I am looking for a replacement for my car due to a recent disability that made it difficult to use my right leg.
i currently have an electric bike, and that has worked wonders in being able to get around, but i can only go ~7-10 miles away from my house - in the suburban sprawl of southern california, this isnt even enough to go to my closest friend’s house.
i feel unsafe driving (trouble pressing the brake hard enough if needed beyond one-pedal driving), and i am looking for a vehicle that
- doesnt require the use of my foot/feet (big problem in my toes, so no toe shifting)
- can carry my wife, groceries, and/or both
- has a range of at least 100 miles
- can be ridden on the freeway
- (not required, but would prefer) electric motor instead of gas-powered
i had the idea of an electric motorcycle with a variable transmission and sidecar, but i have been unable to find anything like that on the market. i dont really know anything about motorcycles - i have never driven one but i am willing to learn.
i understand my needs are a bit odd, but i was wondering if anyone had some insight or any recommendations i may not have thought of to get around.
thank you!
Sidecars aren’t great, they are tricky and have a high learning curve. Cargo bikes or trikes might be better, or an e-pedi cab with throttle, however these options will either fall short of your range requirements or require extra batteries (swapped in or wired in) and more likely than not would require you to be able to rest your feet on the pedals so that might not be ideal for your situation.
I’d recommend maybe taking a look at ICE scooters/mopeds to get the range you’re after for less money or maybe mini-vehicles (Smartcar, Kei trucks, etc.). There are EV offerings out there that could work too, but they’ll be pricier.
I’m going to go ahead an pin your comment to help get more responses, hope you can find something that works well for you and let us know how it goes!
i didnt even think of scooters - thank you for the recommendation!
i have gotten so much info from this thread, thank you, and everyone else, for recommendations here; it has given me way more options and research to do.
i didnt realize sidecars had a big learning curve. as someone who has never driven a moto, this option may be a dead end for me - thank you for this info. a sidecar was my first thought (probably due to all of the ww2 documentaries i watch, lol), but probably isnt the right way to go.
i think i am all set on the e-bicycle front (~20mi total range), but will keep an e-cargobike in mind if i need more carrying capacity. this is another trike recommendation. i didnt know something like this existed before this post - i definitely have more research to do.
thank you!
Yeah, the sidecars make handling very weird (but they do look super cool).
I know, I know, no legs. But i wanted to mention foot straps, just in case you hadn’t considered them.
One of my friends has a serious leg injury and a bunch of titanium pins and screws and bars. He uses a Velcro strap to keep his ‘bad’ leg locked into the pedal instead of clips/clipless pedals. It’s a lot easier to get in and out of if there’s an emergency.
Certainly won’t get you on the freeway though…
ooooo thank you! if my situation gets worse i’ll definitely look into foot straps.
i can currently rest my foot on the pedal and move my leg around a bit, so i am able to use pedal assist without any type of lock (i just cant push or pull on the pedal, heh. extra pressure on my foot activates a bunch of pain)
Electric motorcycles don’t have transmissions because they don’t need them. Same as electric cars. Your cargo and range requirements are going to be a tall order for an electric moto, but not impossible — just, not cheap.
Guys, is this it? Do we suggest OP should buy a Harley Davidson Livewire? I think so! Sidecars for motorcycles are pretty much always custom or at least semicustom, and a competent motorcycle shop should be able to either find and fit one for you, or point you in the direction of a custom shop which can.
Note also that out of the box the Livewire and most/all “traditionally” laid out motorcycles including electric ones will require the use of your right foot because that’s where the rear brake is located. Relocating that brake to the left handlebar (the front brake is traditionally on the right handlebar end) is probably not impossible, and is a fairly common mod for oldschool motorcycles for people who are down a leg.
Oh, and these things will also require getting a motorcycle license.
If you can’t stand being a Harley dude, various Energica and even — if you can hold your nose — Zero motorcycles would work. (Zero tried to float some pay-to-unlock and subscription bullshit a while back, and because of that they’re on my ban list. Up to you if you want to try trusting them. I wouldn’t.)
wow, i hadnt heard of HD livewire cycles, thank you! i dont really identify as a car/moto person; i dont really worry about branding that way, so no need to worry about becoming a harley davidson person, hehehehe.
＄10k with 86 miles of range - 86 miles is close enough for that low price (~20mi was just too little for a few things and i needed to get into a different range class)
i didnt realize side cars were a custom thing - no wonder it has been so difficult finding them. thank you for that info!
i didnt know Zero (one of the few e-moto’s i had heard about) did subscription/pay2play things; thank you for the warning <3
Keep in mind, during cold periods, that range will likely be about 1/3rd less than it is in optimal conditions.
yes - thank you; this is extremely important when thinking of the future logistics of riding an electric vehicle.
thankfully i am in southern california so its just 75°F every day, but will be very important to consider for anyone that finds themself here later <3
I support your goal of finding a not-car for you needs, and the other commenter discussed more about the electric motorcycle + sidecar idea.
That said, regarding operating a car without foot controls, my understanding is that there are add-ons which convert the typical foot controls (accelerator and brake) into hand levers. A random example. These range from mechanical linkages to the existing pedals, but could also be more complex or bespoke for a given car. That said, I have to imagine there’s a learning curve to using these controls, so it wouldn’t be dissimilar to learning how to ride a motorcycle.
I’m very pro-micromobility but also recognize that when nothing else in the toolbox fulfills the need, then it’s alright to use a car. I just wanted to make sure that option wasn’t overlooked.
Honestly, a Chevy Spark EV might be a good buy. Range is a little low but the level 3 takes less than 10 minutes for almost a full charge, and I’ve seen them go for less than 5 grand Canadian. Plus it’s a fun little go cart, and I suspect you can put hand controls in with not too much difficulty if needed.
Edit: sorry I’m a fucking idiot I didn’t read the first part well enough and didn’t catch you were looking for anything not a car.
its all good <3
i have a chevy bolt, but cant drive it safely. i bought it in jan 2023 and my leg got busted shortly after. its almost 3 years old with ~4,000 miles on it, heh… now it just sits in my garage with a monthly payment :/
The gas pedal is just an electric sensor, you could move it to the left…
Also one leg worth of force should be more than enough for brakes made after 1950-something
My dads missing his right leg for 40ish years, early on it was automatics, then a bunch of converted cars with hand controls (single push/pull lever for brakes+gas), now a days he pops it out of gear without the clutch and brakes with his left leg. It should be quite easy to convert an automatic to hand controls.
This’ll cheer you up, coupla months after learning to walk again, he immediatly got back on a bike, went hillclimb racing, and there were his parents spectating on the bank of the first corner, he nearly crashed again.
