HumanCar gets a price, release date, new look

It's been awhile since we heard anything about the HumanCar, but it looks like the Flintstones-inspired vehicle is now rapidly becoming a reality, with it finally getting a price, release date and a even slightly sleeker new look. Apparently now more specifically known as the Imagine LMV, the vehicle will appropriately be available this coming Earth Day (April 22nd), when it'll set you back a hefty $15,000 for the "base" model. For that price you'll apparently get a top speed of 30 mph from the vehicle's dual electric motors and, most importantly, "variable human power input," which should soon make you the most popular member of your car pool group. If that's not enough luxury for you, you'll also apparently be add various navigation and internet options, iPod connectivity, and various biometric devices to see just how much of a workout you're getting.

[Dan @ Jan 30th 2008 3:06PM]

Yabba dabba do!

[Tom Oliveri @ Jan 31st 2008 12:15AM]

worst.idea.ever

[Garst @ Jan 31st 2008 5:58AM]

That's alright Jane, us men can handle it.

[Chebwa @ Jan 30th 2008 3:07PM]

Cross country road trip in a HumanCar.

The ultimate test of a male. And of shoes.

[aguiluz @ Jan 30th 2008 3:31PM]

This will be interesting at winter.

[paragraph @ Jan 30th 2008 3:10PM]

... why not just run/walk/bike to work?

If i wanted a workout, i'd, you know... work out...

[malone @ Jan 30th 2008 3:30PM]

While an electric/human powered bike (or a scooter which I plan to buy) will be cheaper, there are a few valid reasons for this HumanCar:

- It can have a roof (sort of), to shield occupants from crap weather.
- Very few 2 wheelers can comfortably ride in snow/rain.
- The HumanCar has an exoskeletal safety cage chassis, giving occupants a greater sense of security while many 3,000-6,000lb vehicles continue to lurk our North American streets.
- People may prefer 4 wheels and some cargo space to carry things.
- People are obsessed with cars. For some reason they'd rather drive their 4,000lb "compact" cars or 6,000lb SUVs to a grocery store a few blocks away.. than use a bike with a small trailer.

Hopefully the HumanCar will encourage people to adapt to healthy methods of transportation, one step at a time.

[Tacticus @ Jan 30th 2008 3:57PM]

Wait Wtf O.O
1800FRAKING KILOS is a compact car O.O
frak me your fuel must be cheap
My current car is 1200 kg and i want to move to a new one that is only 1000 (then again i also want a cargo bike so i can do a weeks shopping on me bike :) )

seriously if 35MPH is not fast enough for getting around in your town i would consider razing it and a redesign is called for

offtopic starts here
i think that a cargo\su bike is better than a bike\trailer combo though that might just be me :)

[insertAlias @ Jan 30th 2008 5:00PM]

@Tacticus

35 mph is not enough to get around San Antonio, TX. And since razing the 7th largest city in the US is not an option, these just couldn't be practical here.

Also, I live over 20 miles from where I work. I would love to ride a bike to work, but it just isn't possible. Also, I don't have the option of moving closer. And I imagine that I'm not the only one in this kind of situation. For people like me, there will always be a need for real cars.

[JTM @ Jan 30th 2008 3:11PM]

If it can't do at least 35, I can't even go outside my neighborhood.

Useless

[Dan @ Jan 30th 2008 3:14PM]

Why not just take that trolley thing you have running through the middle of your house?

[MikeLong @ Jan 30th 2008 3:19PM]

@ Dan. I definitely Lol'd at that one.

[CharlieX @ Jan 30th 2008 3:22PM]

I too LOL'd. Trolley thing!

[jivetrky @ Jan 30th 2008 3:45PM]

@Dan
I hate to be redundant, but I don't LOL very often and this did it. :D

[Warhorse @ Jan 30th 2008 3:51PM]

Wow, that made me laugh! Thank you

[MikeLong @ Jan 30th 2008 3:56PM]

Even as I look back to read additional coments, I see that one and continue to laugh.

Bravo good sir.

[Grizz @ Jan 30th 2008 3:56PM]

Dan...you are awesome. I'm still chuckling to myself.

[Leoedin @ Jan 30th 2008 4:48PM]

I have been asking myself over and over to try and work out what this means for five minutes, and I can't possibly think of a single humorous thing that the "trolley thing" comment could reference.

I like to think I'm relatively well educated (enough at least to understand the average american household), but I'm stuck.

So, I hate to be the person who doesn't get the joke, but...

What?

