Friday, August 12th, 2011

Video Pick: Flywheel Bicycle

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Maxwell von Stein, a 22-year-old graduate of The Cooper Union, built bicycle that uses a flywheel to store energy. Instead of braking, Max can transfer energy from the wheel to the flywheel, which spins between the crossbars. The flywheel stores the kinetic energy until Max wants a boost, then he can transfer the energy back to the wheel using a shifter on the handlebars. En Español. (Credits: production, filming: ian chant, aleszu bajak, flora lichtman. music: prelinger archives. additional images: Maxwell von Stein. ) Viewed 108762 times. See More Videos

Maxwell von Stein's bicycle invention uses a flywheel to store energy. Instead of braking, he can slow the bicycle by transferring the kinetic energy from back wheel into the flywheel--which spins between the bars of the frame. Then Max can send the flywheel energy back to the wheel when he wants a boost.