Amazing Bicycle Powered by the Sun Invented
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Taking solar power and biking to a whole new level, an inventor has come up with a new prototype for a solar-powered bicycle to help take the strain off a commuter’s legs and the environment.
Solar-powered electric bicycle designed as an eco-friendly and efficient travel solution
for commuters. Photo Daily Mail
You will definitely stand out on the road on this radical canary yellow bike called a “Cycle Sol” which works like any regular pedaled cycle, but it has a canopy lined with solar cells overhead that charges by the sun, or by plugging into a regular power outlet.
The solar cells charge up a battery which powers a small electric motor hidden in the back wheel.
While you won’t be winning any bike rallies on its own power which has a top speed of 15 mph (24 km/h), it will save on ‘leg power’ to make pedaling easier and lower the resistance in peddling up hills.
Its handle bars are positioned on either side of the seat rather than the front so you can lean back for a comfortable, leisurely ride.
The Cycle Sol can be pedaled like an ordinary bike, or electrically powered
at the flick of a switch. Photo Daily Mail
“I designed the bike as an eco-friendly piece of technology to help commuters.” said Miroslav Miljevic, based at Z & Co Design in London, who designed and invented the bike as an eco-friendly form of transport.
The Cycle Sol bicycle is currently in the concept stage, but Miljevic hopes to mass produce it once he’s found a manufacturer.
“It is just like an electric bike but the motor runs on a battery that is powered by solar energy. There is a large flexible panel on the roof which is covered in solar cells that soak up the sun.”
“You can leave it outside the office during the day to top up the rechargeable ready for the ride home.”
“These days solar cells are pretty good at picking up the lowest amount of light so it should still work when the skies are cloudy.”
“At night time the small battery can be charged using the mains electricity in just a few hours. To save energy, the motor can be turned off or on so the cyclist could just use it when they’re peddling up a steep hill.”
The bicycle can be left in the daylight to charge, even when the skies are cloudy.
Photo Daily Mail
“The handle bars are positioned on either side of the seat rather than at the front so you can lean back for a comfortable ride.”
“It is still easy to balance and a belt inside transfers the left and right hand movements to the front wheel so you can steer.”
“And if the worst happens and it rains, the roof will keep you dry.”
“I believe it is just what the modern day commuter needs — it helps you along your way while also being kind to the environment.” Miljevic concluded.
More Solar-powered Bikes
If you can’t wait for the Cycle Sol to hit city streets, there are other alternatives currently available.
Charger without Battery and Solar Panels. Photo Green Bike Tour
Electric-assisted bikes are quickly becoming an emerging new category as a form of transportation based on the concept of enhancing rather than replacing ‘human power,’ which has been rapidly developing in Taiwan, Japan, and Europe, and even recently in North America.
Estimates for sales of electric and electric-assist bikes in Japan numbered some 200,000 and 50,000 in Europe during 2003 alone.
This form of bicycle has a control system which detects your pedaling effort and adjusts to compensate the amount of assistance it provides anywhere from 50% to 400%, allowing you to travel longer distance with less effort, at a greater speed.
It has an on-board battery supplying power to an electric motor that also powers the rear wheel, which can provide assistance for up to 40 miles, depending upon the type of terrain traveled and rider’s size.
Charger with Solar Panels. Photo Green Bike Tour
Road laws usually consider these new hybrid bikes as non-motor vehicles, therefore allowing them for use on bike paths, locking up at bike racks, and requiring no license to operate. However, not all laws or ordinances are totally clear.
These bikes can be “solarized” by adding photovoltaic panels to the front and rear luggage racks to provide 40 watts of power to continuously recharge the battery. More panels would be required to make the solarized electric-assist bike entirely self-sustaining, but Green Bike Tour says this system extended the battery range for a 200 pound rider from 32 to over 40 miles.
To travel further distances, the bike can be alternatively charged by plugging into any regular outlet to 80% within an hour or less.
