Solar Powered Motorcycle 26 June 2007   Author: Mike Werner   Location: Normandy, France Via: Engadget We've seen several electric motorcycles hit the road (no pun intended) over the last few year, but the problem with electric motorcycles is that they use up batteries like there's no tomorrow. Ideally, you'd have solar panels that charge up the batteries while you ride. However, the surface of a motorcycle, even a big Big Hoss or Harley Electra Glide, is just not enough to put solar panels on. Spanish SunRed is a racing engineering and development company. They are working on a design that will make the surface of an electric motorcycle big enough to have sufficient solar cells. Called "Moto Solar Urban", or "Urban Solar Motorcycle", the motorcycle is still very much in the initial stages of design. The idea is create 3.1 m2 of surface that will allow an electric engine to displace the motorcycle at a speed of 50 kph (30mph) over a distance of 20 kilometers (13 miles). The motorcycle would not have any gears, just one speed. Once on the motorcycle, the units is closed around you, forming a larger surface of the solar panels. The motorcycle looks like a giant snail. Interesting idea, but the question is how do you put your feet on the ground ? If you got to open up the clam every time you come to a red light, you're going to have problems. 20 kilometers is not going to get you anywhere, specially not in the summer we're having over here. I can't remember having seen the sun for the last time.. Click here for more information - in Spanish (Thanks Greg L) blog comments powered by Disqus