The previous examples we have seen of solar bicycles have their panels installed on the frame, a design challenge bigger than we think. Almost a decade ago, a project emerged that proposed installing the panels on the wheels of the bicycle, but it never managed to prosper. The Solar Bike brings back that idea, and although there are still no plans to launch it on the market, the concept looks viable.
Solar energy for personal vehicles
When we talk about electric vehicles, we must always consider where the energy that recharges their batteries comes from. Despite all engineering efforts, no car will fully achieve the label of sustainable if the electricity that reaches our homes is obtained by burning coal, fuel oil, or natural gas. This is where solar panels come in. Some companies have experimented with their car designs by installing panels on a conventional roof, but several more years of development are still needed. Fortunately, personal vehicles can adopt solar energy more quickly, and an excellent candidate is the electric bicycle. Placing the panels on the frame seems like the first option, however, the project called The Solar Bike moves them to the wheels.
The Solar Bike concept
It is likely that more than one person wants to highlight the risks associated with using a bicycle with covered wheels in an open space (especially when there is wind) and the need to distribute the weight with precision, but unlike other designs, the Solar Bike already has two prototypes, and they look quite solid. When the bicycle is stopped, the panels recharge its integrated battery (the tube seen in the frame triangle), and when moving, both the panels and the battery provide electrical energy to the motor. The Solar Bike required three years of development, and its creator, the Danish Jesper Frausig, indicates two maximum speeds: 24 and 50 kilometers per hour, depending on the configuration. The internal battery can store enough energy for a trip of 70 kilometers, but I imagine in practice it will be shorter.
Charging and market outlook
The average recharge is tied to the amount of available light, and the official page mentions between 2 and 25 kilometers per day, which doesn't tell us much due to the wide margin of error. For now, there is nothing indicating a short-term launch or a scheduled crowdfunding campaign. Personally, it's not bad that The Solar Bike is taking its time. It's a complex concept that can improve with optimizations in the panels or battery, but it must also reach a reasonable cost, something electric bicycles haven't fully achieved.
