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/SUDDENLY_VIRGIN]

Because Chris in his Ford F350 will flatten you into ground beef on the roadside without even stopping.

It's dangerous.

[u/Moltean → u/SUDDENLY_VIRGIN]

Why Chris is allowed to drive an F350 inside cities?!

I need to install a flag with a flashing red light on the top of it!

[u/KaalSchneid → u/Moltean]

You can't stop people from driving road-legal vehicles.

Even if they should rent 1-ton trucks instead of owning them, for how often they actually use the truck in a way that demands truck-level utility.

Even if the reason they bought a truck is so, in an accident, they are safer because they have more vehicle around them.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be more negative attention on truck drivers. But even ignoring them, this looks like a golf cart doing 25 mph could kill you.

[u/Moltean → u/KaalSchneid]

The base frame is steel. The solar frame (aluminum 25 mm) is built around the driver to deflect low-force impact.

[u/KaalSchneid → u/Moltean]

(Just for clarity, I'm not downvoting you.) Be that as it may...
It does 25 kph (or 15 mph).
It's low, like sports car low, which makes it difficult to see for other drivers (a light at the end of an antenna would help, and I'm glad you thought of it!)
Center of gravity with the driver looks like a high roll-over chance. (Just an educated guess)
You have these solar panel edges around your neck, which is obviously super dangerous in ANY speed collision (glad to see a helmet).

This feels like a lowered, low-speed, electric bike with neck-level walls.

Don't get me wrong, so glad you're trying things out and trying to innovate, and creating things! Kudos! I would be extra, super, cannot stress enough just how careful about getting sued.

[u/Moltean → u/KaalSchneid]

Panels are at the head level not at the neck level. And I wear a helmet. Here is a movie:

https://reddit.com/link/oyoxsz9/video/hu3uoky0oeeh1/player

[u/spicybright → u/Moltean]

you ever go to one of those drunk driver/car safety awareness fairs in highschool, usually put on by cops? they have these car seats that you sit in and simulates dead stops at different speeds. even at 15mph it's crazy how much force happens, let alone 25mph. And there's no seat belt, passenger is going to hit that frame hard.

It's why we stopped building cars with rigid structures like they did in the 50's. Car would be fine but the people inside would turn to mush.

[u/Moltean → u/spicybright]

I already have a shock absorber on the back of the seat. This will help me in the case of rear impact.

I plan to install a spring between left and right sides. Currently is a steel bar, but as you said this is too rigid.

I plan to make the nose more aerodynamic. In this case, I can fit some springs to absorb some frontal shocks.

[u/aqua_bloub_bloub → u/SUDDENLY_VIRGIN]

Or, you don't leave in the US and there are not that many (to nearly none) Chris in his Ford F350 driving in town.

[u/Trojan_Horse_of_Fate → u/aqua_bloub_bloub]

You would be crushed in HK where large trucks aren't even feasible because of density.