[mrblack @ Jan 30th 2008 5:00PM]

yeah I don't get it either

[Thomas @ Jan 30th 2008 4:58PM]

@Leoedin

JTM has Mr. Rogers as his icon. They are referencing Trolley from Mr Roger's Neighborhood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers%27_Neighborhood

[Dan Davis @ Jan 30th 2008 5:15PM]

The trolley is a Mr. Rogers reference.

[MikeLong @ Jan 30th 2008 5:07PM]

Oh that just makes me LOL even more...

[celerysword @ Jan 31st 2008 5:29PM]

@Dan
lol indeed. The trolley comment wins my personal funniest engadget comment award of this year.

[John @ Jan 30th 2008 6:59PM]

Mr Rogers is back, and he's bitter!

[MARSHAK @ Jan 30th 2008 7:22PM]

you good sir, win an internet.

[JTM @ Jan 31st 2008 1:39AM]

The trolley only goes to the neighborhood of make believe. Don't you ever want to go somewhere REAL?

[Brent @ Jan 30th 2008 3:12PM]

Is this thing street legal? I have something kinda like this but for just one person...I think people call it a "bicycle". It is a pretty cool idea though.

[chareman14 @ Jan 30th 2008 3:17PM]

The Flintstones car!

[Ignatius @ Jan 30th 2008 3:25PM]

Can you reach a top speed of 30MPH with three other people on your bike? I think not. :O

[PGP-Protector @ Jan 30th 2008 3:30PM]

@ lgnatius

Yes
http://www.2wheelbikes.com/tandem-bikes/triple-tandem.html

[Rocketboy @ Jan 30th 2008 3:44PM]

I'm guessing you've never seen a tandem on the road. Tandem bikes, even with just semi-decent riders, fly.

[mrblack @ Jan 30th 2008 5:00PM]

he said with THREE other people on the bike, not two

[Rocketboy @ Jan 31st 2008 2:11PM]

Oh, ok then. Two is faster than one, but yes, three would be dirt slow.

Duh.

[Chris @ Jan 30th 2008 3:29PM]

I really can't see how this would be overly useful. Like everyone said, it's somewhat worthless if it can't go over 30. Do you just call your friends over to drive around your yard?

[RikF @ Jan 30th 2008 4:03PM]

You drive around your yard at 30mph? What kind of country estate do you live on?!

[shmengie @ Jan 30th 2008 3:44PM]

they don't even have a prototype built yet. every pic is the same, just photoshopped onto a different background. can you say vaporware? i know you can...

[Brandon @ Jan 30th 2008 3:47PM]

Does it come with special shoes that you can use for braking?

[jdcarter @ Jan 30th 2008 3:58PM]

You're supposed to use your bare feet, like the Flintstones.

[Econ @ Jan 30th 2008 3:54PM]

Though the options list is expansive, what I'm most excited about is the "mad cup holders". I'd like to make a funny joke about treadmills or where to put my beer... but I can't.

[kal326 @ Jan 30th 2008 4:01PM]

So what do you do if you can't find three other people that share your love of peddling your ass off to get down the street? Better yet, would you kick people out of your humancar for freeloading and not peddling?

[aardvark sandwich @ Jan 30th 2008 4:08PM]

I think $15,000 is more than most caddy's can afford.

FOUR!

[rento @ Jan 30th 2008 4:12PM]

15k and u have to pedal yourself... you gotta be kidding me.

[Marco @ Jan 30th 2008 4:46PM]

Not that the internet isn't know for weird crap, but damn, Rento, that may be the nastiest avatar I've ever seen if my life. Women issues much?

[insertAlias @ Jan 30th 2008 5:10PM]

@Marco
You obviously didn't see the guy with the goatse avatar the first day they implemented them...

[Anon. @ Jan 30th 2008 5:09PM]

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones.

My God, this cartoon looks like something out of the cartoon.

[mb @ Jan 30th 2008 7:28PM]

I can't see the point in this car, especially at $15,000. Have a look at the Zenn cars http://www.zenncars.com for a better step towards reducing your carbon footprint while still keeping a car. They're already on the market (in the US at least, only BC in Canada so far) and you should be able to get one for $12,000. I found out about hem on this youtube article http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M88k6Ipp3c

[Bizzy @ Jan 30th 2008 7:49PM]

and that boys and girls is what a fail looks like

[Sauerkraut @ Jan 30th 2008 8:47PM]

That'll be fun driving to Florida in that

[russdogg @ Jan 30th 2008 8:52PM]

That's a Yabba-dabba-don't.

[Fred @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:07AM]

I'm personally waiting for the gerbil/electric hybrid. This one's just too much work.