Cantilevered climbing elevator

An elevator, comprising:

• an elevator car frame;
• a drive mechanism situated near only one side of the elevator car frame, the drive mechanism including two drive wheels configured to
• engage oppositely facing vertical surfaces near the one side of the elevator car frame,
• selectively cause movement of the elevator car frame as the drive wheels rotate along the vertical surfaces, and
• selectively prevent movement of the elevator car frame when the drive wheels do not rotate relative to the vertical surfaces;
• a biasing mechanism comprising two beams, wherein each of the two beams has a first end and a second end, the beams are respectively associated with one of the drive wheels, the beams are supported for pivotal movement relative to the elevator car frame in response to a force that urges the drive wheels in a direction to engage the vertical surfaces, the first ends of the beams move toward each other in response to an increase in the force, and the second ends of the beams move away from each other in response to the increase in the force;
• and
• at least one stabilizer situated near the one side of the elevator car frame, the at least one stabilizer being configured to prevent the elevator car frame from tipping away from the vertical surface.