Solar Electric Bike Push Trailer

[CanisLupusSeeUs]

Wat's the point of this video, except to bemuse the viewer with a silly song? Some intelligent narrative would've assisted. The music was as useful as a solar panel on a bike-trailer.

[7188181]

Beware of anyone using the words "solar" and "bike" in the same sentence.

[Qfort1]

where are you at with the construction and testing part of your project? We would be interested in seeing some progress or joining your journey. Let me know.

[simplerlife]

HI there, we are still improving the trailer but we are about to post a clip of our actuall testing. it works great...but is a bit heavy. needs to be ligher..and longer battery life...lithium ion batteries will help as will brushless motors. call us....616-566-4884

[CoWolArc]

I'm worried about one aspect of your design. The batteries are a bit too far forward, so your bike's front wheel might be too 'light' on the pavement for reliable emergency steering/braking, especially if you hit bad weather.

I'd try to put them as close to the trailer's wheels as possible; maybe an inch forward of being centered over where the axle would be.

Cheers and best of luck,

Wolfe.

Otherwise, it's awsome.

[HierPower]

vibration will kill the panels if you dont protect them, the new lightweight military style ones might be best, but they are expensive, also if you have alot of batteries the extra weight is going to require the motor to always run. even a 400 watt motor takes alot of panels.

[simplerlife]

yes i made this in sketchup! :)

[peyto]

did you make this with sketchup? looks like it

[thiago497150]

Can you ride only with solar power or it is just for some help? I calculate about 200w for normal bike speed and for this you´ll need between 1 and 2meters square of solar panels, but in my project of a solar bike, the weight of the solar panels was ecessive, and i still using a pedal only bike.

Good luck in your travel!

[simplerlife]

it is just for help up hills. and yes i am planning to make the panels lighter by removing the metal siding and just using the panels alone.

[ivegotyourpants]

what was the name of that song?

nice.

[simplerlife]

Music: "Day by Day" Brett Dennen

[dslunsford1]

Not a bad design... I've seen a few concepts like this before. So you say that it's in production, why no actual video of the invention in action? I don't mean to be critical of it, but it just seems to be a little over the top. You've got to pay at least $4 per watt for the solar panels, and the increased weight from the multiple car batteries will only reduce the efficiency of the bicycle and make it harder to pedal. Finally, "sleeping in the trailer"? When would this take place?

[simplerlife]

thanks for your interest. The bike trailer is being made for my journey across the United States to visit sustainable communities, and film a documentary about them and my journey to transition into one. It's currenly in production meaning it's not finished being built yet. yes...as soon as it's built there will be a video of it in action. solar panels are being donated by ZAP! electric vehicles as well as the motor and batteries. They are not car batteries. they are electric bike batteries.