12/4/2016 Cargo

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ElectricallyPoweredBicycleTrailer&HandCart(DIY)

TheGermanmadeCarlaCargoisathreewheeledcycletrailerwithanelectricassistmotor.Itcanbepulledbyanytypeof
bicycle(includingacargocycleoranelectricbike),anditallowsyoutocarryheavy(upto150kg)andbulkycargo(aloading
platformof60x160cm).Uncoupledfromthebicycle,theCarlaCargoworksasahandcartforlargeorheavyloads.The
vehicleweighs40kgincludingtheba ery,andhasarangeof40to60km.

Theelectricmotorisbuiltintothefrontwheelandcanproduce250wa sasatrailer(upto23km/h),and500wa sasa

handtruck(upto6km/h).Thelithiumionba eryhasacapacityof11or15Ah.
Thevehiclehastwodiskbrakesandaparkingbrake,whicharecontrolledvia
thehandleorthebicyclehandlebar.

TheCarloCargosellsforabout4,000euro.Theconstructionmanualisfreely
accessibleonline,butonlyinGermanfornow.Thetrailer/handcartispresentat
theInternationalCargoBikeFestival,April1617,inNijmegem,the
Netherlands.

Previously:8wheelercargocycle.

April15,2016bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Bicycles,Bikes,Cargo,Cargocycles,Chariots,DIY,Electricvehicles,Lowtechcars,Lowtech
solutions,Random,Travel

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ChineseWheelbarrow,MeettheHoneyBadgerWheel

MikeMerrellwritesus:

IvereallyenjoyedreadingarticlesonyoursitesinceIfoundthearticleontheChineseWheelbarrow.Istumbleduponit
whenIwaslookingforinformationonthewheelbarrow,andIwasimmediatelyhooked.Itturnedouttobesomeofmy
inspirationforournewproductwerecallingtheHoneyBadgerWheel.OurKickstarterprojectbeganMarch10thandwillrun
untilApril30th.

Becauseyouprovideawesomecontentforallofusinterestedinsimpletechnologieswithbigbenets,wouldyoube
interestedinrunninganarticleonyoursiteaboutthemoderninterpretationoftheChineseWheelbarrow?Myhopeisthatit
wouldaddvaluetoyouraudience,especiallysinceitsinlinewithwithnewandexcitinginfoforustechies.Onamore
personalnote,Iappreciatetheboostsofsmallinspirationfromyoursitethatleadtobigideas.

[Readmore]

March30,2016bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Cargo,Random,Travel,Wheelbarrows

ATrunkonWheels

DenmarksTriplelectricmotorbikehasmorecargospacethanaMercedesEClassestate.Thevehicleisaimedatgoods
deliveryinlargecities.Heatedandrefrigeratedcargoboxesareavailable.Somespecications:

Cargovolume:750litres
Loadcapacity:200kg

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Electricmotor:4kW
Topspeed:45km/h(28mph)
Ba ery:5.3kWh/6.7kWh/8kWh
Chargingtime:5.38hours
Range:70100km(with8kWhba ery),5080km(6.7kWhba ery),3060km(5.3kWhba ery)
Weightexcl.ba ery:221kg
Weightwith8kWhba ery:301kg
Length:241cm
Width:127cm
Height:1170cm
Wheelbase:150cm
Turningdiameter:7.5m

September29,2015bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Cargo,Lowtechcars,Random

AMarketforSimplerTrucks
Thepaceoftechnologicalchangeintruckingoverthe
pastdecadehasbeenbreathtaking.Commercial
vehiclesrollingoassemblylinesnowboaststandard
andoptionalfeaturesthatwouldhavebeen
unthinkableonhighendluxurycarsjustafewyears
ago.

Theproliferationoftechnologyhaspenetrated
virtuallyeveryaspectoftruckdesign,fromBluetooth
systemsthatenabledriverstotalkonthephonesafely
toGPSorientedtelematicssystems,computer
controlledintegratedpowertrainsandhighpressure
commonrailfuelinjectionsystems.

Yet,moreeetmanagersarebecominglessthanenthusiasticconcerningtruckingstechnologicalexplosion.Thatsbecauseall
thenewtechnologyfoundontodayscommercialvehiclescomeswithtradeosandmanyeetscannotseeanendtothenew
problemsthathavepiggybackedthesehightechmodels.Themostglaringunwantedburdenhasbeenskyrocketingtruck
prices.Atthesametime,theexponentialleapinnewandadvancedtechnologiesfoundontodaystrucksisstressingthe
industrysserviceandsupportnetwork,whichalreadyisstrugglingwithacripplingtechnicianshortage.

