help!

[bmaehigg]

:confused: I want to get into the pedicab buisness. I live in southern British Columbia, in the Mountains. Can anyone out there respond to my enquiries as to how much ,where I can purchase both a rickshaw and an electric cab. I am inthe marketfor two rickshaws and 1 electric pedicab. I am also having a difficult time finding insurance.....Can any one help me???

[Trixi.com]

Hi,

please check our list of operators and manufacturers
http://www.pedicabforum.com/pedicab-rickshaw.htm
(http://www.pedicabforum.com/pedicab-rickshaw.htm)
(http://www.pedicabforum.com/pedicab-rickshaw.htm)
There you will find a lot of manufacturers...


Insurance:
Bikesatwork.com recommends
http://www.mckayinsagency.com (http://www.mckayinsagency.com/)

[Sweden rickshaw]

Hi! :)

I'm a rickshaw owner from Sweden.
I have 19 chinese rickshaws. And some other rickshaws from India. I have even some, with electrical motor.
I bought a 3 geared rickshaw with a 374 Watt, 24 volt electric motor from India. It never worked!

I bought for 2 years ago one electrical motor from germany to assemble to one of my chinese rickshaws.
I wanted to do what I think, lot of rickshaw owners want to do the same! Put an environmental friendliness, helping motor on the rickshaw. It was VERY expensive! The whole package with the batteries weight about 65 kg. The cost ended for about 2000 EUR. And I don't count my own time and job.
The motor is a 250-400 W and works with 24 volt.
It is assembled on the front wheel of the rickshaw. The power of the motor is to weak to drive the rickshaw. On straight road it's ok. But on a steep road, where you need a little help it's almost useless!

Rickshaw =100 kg. Electrical motor+battery = 65 kg.
Your weight = 80 kg. Passenger weight 160 kg.
It's a weight of 400 kg together!
I did not have someone who could give me advise if the idea is good or the motor would be enough strong. Before I bought the elect. motor. I didn't know nothing about electric power. Not even today! I just hade an logical idea to do something good.

I have even tried the Velo taxi from germany. In my oppinion, the vehicle is to big to care 2 people. The 24 gear and the electric 250 watt motor is not enough effective.
I know now: If you want to, or HAVE to use a rickshaw on a steep road, don't do it! :mad: I hade some stupid drivers who want to show how strong they are. They bust they knees, some broked the rickshaw and scared the passangers. AND! They loose money when they have to quit the job that day. One is still suffering about his knee.

You need at least a vehicle with 2 kwAh strong electrical motor. And a battery capacity of 36-48 volt.
There are such vehicles on the market... I'm NOT talking about a golf car! Such a vehicle is heavy but effective. The price is just about the same as for the Velo taxi.

You can even risk to buy 2-4 seat electrical rickshaw from china. Very cheep! I think they want 500 US$ for 2 years ago. But don't hang me if you buy problems with them! You have to think forward. What if it's broken? Do I have to buy container of spare parts??? Can it be repaired? Can I repair it? A.s o.!

The Velo taxi has succeeded for the shape of the vehicle. But for the driver it's not a BIG revolution. They still have to struggle and swear about heavy passangers, very little money, if any! and heavy rickshaws. :(

Lot of companys manufacture the same shape and form as Velo taxi. Shame on them! Don't they have their own imagination!?
---------------------
Myself, I'm looking forward for the motor from YAMAHA. FC06
Methanol type fuel cell (DMFC) unit with an output of 500W on a 50cc. The fuel is an easy-to-handle methanol-water mixture.
See: http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/news/2003/10/22/tms-08.html

That seems to be environmental friendliness with sufficient running distance.
-------------------
I have made my own solution for the steep roads we have in Stockholm.
I let manufacture a vehicle after my own ideas. I use a 24 gear bicycle to attache my "Camping rickshaw" to. The gears is enough. The breaks on the bicycle is also enough on downhill with passangeres. I don't drive like a "MAD MAN!" If you take it ALLWAYS easy with the rickshaw the passangers can realy enjoy the ride. And you don't have to work your guts out with my conception. The rickshaw weight only 50 kg. So, it's easy to drive with passangers. Even for an old man (58 year) like me.

Have a nice season and good luck!

Josef

[OEX]

Hi,

We have many contacts in Canada having operated there since 1990. contact me at vitoinvegas@yahoo.com
My site is www.rickshaws.net

Howard