XP Car Uses Both Electricity and Human Power
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Human Powered Motorcycles
Human Powered Motorcycles
The Erockit Hybrid Motorbike Uses Kinetic Energy to Charge
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Human-Powered Scooters
Human-Powered Scooters
Xcelerator Hypersonic Red
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Pedal Power Charging
Pedal Power Charging
The 1Liaisaon Eco Boat
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Human-Powered Helicopters
Human-Powered Helicopters
AHS International Hosts 6-Second Vertical Flight Contest
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Powerful City Rickshaws
Powerful City Rickshaws
The Potencial Vehiculo Stores Mechanical Energy for Later Use
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Human-Powered Monorails
Human-Powered Monorails
The Shweeb
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Amphibious Velomobiles
Amphibious Velomobiles
Is the HEPAV the Next Big Thing in Island Transportation?
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Eco Urban Chariots
Eco Urban Chariots
The Litty Electric Car is a Concept that Values Agility and Sustainability
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Luxury Electric Bikes
Luxury Electric Bikes
The BMW i Pedelec is the Newest Addition to the i Series
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Electrifying Eco-Friendly Cycles
Electrifying Eco-Friendly Cycles
The Ford E-Bike Combines Speed and Sustainability
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Sharp Eco Vehicles
Sharp Eco Vehicles
The Petal Velomobile Promises Increased Efficiency of Human-Powered Transport
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Human-Powered Motorcycles
Human-Powered Motorcycles
The Tesla E-max Runs on Human Body Heat
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Pedal Powered Submarines
Pedal Powered Submarines
The UV from MIT is for Aspiring Captain Nemos
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Exoskeleton Vehicles
Exoskeleton Vehicles
The Human-Powered Audi Exo Concept by Andrea Mocellin
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Dextrous Arm-Driven Bikes
Dextrous Arm-Driven Bikes
The Ramirez Racer T-10 Bicycle Gives the Paraplegic Speed
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