Finally,eetmanagerssay,thereistheissueofdurability.Italktoowneroperatorsleasedtooureetallthetime,says
MargretHogg,generalmanagerofTorontobasedJ.G.Drapeau,alonghaulhazmateet.Theyalldrivebeautifuloldtrucks
thataredependabledayinanddayout.Theydontwantanythingtodowithallthesenewtechnologiesbecausetheyrun
trucksthatworkwhentheyneedthemto.

Hoggbelievesvehiclereliabilityhasneverbeenlowerthanitistoday.Westillhavea2002modelinoureetthatisfarmore
dependablethanacomparable2012model,shesays.Weveonlyhadsixmajorrepairswiththe02trucksincewegotit.In
contrast,the12modelhasalreadyhad11majorbreakdowns.Thatsnotanisolatedevent,either.

Readmore:Lowtechtruckrevolution:willmoderntrucktechnologycreateamarketforsimpler,moreaordabletrucks?The
pictureisfromRainierTruck&Chassis,therstoutsidecomponentassemblertomarketitslineoflowtechmodelsinNorth
America.

March15,2015bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Cargo,Trucks

AScooterforEveryone
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TheJohanson3isastablethreewheeler,withthedriverleaningbackratherthansi ing(thoughsi ingisanoption).Feetrest

onaplate,andpressingdownonthatplatecreatesaleanonthefrontwheel,turningthevehiclewhiletherearwheelsremain
solidlyontheground.

Thatmakesforeasyonando,especiallyforthosewhoowingtoage,injury,orfashionchoice(skirts,saris,djellabas,and
kimonosareaccommodated,accordingtoJohanson3)cannotthrowalegoverabicycleseat.Variousmodelsaccommodate
singleridersorasmanyasthreeadultsplustwokids,andcanhaulupto660lbsofeshandcargo.Readmore:TheJ3,atrike
thathaulsfreight,sparesfrocks.

TheJohanson3isavailableforpreorderandcosts$3,150$3,900.

January19,2015bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Bikes,Cargo,Cargocycles,Electricvehicles,Lowtechcars,Lowtechsolutions,Random,Scooters,
Tricycles

TrolleytrucksinLosAngeles
AprojecttestinganewwaytopowertruckswithelectricityismovingforwardalongselectedhighwaylanesnearthePortsof
LosAngelesandLongBeach.

TheSouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrict,whichistheairpollutioncontrolagencyforallofOrangeCountyandthe
urbanportionsofLosAngeles,RiversideandSanBernardinocounties,hasselectedacompanytoinstallacatenarysystem.

Thisisessentiallyoverheadelectricallinesthatsupplytruckswithelectricpower,similartohowmoderndaytrolleysor
streetcarsarepoweredonmanycitystreets.

Readmore:TruckElectricationSystemtobeTested
atPortsofLosAngeles,LongBeach.ThankstoPaul
Best.

Previously:

Siemensrediscoversthetrolleytruck
Getwired(again):trolleybusesandtrolleytrucks
Trolleycanalboats

August18,2014bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Cargo,Random,Travel,Trucks

EightWheelerCargoCycle
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Thinkyouneedacaroravantomovelargeandheavystuaround?Thinkagain.Thiseightwheelercargocyclefeaturesa10
m2bambooloadingplatformanda450kgloadingcapacity.Thechassisisbasedonthatofaconcretemixer.Thevehiclehas
fourwheelsteeringandindependentwheelsuspension.Withtwodriversitachievesanaveragespeedof1015km/h,which
couldbefurtherincreasedbytheuseofelectricmotors.

ThecargocyclewasdesignedandbuiltbyBerlinerNicoJungel.Findmorepicturesandvideosathiswebsite.Thevehiclewas
spo edattheInternationalCargoBikeFestivalinNijmegen,theNetherlands.Seeallpicturesoftheevent(includingmore
imagesofthe8wheeler).Previously:CargocyclistsreplacetruckdriversonEuropeancitystreets.

