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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg "I'd like it to be such that people at the monthly meetings could do demo drives of various electric and electrified vehicles." (http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2009/07/29/university-employee-advocates-for-hybrid-twike)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/twike.jpgBruce Harrison - DAILYILLINI (http://www.dailyillini.com) - July 29th, 2009

I wouldn't mind giving one of these a try! --Ed.

"It is hard to have a bad day in the Twike," Matt Childress said. "People smile and wave when you drive by. It releases endorphins."

For two years, Childress, a research programmer for the Office of the Chancellor, has been the proud owner of a Twike, a three- wheeled, high voltage, 100 percent electric street legal vehicle that is registered as a motorcycle. It is a hybrid vehicle, powered by pedaling and electricity.

The Twike, which stands for Twin Bike due to its build of two recumbent bicycles, gets a top speed of 50-55 mph and can go 35-45 miles per charge, Childress said. When compared with a gasoline-powered car, the Twike averages an estimated 250-600 miles per gallon.

The Twike is his day-to-day commuter from campus to his home in Champaign.

Childress, who has two daughters, said that over the course of their lives people find that they require different modes of transportation.

Other modes of transportation, like the bus, can cause frustration if a situation calls for more convenient transportation, such as when trying to transport family members.

He said he drives his daughters to school and day care in the Twike on a frequent basis with the seven-year-old in the front, and the two-year-old in the back.

Since the Twike has seat belts, Childress said it is one of the safest motorcycles on the road. But he still jokes with occupants when they first get into the Twike.

"Hi," Childress will say. "I'm your airbag."

An advocate for electric vehicles, Childress said he wants to expose people to electric vehicles, and is in the early stages of launching an electric car club at the University.

"When you're one voice asking for something, you get ignored," he said.

Childress said he is hoping to hit Quad Day with the help of the YMCA and either an RSO (Registered Student Organization) or a... http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2009/07/29/university-employee-advocates-for-hybrid-twike

Wouldn't it actually be getting infinite MPG since it doesn't use any gasoline?

Someone in Madison tried a Twike and dampened my enthusiasm by mentioning the unstable steering at high speeds. This must be why the Aptera has two wheels in front instead of the back. I still like the concept of making the work commute the gym workout.

The 250 to 600 MPG is an equivalent number... as in what the electricity costs compared to what gasoline would cost to have the amount of energy to move the vehicle ... so depending on what you pay for Gasoline per Gallon and what you pay for a kWh of Electricity ... and depending on your driving skills ... and the route , etc... a Twike yields a cost of between 250 and 600 MPG.

I love the idea of a Twike ... on many levels ... I greatly like the increased vehicle efficiency ... I also greatly like putting pedals in the vehicle so I can get some exercise while in transit.

Of curse like any vehicle ... weather it be a motorcycle ... a Twike ... or a Sherman Tank... not every vehicle meets enough of the day to day needs for everyone.... but I've had an eye on someday getting something Twike like for many years now.

There is even a guy selling his Twike ( ~500 Miles on it ) in Hot Springs Arkansas for just ~$18,000 ... I think he wants to use the money for getting an Aptera... if anybody wants a test drive and is in that area ... drop him a line... loren4sun@yahoo.com ... doing a test drive for yourself is always a good idea... on any vehicle.

Someone should hypermile one of them and get it to work as a plain hybrid instead of a PHEV. Infinite MPG and no electricity used should be possible. With modifications, it should be even possible to take electricity from it and put it into a grid tie inverter. But then the equivalent MPG will be negative (positive distance travelled and electricity generated, for a negative usage). That doesn't sound very good!

In any case, I like the idea of a hybrid that becomes more efficient with Lauren Stanhouse in it.