The Oxygen Fueled Car is a small junked car converted into a five-wheel, two-person bicycle. All car weight
rests on the two original back car wheels and on a single front motorcycle fork. Steering is controlled
with the motorcycle handlebars. Braking is achieved with the original car parking brake,
placed between the two cyclists so each can reach. The 'driver' can also slow the front wheel with the
original motorcycle front hand brake. The front brake works well for known stops and gentle deceleration.
The rear brakes work best for aggressive braking and also functions as a parking brake. The wide (for a bicycle)
rear wheels make the Oxygen Fueled Car stop better than any other bike any crew member rides.
The vehicle is powered by two independent, single-wheeled bikes inside the body. Only the weight of the cyclist rests on each bike wheel. Both bikes lift and drop independently from the car frame, and pivot side to side in turns. This keeps the tires from sliding sideways on pavement when the car turns, creating drag as well as possibly damaging a wheel. In effect, two unicycles are pushing a tricycle from the inside.
Both bikes have 18 speeds and are shifted and pedaled separately, unlike a tandem bicycle. The brakes on the bike frames have been removed, and the rear bike's handlebars are fixed in place.
The Oxygen Fueled Car handles very well. It turns sharper than the original car.
In fact, it feels as if it could slide into some tight spaces, and has. The relative upright
position of the cyclists, the forward position of the 'driver', and the lack of blind spots
permit control over exactly where the car goes.
Reversing is done by pushing the car back while lifting the bikes up so the wheels don't bind on the sides of the body. One person can do this by holding the handle of the parking brake and the rear wheel of the front bike with one hand and pushing the 'bike' backwards from the handlebars. However, it's often easier to avoid reverse, since the O2FC turns forward so sharp.
One person can move the O2FC relatively easily. A single driver can expect a top speed of 9 miles per hour and a comfortable cruising speed of 6-8 mph. Car pooling (two people pedaling) is the most efficient way to move the Oxygen Powered Car. Car pooling allows top sustainable speeds of around 15 mph, and comfortable cruising speeds of 10-12 mph. The record for speed on level ground is 17 mph, car pooling. Two pedalers also flatten hills better. Primo and Stephen have pedaled the O2FC up the ramp from River Street at MLK jr- slowly but surely.
All bicycles in Savannah must have lights at night for safety. Power is supplied by a car battery.
The motorcycle's front light and taillight
were reused and converted from 6 volts to 12 volts with the help of our friend Themba.
Two white side lights were added for additional visibility.
