Post by Bashan on May 1, 2010 6:04:18 GMT -6
Frosty's cool electric,
I own a solar electric business now, and recently converted a 2000 Chrysler Gem Car to solar electric, primarily for the purpose of promoting my business. I thought I'd end up taking it only to shows and an occasional run to the post office or the store. It's original range was 30 miles, the solar panels on a good day can extend that to 45 miles.
Instead, it's become my primary vehicle for the past 3 months and I'm having a ball with it. It'll only do a maximum of 25 mph and is only legal on 35mph or slower roads (but I can cross others). I've learned to adapt. I allow extra time to get places and I enjoy the sights and sounds of lower speeds. It's not unlike the fun of a 50cc scooter, but a bit slower and quieter.
It burns no fossil fuels and emits no carbon.
I still take the scooter or full size car for longer trips, but around town, I now prefer the ZERO operational cost of the solar car. Maintenance is minimal - hose the panels to clean off the dust and check the batteries once a month.
It's not for everyone, but it works for me as an around-town vehicle. Can I build a bigger one? No - the technology isn't there, but it's made me consider what the ideal electric car would be for me:
1) A car I could charge most of the time from my own solar panels at the house with a range of at least 250 miles.
2) A car that was affordable - no more than $20k and maintenance levels no higher than a gasoline powered car.
3) A car that could be charged in an hour on a trip, at a reasonable cost (An hour break every 250 miles is reasonable to me).
For now, I'll continue to have fun with this one. I get a large chuckle every time I pull into a gas station and stop at the convenience store for a coffee.... I tend to get a lot of "thumbs up" signs
Solar powered - 40-45 mile range on a good sunny day - 25mph max. Lots of people wave and a few one finger salutes because it's slow, but it's fun...
I really wanted to build a solar powered trike, but I couldn't find anything I was comfortable about converting. I just couldn't come up with a good way to mount solar panels to charge the scooter. I keep looking at these 150 cc trikes though and eventually I'll convert one.
I had the pleasure last October of riding a Harley Sportster (a rebuilt wreck with a blown engine) electric conversion.
Blistering acceleration is an understatement for an electric motor... I can see more of them coming to the local dragstrip real soon.
The one I drove was totally experimental and home brew - using standard deep cycle 12 volt batteries. It would do 70+ mph with a range of about 20 miles... or 20 mph for about 70 miles. Not bad for a grossly overweight machine using off the shelf parts.
With a properly designed frame, motor, and high tech batteries, electric power just might be very successful for the typical scooter or cycle rider who rarely goes more than 250 miles or so.
Sometime in the next year, I'll build one...
\-lee-/
I own a solar electric business now, and recently converted a 2000 Chrysler Gem Car to solar electric, primarily for the purpose of promoting my business. I thought I'd end up taking it only to shows and an occasional run to the post office or the store. It's original range was 30 miles, the solar panels on a good day can extend that to 45 miles.
Instead, it's become my primary vehicle for the past 3 months and I'm having a ball with it. It'll only do a maximum of 25 mph and is only legal on 35mph or slower roads (but I can cross others). I've learned to adapt. I allow extra time to get places and I enjoy the sights and sounds of lower speeds. It's not unlike the fun of a 50cc scooter, but a bit slower and quieter.
It burns no fossil fuels and emits no carbon.
I still take the scooter or full size car for longer trips, but around town, I now prefer the ZERO operational cost of the solar car. Maintenance is minimal - hose the panels to clean off the dust and check the batteries once a month.
It's not for everyone, but it works for me as an around-town vehicle. Can I build a bigger one? No - the technology isn't there, but it's made me consider what the ideal electric car would be for me:
1) A car I could charge most of the time from my own solar panels at the house with a range of at least 250 miles.
2) A car that was affordable - no more than $20k and maintenance levels no higher than a gasoline powered car.
3) A car that could be charged in an hour on a trip, at a reasonable cost (An hour break every 250 miles is reasonable to me).
For now, I'll continue to have fun with this one. I get a large chuckle every time I pull into a gas station and stop at the convenience store for a coffee.... I tend to get a lot of "thumbs up" signs
Solar powered - 40-45 mile range on a good sunny day - 25mph max. Lots of people wave and a few one finger salutes because it's slow, but it's fun...
I really wanted to build a solar powered trike, but I couldn't find anything I was comfortable about converting. I just couldn't come up with a good way to mount solar panels to charge the scooter. I keep looking at these 150 cc trikes though and eventually I'll convert one.
I had the pleasure last October of riding a Harley Sportster (a rebuilt wreck with a blown engine) electric conversion.
Blistering acceleration is an understatement for an electric motor... I can see more of them coming to the local dragstrip real soon.
The one I drove was totally experimental and home brew - using standard deep cycle 12 volt batteries. It would do 70+ mph with a range of about 20 miles... or 20 mph for about 70 miles. Not bad for a grossly overweight machine using off the shelf parts.
With a properly designed frame, motor, and high tech batteries, electric power just might be very successful for the typical scooter or cycle rider who rarely goes more than 250 miles or so.
Sometime in the next year, I'll build one...
\-lee-/
