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Old 04-12-20, 06:19 PM
  #1  
alo
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If you made your own

I like the idea of having an electric bike with one or more solar panels to charge the battery. However, if you put solar panels on a regular bike, it would make balancing more difficult. Some people put solar panels on a trailer, and that is an option, but it results in a long bike/trailer combination.

A good way to go would be to make a four wheel ebike, with solar panels forming a roof. You could start out with just that, but it would not be that difficult to add some kind of removable sides to protect the rider from rain.

I may or may not ever make such a bike. But if I did, that would be the type of bike I would like to make.
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Old 04-12-20, 09:46 PM
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linberl
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In some states, 4 wheels means it cannot be a legal e-bike. Something to consider.
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Old 04-20-20, 02:14 PM
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I built a bike like what you are wanting. I seen on this web sit a build kit for a PVC pipe bike. 4 wheels a top and I made it look like a small truck. could ride 2 people and was Hub motor driven. all it need was a solar panel. I'll look it up and send photos later. at work right now.
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Old 04-20-20, 04:04 PM
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Do some google on "The Sun Trip", a race for solar powered bikes from France to China. These will be real machines that endured the rigor of mind numbing pedaling acrossthe Alps and thru deserts. You can see what people designed.


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Old 04-20-20, 04:59 PM
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Robert C
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Here I am on the way from Kansas to Utah. This involved riding over the Rocky Mountains. I am currently working on another trike, actually, a Rotovelo, to do a similar trip. However, this second time the solar panels will be on a trailer.
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Old 04-20-20, 06:50 PM
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Grin (ebikesca) made their own, an interesting solar-powered three-wheeler for a 5700 km trip from Lyon, France to Iran. Interesting video on the site.

Edit: Probably them riding part of the "race" mentioned above.

Last edited by 2old; 04-21-20 at 09:47 AM.
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Old 04-20-20, 08:08 PM
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If I made my own it would have to have some way of connecting 4 Bosch Cargo Line Speed motors one at each wheel and the capability to run all 625wh batteries with 2 for each so 8 total and would make it recumbent and aero shaped with solar around the outside but also very important good cooling inside. Sort of a velo mobile type deal but way crazier.
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Old 04-21-20, 09:50 AM
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I ride off road almost exclusively and constructed this bike about five years ago; pretty much what I wanted then and now. If I could have the same power in a lighter bike that would be ideal, but it can't get too much lighter with this much power.
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Old 04-21-20, 10:22 AM
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making my own is on the list, but I want a mid drive and I'm not particularly happy about what I can buy right now
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