What's the solar panel for?
How about commuting 100 miles a week?
...and I only pedal if I feel like it.
Yes, it's every bit as comfortable as it looks.
Back to the drawing board... this was one of many preliminary sketches.
Here's an idea I'm considering for the next version. About 4 times more solar power than the current model.
The side panels fold out when the bike is parked. Based on the current model, I expect this would get 70-100 solar miles per day.
It's also handy for acting out all your batman fantasies.
Here's the rear tailbox under construction, starting with molding poured polyurethane foam around the bike using a rough form.
This foam blank was then sawed, cut and sanded much like a surfboard to make this shape.
Apply layers of fiberglass and epoxy, cut away the mold and you get something like this.
Going back, this was version 1.0. The panel tilted to maximize solar charging while parked.
Version 1.0 again. Panel in horizontal position to maximize solar charging while riding.
Solar module under construction: here's the underside of the cells after soldering. The numbers are Isc values (short circuit current) so that cells are matched in each string.
Solar module under construction: this is the underside of the module with a vacuum bagging setup.
This was version 0.9. The larger, heavier solar module provided about 10-12 solar miles per day.
20-30 solar miles per day in the summer. More if I pedal.
