A pleasure to drive, Low-tech Magazine’s handcart demonstrates the advantages of slow, human-powered transportation.
Low-tech Magazine built a bicycle generator for an exhibition on energy at the Pavillon d’Arsenal in Paris, now open to the public. Our two other bikes can be seen and experimented with in Rotterdam and Barcelona.
From 10 to 14 October, Low-tech Magazine holds a free workshop where we will build a bicycle generator together.
Andy Lagzdins built and documented a pedal-powered air compressor to run the power tools in his motorcycle workshop.
Cycling is the most sustainable form of transportation, but the bicycle is becoming increasingly damaging to the environment. The energy and material used for its production go up while its life expectancy decreases.
The bicycle and the bow are both highly efficient, human-powered technologies that could substitute for two very harmful alternatives: the car and the firearm. Why do we promote one but not the other?
We built a pedal-powered generator and controller, which is practical to use as an energy source and exercise machine in a household – and which you can integrate into a solar PV system. We provide detailed plans to build your own, using basic skills and common hand tools.
From the Neolithic to the beginning of the twentieth century, coppiced woodlands, pollarded trees, and hedgerows provided people with a sustainable supply of energy, materials, and food.
For centuries, the Netherlands were mainly dredged by hand, supplemented by animal power, wind power and tidal power. Could it be done again?
Unlike solar and wind energy, human power is always available, no matter the season or time of day.
Modular cargo cycles are cheap to build and easy to customize.
About a quarter of the existent wind turbines would suffice to power as many electric velomobiles as there are people.