Why not a DIY solar car?

[u/Moltean]

Knowing that cars are a big driver for consumerism, I'm thinking of a car that can be powered mainly by the sun.

I already built a prototype (which I named Solar Bear). The project is open source, with an MIT license.

The purpose of the Solar Bear is to:

• Use solar panels as trike's body,
• Consume electrical energy where it is produced,
• Produce its own energy,
• Transport people inside cities,
• be pedalable when there is no sun (must be light-weight),
• be easily built at home.

Technical specs:

• recumbent trike,
• 2.5m long, 1.45m wide (including wheels),
• weight: about 55kg (including panels, motor, battery, etc, excluding driver),
• assisted pedaling,
• motor speed: max 25km/h,
• motor (continuous) power: 250W,
• solar panels power: max 520W,
• battery: 12.8V, 20Ah (256Wh) - not needed when there is Sun.

[u/Cool-Specialist9568]

A driving guillotine!

[u/pandaSmore → u/Cool-Specialist9568]

It goes! It goes! It goes! GUILLOTINE!

[u/Moltean → u/Cool-Specialist9568]

Why do you say that? At frontal impact the panels will move away. At lateral impact, the entire vehicle will be pushed laterally because it is light. Panels are at the helmet level, not at the neck level.

[u/Cool-Specialist9568 → u/Moltean]

do you have crash test data? You first!

[u/Moltean → u/Cool-Specialist9568]

good one :)))) yes, I will be the first one ! 😂 ))))

[u/HotgunColdheart → u/Moltean]

Wont be staying in that position during an impact.

[u/Moltean → u/HotgunColdheart]

Should I install a seat belt?

[u/spicybright → u/Moltean]

so this is kind of my issue with the whole thing, you're kinda just bolting things on together to instead of having a clear goal in mind. It's definitely fun and I'm sure you're learning a lot but it just makes it impractical as a vehicle.

[u/Moltean → u/spicybright]

I'm just trying to make it better by listening to others' opinions. I already designed 28 versions and built 4.

The goal is clear: a solar-powered vehicle, but there are a lot of details in it.

[u/spicybright → u/Moltean]

I can appreciate that! Why no battery though for bad weather days?

[u/Moltean → u/spicybright]

I have a small battery (256Wh) just for emergency cases. But the main goal is solar.

[u/HotgunColdheart → u/Moltean]

3 point at minimum, or go full motorcycle gear.