There are a number of choices that we can make as commuters which help to reduce our footprint on the environment and economy, and even improve our health.
Various models of electric-assist bicycles are available with optional solar charging systems that are separate, stationary units. While we do not have any particular product that we endorse, Green Bike Tours does appear to recommend Electric Bikes at www.electricvehiclesnw.com/index.htm
Sources: Telegraph, Daily Mail, and Green Bike Tour
Tags:alternative energy bicycles bike bikes environment science
But, but, but, I was getting psyched out with the pain and abuse my bike puts me through. I mean like, sheesh!
There’s just gotta be a law.
~:o)
Bwahaha. Well once you’ve exhausted your ‘human power,’ you can simply sit back and enjoy the ride on the sun’s power, Mary Ann
Very cool invention indeed
.
If it rains, there are no windshield wipers to clean the front of the bike. One won’t be possible to see through it.
But ok, this bike is made to be driven while sun is shining
That thing looks more precarious, than the old penny farthing, I think putting a hood over a bike would only raise the centre of gravity making it more difficult to corner, so it’s probably better to place the panels on the frame.. But then I think if you stored the solar energy in a fly wheel you could make a bike more stable, like a spinning top. What if you had a separate inner wheel, to the outer wheels which kept spinning after you had braked, then when you released the break you could pick up speed again..
Funny that you would mention windshield wipers, Kelly, but you may have a point there. But then, bikers that ride motorcycles with windshields seem to manage, shrug.
I would think that the inventor has a number of things he would need to address prior to going into a full line of production, Pixzor. But he does have the prototype built, which is when many issues come to light as to their effectiveness.
That’s so creative! I would have never imagined something like that would be possible!
Who would ride a bike that looked like this?
interesting. i like the idea of it also being basically a bike with a roof. would like to see a production model eventually come out.
That’s a great news!
Whit all the concerns about the environment right now, such an invention will probably be popular. I wonder what kind of market they are going for.
Well if the European market is any indication, solar power assisted bikes could do very well in the North American market once they become more widely known of, Alex.
It looks weird…but I guess it’s a good news for the environment.
Wouldn’t that actualy be a less enviromentaly friendly bike?
A human pedaling isn’t exactly polluting a whole bunch, while the production of solar panels does produce waste.
good idea to make our earth to be a better place
That is soo coool
This concept seems like an overkill in terms of the additional material required. What are the concept’s approaches to durability, maintenance, cradle to cradle material flow? How heavy is the battery? And what are the security measures for the driver, especially in windy conditions? I believe, those people who can manage to ride such a bike, don’t need additional solar power. I personally prefer a simple bike that is extremely light, agile and aero-dynamic, and easily allows fast rides at 45km/h.
I think these are great! I live in Ocean City on the Jersey Shore and we have many bicycle rental places yet I have never seen these before reading this post. I hope to see these next summer in “Americas greatest Family Resort”
Very nice!!!!
Now isn’t this perfect for a hilly city like mine, San Francisco! Really biking is only for the hardcores here with all the steep climbs. But with a little boost from this neat solar power bike, that’s taken care of I guess!
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I’ve been to San Francisco myself, Ritesh, so I know full well what you mean about the steep hills. I wouldn’t want to be a cyclist there
I have to agree with Jamis on this one. Its taking the most efficient and environmentally friendly form of travel and giving it the traits of an automobile; it will create more pollution through materials cost, it will have a number of complex parts that could break and be difficult to fix (spend a little time with your bike and you’ll find that you can repair just about anything yourself, thats part of their beauty), and it puts you at the mercy of an outside power source, the fickle sun.
The desgin above also looks silly and cumbersome. If you want a slow and marginally environmentally friendly form of travel you’ve already got a stupid looking invention to ride: the Segway.
better hope its not windy – that roof looks like it would act as a sail!
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Wow, I want one of these bikes. The bike is awesome. It is a wonder what someone can do with solar power. The future is endless.
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