Solar Motorbike From SunRed
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 06.25.07
This solar powered motorbike design by SunRed won a prize at the Barcelona Motor Show for its innovative technology. It’s a concept at the moment, but the company will be making a prototype soon.
It’s not a direct solar-power machine; the panels top up batteries when parked. This is because the panels fold up to give a large surface area (over 3 square metres), but fold down out of the way when the bike is on the go. Leave it in the sun, and when you get back to it you can fold up the panels and be on your way.
They claim that it will have a range of 13 miles, and should reach 30mph. For city journeys this is perfect, not many people commute further than that in urban areas, and you should be able to charge up during the day anyway. The motor sits directly on the rear axle, so not much energy is wasted in the drive train, and is brushless to reduce friction.
I can see it now; commuting to work on one of these, wearing a solar-powered bikini to charge my cell phone, carrying a solar-powered bag to charge my laptop and listening to some tunes on my solar-powered MP3 player. ::Auto Blog Green
A great design i'm sure, but having solar panels that fold out to 3m negates one of the greatest benefits of riding a bike - being able to park almost anywhere.
This
Is
Great!
While it's a great concept, I agree about the disadvantage of how much area the solar panels take up.
Also, I work 8 miles away. However, the only way I can get to work is to travel down a road that requires a minimum speed of 60mph. I'd be slaughtered on this thing.
I wonder if they are looking into a more pepped up version? That would so rule.
Awesome concept.
A nice concept but seems to me that most people buy motorbikes because they want to be able to travel places quickly... I'd also argue the 13 miles range is a bit limiting (especially for us country folk) - I look forward to seeing this idea progress!
I'm sorry but a top speed of 30mph and a limit of only 13 miles?
I live in a midwest metropolitan area and that wouldn't get me the the grocery store and back. Especially since I'd have to take all side streets in order to keep from being run over at that speed (or lack of).
Maybe if you're in New York or Chicago where there's a grocery store every three or four blocks, I don't see this selling too well.
I applaud the thought and effort, but I also agree this idea of folding panels seem impractical.
Gene
As a city biker (Honda Rebel, 100mpg city), I was all over it until I got to the third paragraph. 30mph?? That's not a bike, that's a frigging skateboard!
Tant pis...
I was a little concerned about the "folding" solar panels as I read the description, but the photo reveals a very clever design that other commenters did not understand or view. The solar panels telescope on a pivot and take no more space than the bike moving or parked.
Anyone living in an urban area will understand and appreciate this concept. 30mph is enough and the 13 mile range would get me back and forth to work all week including numerous grocery stops.
It looks like the wind factor would flow under the front wheel and want to pick the bike up in to a wheely. There would need to be a vent, but I think the engine is in the way.
Nice model and I love that we are all thinking in this direction w/ future vehicles. Never stop the great ideas!
I believe that the "shell" is only closed while parked, so there shouldn't be any aero-induced wheelies - especially at 30 mph max.
It reminds me of a pillbug or armadillo.
I don't understand why everyone "needs" to go so fast. Traveling on the highway over great distances is one thing. But a city commuter is another. If you live in a rural area, as I do, this bike is not for you. But that's no reason to shoot it down. Thirty mph is plenty fast in the city.
If you recall, the USA once set the federal speed limit at 55 mph because it conserved fuel. Not because we thought it was fast enough. It was only as cars became more powerful (and safer to crash) that the limit was raised to 65 mph. And consequently, fuel efficiency dropped; read: consumption increased.
oh my god, do you not understand that the reason you ride motorbikes is to feel the wind, to get there fast and as like cars to show off the best u can, this design (an awesome concept for future) does none of that, yeah its a great idea but not what motor bikes are about
Haha, it looks like a few people need to read twice before they comment.
Excellent concept, too bad if it started raining while you were at work and you had to walk home in the rain.