Frank Didik Electric Vehicle Designs

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DIDIK SIMPLICITY
Human/Electric/Solar Powered

  • Holds 3 people

  • 28 MPH top speed
  • Rear wheel turns
  • Turns 360 degrees within its radius

(See Below for details)
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  The DIDIK Simplicity is a whimsical representation of the state of electric vehicles today. As with all electric vehicles since 1834 when Thomas Davenport of Scotland built the first electric
vehicle, Simplicity consists of a battery pack, control system and an electric motor. Simplicity is also equipped with an amorphous solar array (not on display) to assist in recharging the battery supply. To comply with New York State, Simplicity is classified as a primarily human powered vehicle, therefor is can be driven on regular roads and at the same time, it does not have to be either registered or insured.

 

  SPECIFICATIONS

 

TOP SPEED: On electricity alone, the top speed is 18 Miles Per hour.

RANGE: On electric power alone, the range is 30 Miles (which, press releases not withstanding, is about the norm for vehicles of this weight and size).

SPECIAL FEATURES: Simplicity is a three wheeled vehicle, with front wheel drive with the two front wheels. The rear wheel is what turns the vehicle. This arrangement allows the drive to
effectively parallel park without having to back in. This drive steering configuration takes the driver some practice getting used
to. While such a steering system is unusual, it is not unique. It was first experimented with at the turn of the last century (1900). The same arrangement was also used by the promoter
Buckminister Fuller in his famous Dymaxion of 1936. In addition to the steering system, Simplicity also boasts terrific visibility and is considerably safer to drive than either a motorcycle or a bicycle.

 

  DIDIK alternate energy vehicle links:

 
Didik Main Menu for alternate vehicles
How DIDIK vehicles are made
DIDIK Muscle Car
Foldable Didik Muscle Car
Didik Shooting Star
Didik Sun Shark
Didik Simplicity
Didik Arctic Explorer
Didik Long Ranger
Didik Duplexity
Worlds Lightest Bicycle
Hovercraft (non Didik design)
DIDIK Human Powered Bus
Licensing Information for Manufacturers
PRESS KITS
Electric Vehicle CD-ROM
How to Build an Electric Car (Smithsonian Institute Talk)
Didik Turtle (or how to build an electric car in 14 hours)
Critical assessment of electric vehicles
History of Electric Vehicles from 1834 to 1987
The Horseless Age First Car Magazine in the USA, starting in 1895. Contains details on every early car. Fascinating.
Click Here to review major catalog of early books on electric vehicles.

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Solar Energy Research Main Menu
Over 200 other EV and alternate energy sites

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Publishing and Copyright Information

Copyright 1982-2006 by Frank Didik.   All Rights Reserved.  It is requested that a copy of any quotation be sent to the author by conventional postal mail or electronic mail.   

Didikmobile, Muscle Car, Foldable Muscle Car, Shooting Star, Sun Shark are marks of Frank Didik.   

DIDIK is a Registered Trademark.

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Technical Observations:

  The Didik Simplicity was designed to be simple and easy to construct, very light weight, maneuverable and able to hold at least 2 people. To accomplish this, the frame was constructed using a simple steel "T" bone design with an array of cross members to achieve triangulation. To this end, the design was successful in that the frame alone only weighs 35 lbs which is extremely light considering that it can hold up to 3 people. To lower the weight further and to make construction even simpler, the DIDIK Simplicity does not have a spring loaded suspension system, but rather uses low pressure balloon tires in the front and a padded seat.

  The uncommon use of a single rear wheel for steering further minimized the need for complex and heavy geometry. After test driving the DIDIK Simplicity for over one month, several critical observations have been made pertaining rear wheel steering. First, low speed maneuverability is simply unbelievable. It is possible to turn 360 degrees within the radius of the vehicle! It is also possible to parallel park by driving into the space rather than backing into the space. On the other hand, it has been observed that the rear wheel turning configuration tends to over steer more and more as the speed increases. At top speed, it is believed that this oversteering can destabilize the vehicle. It may be able to compensate for this oversteering by placing a variable steering transmission so that at higher speed, less steering wheel rotation is necessary. In addition to oversteering, an other concern is that with the use of the rear wheel for turning, the vehicle is difficult to control while going through tight or confined spaces. --- Frank Didik 9/2000