April28,2014bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Bicycles,Bikes,Cargo,Cargocycles,Pedalpower,Quadricycles,Random,Recumbenttricycles,
Travel

Furoshiki:ZeroWasteShoppinginJapan
Inatimewhenclothmakingwasoneofthemostadvancedtechnologies,apieceofsquareclothwasallthatamanneededto
carrygoodsaround.JapanesecallitFuroshiki,asquarecloththatwithdierentwrappingtechniquescanbasicallytransport
anything.Withitsnamemeaningbathspread,Furoshikiisatraditionalkindofwrappingclothmadeofnaturalmaterialslike
silkandco on.Itisbelievedtodatebacktothe8thcentury.Whatwasatrstusedtowrapupnoblemensclothesin
bathhousesgraduallytransportedgoodsandgifts.

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Clicktoenlarge.Morepictureshere.

ModernbagsmighthaveoutshoneFuroshiki,butrecentyearshaveseenitscomebackasagreenalternativetoshoppingbags,
thankstotheMo ainaiFuroshikiinitiativebyYurikoKoike,JapansMinisteroftheEnvironment,in2006.Itsashamefor
somethingtogotowastewithouthavingmadeuseofitspotentialinfull,saidKoike.LikewhatbeautylabelLUSHhas
followedtoproduce,themodernFuroshikiKoikeupheldwasmadeofrecycledPETbo lesthat,astheMinisterputit,can
wrapalmostanythinginitregardlessofsizeorshapewithali leingenuitybysimplyfoldingitinarightway.

Theabovegraphdemonstratingdierentwrappingtechniqueswentviralontheinternet.Awaveofshopsemergedtosell
fancyfuroshiki.TheMinistersstatementholdssometruismbecauseafuroshikidoeswrapupalmostanythingofallshapes
andfragilityfromvegetablestobo les,fromwineglassestoeggs,fromababytoadog.Besidesitsdiversity,Furoshikiisa
greatalternativetoadoptalsobecauseofitsportability,leavingalmostnoroomforexcuseslikeIforgottobringmyownbag.
MostofthetimeverydecorativebecauseJapanesetreatitasanartisticcraft,afuroshikimakesagreatscarf,headbandor
pocketsquare.

Lightandsmall,itcomfortablytsinyourpocketordaybag,whilstsomefuroshikiclothesarebig
enoughtoabagwhoseformyoucanchangeeveryotherday.Apersonalexperimentprovesthatit
helpsencourageshopperstooptforlessorunpackagedoptions.ToavoidunnecessarypackagingI
visitlocalgrocerystoresforunpackagedtomatoesandtotheplasticbagaddictssurprise,itisvery
easyandlighttotransport.Justthinkabouthowonepieceofclothhasthepotentialtoreplaceall
shoppingbags.Doesitnotmakeitoneofthesmartestsolutiontoshoppingbagsandexcessive
packaging?

ThisisaguestpostbyRenWan,awriterandsustainabilityadvocatewhoisbasedinHongKong.SherunsJupYeah,anonline
swappingplatform,isamanagingeditorforWestEastMagazine,andblogsatLoccomama.

April4,2014bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Cargo,Clothes,Lowtechsolutions,Random,Shopping,Trash

TheVenetianHandcart
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GiulianaFornaciaridrawsoura entiontoyetanother
exampleofingenioushandcarttechnology:the
Venetiancart.

Thevehiclehastwosmallwheelsattheendofthe
horizontalbars,whichareusedtoovercomethesteps
ofVenetianbridgesandstaircases.

Wehavesaiditbefore:lowtechsolutionsareby
denitionlocalsolutions.Itistechnologythatadapts
totheenvironment,nottheotherwayaround.

ThepicturecomesfromclassiedadswebsiteSubito;
thecartisforsale(199euro).Tobepickedupin
Venice,obviously.

Threemorepictureshere,hereandhere.Moresustainablesmallscalecargooptions.

October21,2013bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Cargo,Random

HandcartsonRails
LookingforanevenmoreecientcargovehiclethanaChinesewheelbarrow?Tryahandcartonrails.Thelightrailwayshown
onthepicturesbelowwasbuiltduringtheearly20thcenturyinGhana,thenaBritishColonycalledGoldCoast.Thehuman
poweredrailwaywasusedforconveyingcocoafromthefactoryinAkusetotheriverbargesontheValtariver.

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Source:EngRailHistory.

September20,2013bykrisdedecker FiledUnder:Cargo,Random,Trains,Tramsorstreetcars,Wheelbarrows

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