Solar Charging whist riding, sunbathing at the beach, and lazing around the campsite

[BrianP]

I think it would be fun, interesting and a worthwhile project to fit a solar panel to sit over the rear panniers of my Kona Ute.

Here's a mock up using a bath towel to illustrate the idea. Size is about 70cm by 120cm. I would use lightweight tent poles to set the panel up facing the sun when parked.

My thinking is that I can only ride about 2 to 3 hours and still enjoy the journey. It's daylight about 5am and dark about 9pm just now, so if the bike was out in sunshine, lets say I only go to the beach on sunny days and it's 20 miles away, the panel could be charging when parked, whilst riding, at the beach and on the way home.

If it could work, then the aim would be to be able to tour along the coast, riding, solar charging and occasionally topping up when plug point available, but not depending every day on needing a charge point.

The bike is 24v, 250W motor and 13 Ah. I can probably get there and back on Eco mode, but not sure if my legs can still ride so far. So looking to top up the battery so I can do 40 miles along the flattish coast on standard level, plus a bit of level 3 on the occasional hill. I could also add a second battery sitting on top of the wooden rack top and under the solar panel.

konaworld

and more here First look at the Kona Electric Ute « « Bikes As Transportation Bikes As Transportation

Question is - can this be a reality? If it can, can I make it happen with the right help? Who should I go to to do it?

Thanks for help

Brian

 

[banbury frank]

Hi Brian

look at this site finished recharging kits only for 48 volt but will give you Ideas or you cold upgrade to 48 volt as you have a heavy bike

Solar Powered Electric Bikes



Frank

 

[flecc]

The gain from bike size panels is very small compared with the rate of motor consumption. Therefore it won't be financially viable since the range extension would be so small. Although you show wrapover panels, only one will gain from direct sunlight at any one time, the output from the others very much lower.

To give some idea, A to B magazine installed two large roof panels on a shed for battery charging of a 24 volt 6.5 Ah Lafree battery. Although they are very environmentally inclined and really wanted it to succeed, they were quite negative about the results and since moving house they don't appear to have repeated the installation for their e-bikes despite plenty of space to do so and suitable outbuildings.

 

[eddieo]

solar panels perform poorly enough on motorhomes with our UK weather...It may well add some charge but you will need to move to Spain.....

great idea, but wrong country and panels simply not efficent enough yet

 

[GaRRy]

Big issue as i see it is that currently a good size solar panel (say 60 watts) is quite a big beast and thats just a 12 volt one ( parents have a couple on their narrow boat)

Im sure the technology is coming but currently it wil be far to expensive to be seriously viable

Having said that good luck

 

[funkylyn]

Sorry Brian, but you would always need a chargepoint, the solar panels you would be able to carry just would not put anywhere near enough charge into your battery.
Im not a solar panel expert, but I do have a large one on my motorhome so am well aware of their potential.

Oh for the day when it will be possible, then none of us will need CycleCharge | Charge on the move

Lynda

 

[Cyclezee]

I have been using solar to charge my bike batteries for over 6 months now and have been pleased with the performance of the panels, just one problem......they are stuck to my roof

 

[BrianP]

Thanks for advice - dreams shattered! Perhaps another way of attaining freedom from the grid could be a noisier solution using a micro generator. This Honda engine costs only £135.

Honda GX31 General Purpose engine Price: £135 - Seddon Direct

I think somehwere people are fitting a micro generator to them. Could be run as I ride, so not noisy in the campsite - something I hate.

Brian

 

[flecc]

We've debated this and it would not be legal to run it charging the battery in use Brian, that makes it a hybrid petrol vehicle suject to motor vehicle law with registration and all that implies. Even running it while riding charging another battery is thought to be illegal under another roads use regulation.

 

[GaRRy]

Problem then would be the weight lightest one are around 10 kilos not including fuel and usually double that for a cheap one

And also not sure on legal aspect if ran while cycling

 

[funkylyn]

We've debated this and it would not be legal to run it charging the battery in use Brian, that makes it a hybrid petrol vehicle suject to motor vehicle law with registration and all that implies. Even running it while riding charging another battery is thought to be illegal under another roads use regulation.

Looks like another dream shattered Brian .....seems like you will just have to return to the real world and use the mains electric supply like the rest of us

Lynda

 

[the_killjoy]

Ignoring the charging on the go, what is the smallest/most efficient IC engine that could be used for charging. Just to put in the trailer and run/charge over night whilst camping ~ I think the Honda above must be overkill.

 

[GaRRy]

As i said the smallest lightest suitcase style gennies are around 10 kilos plus fuel.

If you really want to go this way most consider the honda ones to be the best but they are not cheap

 

[flecc]

Yes, the smallest Honda is exceptionally quiet and dual voltage, but still a 900 watt generator so nowhere near as small as would be ideal. We only need a miniature one of about 100 watts, but the market for them isn't big enough for such a tiny size.

 

[muckymits]

I have a small 2 stroke chainsaw engine and van alternator that I intend to couple together sometime to charge the boat batteries. Will let you know if it works, when/if I manage to get time . That lot might just sit nice on the back rack

 

[flecc]

I have a small 2 stroke chainsaw engine

That brings to mind the Demolition Derby TV program!

 

[BrianP]

How many shattered dreams can one man stand in a single day! Good job I have been swimming off the beach again in this terrific weather. The motor I posted weighs 3.8kg and outputs 1.1 watts of power. Here's a picture with a generator attached by Jeremy, on the home boat builder's forum.

I joined the charging website, not sure how to start a network here on the coast.

Brian

 

[flecc]

That's very neat Brian, quite compact too.

 

[GaRRy]

Yes, the smallest Honda is exceptionally quiet and dual voltage, but still a 900 watt generator so nowhere near as small as would be ideal. We only need a miniature one of about 100 watts, but the market for them isn't big enough for such a tiny size.

Well there are plenty of 100 watt wind turbines out there so i guess it would be possible with a suitable small motor to drive the generator

 

[flecc]

Well there are plenty of 100 watt wind turbines out there so i guess it would be possible with a suitable small motor to drive the generator

I was thinking of the noise problem for motor choice. The larger model aero engines spring to mind as having enough power, but they are inherently very noisy. Low noise needs to be built in right from the start of design as Honda have shown so well with i.c. generators and some of their two wheelers.