Utility Cycling - Make this work on a cargo bike?

I've always refused to add supplemental power on my bike no matter how heavy the load. It just never made sense to me. But if I start seeing this rotary air engine retrofitted, I just may reconsider. I can imagine something similar to a stoke monkey set up on a big dummy with a light tank in the free radical.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq8aZVLpf-c

I've always refused to add supplemental power on my bike no matter how heavy the load. It just never made sense to me. But if I start seeing this rotary air engine retrofitted, I just may reconsider. I can imagine something similar to a stoke monkey set up on a big dummy with a light tank in the free radical.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq8aZVLpf-c



So what makes this more desirable to you than an actual stokemonkey?

batteries. Hate dealing with them.

Wouldn't it be a much bigger pain to refill an air tank? Even if you have your own compressor, I can't see how that would be any easier.

I have to say, I've always been pretty skeptical of adding power to a bike, too, but I rode a Stokemonkey-equipped cargo bike a couple weeks ago and it all really started to make sense -- just that nice little boost getting started at a light, or a mild assist going up a hill with a heavy load. It almost felt like an alternative to shifting -- just stay in a nice, reasonably still gear, and add a bit of power until you get up to speed. I'm still a big fan of actually turning one's own pedals, but that experience has me thinking...

in many states
if the bicycle is not powered by actually pedaling
the bicycle is now a "Motor Driven Cycle" which now categorizes the vehicle in the realm of Department of Motor Vehicles.

licenses, insurance, registration, ad nauseam

I've also had some exposure to a stoke monkey
and rohloff hub.

i wonder of a Stoked Hot Rod Dummy with a Rohloff hub.