Pedal Power: Solar Bicycles are Bright Ideas

While bicycling provides an eco-friendly and healthy way to get around, sometimes a cyclist needs a little help every now and then. Solar bikes may be just the ticket!

WinSolar Energy Bike

As part of the 13th International Bicycle Design Competition (IBDC), designers Chun-Tung Chen and Kuoh-Siang Cheng created an intelligent bicycle concept that is quite unique.  Out of 938 entries from 55 countries, the WinSolar design was awarded the 2008 Excellent Prize and Merida Prize. The WinSolar Energy Bike is not only attractive; it can harness solar, wind, shock energy and pedal power.

WinSolar Features:

• The Spoiler, located below the handles, is covered in solar panels and includes a wind-powered electricity generator.
• The removable headlight, located on the front of the spoiler, can also be used as a flashlight.
• The Adjustable Energy Plane is located below the main pipe. It can be adjusted to absorb more direct lighting.
• The two front forks of the bike feature a coil and magnet configuration.

Too pooped to pedal? The bike automatically switches to electronic mode, giving riders that little extra boost up that big hill.

E-V Sunny Bicycle

Peter Sandler, a Canadian entrepreneur, invented the E-V Sunny Bicycle, touted as the “first all-solar electric bicycle driven completely from power derived from the sun’s rays.”  Here’s how it works. The sun shines on the solar panels and absorbs the energy from the sun’s rays. That energy is then transferred to the battery which transfers the power to the motor. Turn the key on and you are good to go.

E-V Sunny Bicycle Features:

• There are three ways to power the bike: pedal power, pedal assisted electric power or all electric.
• Can reach speeds of up to 18 miles per hour.
• Front hub motor is fully encased and is waterproof.
• Flexible solar panels are incorporated into the wheels.
• Compact electric motor drives the bike’s front wheel.
• Rainy day? No worries. The bike can also be charged using a wall outlet.

Ride on!