For anyone looking at this now, flexible modules are available now at nearly 400Wp but only 7 or 8 kg. I guess still need a support material, but can be much lighter!
Great to see this, a decade ago! Solar panels, batteries and motors are constantly being improved, I wonder what you could do with today's technology. My Desktop PC a few years ago came with 1 TB of memory - now you can get the same memory on a micro-SD card to out in a phone. I feel that we will eventually get all-solar powered bikes that can run even in the UK - except on very cloudy days.
You’re absolutely right, you could make this so much lighter and more powerful today and the technology’s constantly improving so there are even better things to come :)
Rider position on a bicycle is a balance between comfort and power. They are meant to pedal, so when you aren't pedaling the position qickly becomes uncomfortable. Look at how much different the position is on a scooter for example. Regardless, I'm pretty impressed. Probably gained a good deal of efficiency but running the juice right to the motor vs. charging a battery.
Lovely idea and congrats for the success! Who would have thought that a bicycle trip in the middle of the desert could look so damned-right claustrophobic, hey? Lol
Imagine 1,272KM on 12Kw of power in 9 days. That's over 100 km/Kw. That's pretty incredible. this was done 7yrs ago, imagine what we should be able to do today with better hardware. But instead we use more Kw getting to work and back then they did crossing the entire desert. Giant heavy steel box on fat high friction tires was good enough for my parents, it's good enough for me.
Honestly I'm sceptical. This video cuts a lot and shows only tiny bit of the reality. First of all there is so much dust there you have to clean panels regularly. Second there is so much wind it slows you down a lot. Imagine constant 12m/sec wind against you. Third notice he has no bags on him. Not even water. Any additional weight will slow him down and cut down range he gets. Last but not least, you can't have free energy that much from this small panel. It cannot power your bike enough while you are using electric motor. So you have to stop for few hours in order battery to fill up. That's not practical and better just to use electricity from someone's house.
Hi Dilyan, I really did do this. My brother followed me with a transit van which I’d sleep in and which had the food in it. Then each day we’d start from where I finished and I’d go as far as I could each day. The motor in the bike is 180W and the panel gives up to 220W. It’s a 55 cell panel meaning it gives around 26V at max power so there’s no need for a battery in between. The wind is pretty constant direction in the part of the world (they’re the same “trade” winds that people use to sail across the Atlantic). And the are in a South Westerly direction. So they’re either across the bike or coming from the back left. If you would like any more info I’d be very happy to supply it and we have a few other videos up of practising with it in case you’re interested.
And just on the dust, I didn’t actually notice much dust there. We did have a spare panel in case the first one broke. I think we put that on on the last day and the only difference I remember between that and the one we used for the other days is that the stickers on it weren’t faded.
Next time try a trailer with rotatable bungee supported solar panel. well done, I could almost see this becoming a usable vehicle if we had better weather in the UK but wouldn't work in winter.
theduderski maybe a small wind turbine could have produced a little more power to boost speed as well. Maybe mounted on the front area of the bike. We’re building a solar scooter, highly influenced by Marissa Muller’s cross country solar bike adventure. Considering all the ways to capture the natural energy that is all around us, including the possibility of making an “electricity producing shock absorber” that would be installed in place of the seat springs, as well as SunPower solar cells mounted possibly to a bike trailer, and as mentioned, possibly a small wind turbine to produce a few extra watts of charge power for the batteries. Considering Realrace.com wind turbine generators, here on you tube, however not sure if he makes a smaller version of his generators that wouldn’t weigh to much for mounting to an electric scooter 🛴
Very well done guys! That looks like a good idea, perhaps some of the parts could be strengthened and improved upon by 3D printing a carbon fiber onesie of it with a more streamlined design, to help with airflow......maximize control... It is so inspiring to see people around the world taking the lead in innovation where our SUPPOSED leaders TOTALLY FAIL us. Humanity is much more adaptive that the public is lead to believe.
So today in labs we have 50% efficienct panels In 10 years we will have those 50% panels availiable for customer That will make a panel with the same size as the one you used have *2.5 more watts That means 500 watts power With a decent battery fpr stability this will be very very practical
GREAT IDEA!!!!!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼. If I may offer an idea or two, in case you want to try Death Valley. Raise that panel be 3-4” so that the infrared heat isn’t on top of your head, allow more air flow. Air flow, that blue mounting bar need to go or altered. Instead of one panel mounted along the axis or spine of bike, mount 2 panels against or 90 degree to the spine of bike, increasing the watt or volts or amps, go faster.
Not sure why so many people want you to go alone without a support vehicle??? Very strange 🤔 the journey is not about survival, its about a solar powered bike
@@offgridsolaruk843 - I didn't indicate or intend with my comment that no support vehicle had anything to do with survival. Its about The vehicle in this video is fossil fueled for one and then there's the achievement and concept of completing it with the solar panel(s) on the bike being the only thing that are responsible for taking the rider and all supplies to the destination. I had the thought watching this again that a recumbent might be a better idea with more panels arranged in a slightly turtle shell shape allowing for a quicker journey, a lower centre of gravity and more sun protection but with all the supplies that may be needed, the design in this vid may be better but with 4 additional smaller panels (in panier setups on front & back) to allow for more power and a bike trailer with all supplies on the back and possibly another solar panel on top of the trailer.
Would it be possible to build something like this, but in a three or four wheel configuration with a bucket seat? This way the ride is more comfortable.
Comfortable but probably more expensive. A touring bike could fix a fair bit of the comfort problems. Those bike focus on stability and comfort (at the cost of speed) and is their intended purpose.
Tip for the next solar trip. Mount a (semi-)flexible solar panel on an adjustable frame and try to also use it as a sail whenever the wind blows from the right direction.
That’s great. I have been searching this type of innovation and found it. I would like to understand the some configuration of your bike like; Motor watt, panel configuration and lastly did you use battery or it’s directly solar to motor? Overall from your ride, how was the performance from solar power to motor, comparing to battery operated motor. Thanks in advance.
180W 24V motor, 220W “24V” panel (55 cells in series) directly connected to the motor. No battery. Power was fine when sun was high in the sky. Otherwise a bit less power than normally from a battery. Hope this helps!!!
Poor suspension system to minimize bicycle weight, will make the bumpy roads stress the neck, back. Will cause headache and tremendous physical stress. But it is a pioneering exercise. May be next time it will make more efficient batteries and will be comfortable ride.
Great work man specially ride in that hot weather conditions I was also thinking about this idea. You must work on it further more like ergonomics solar panel shape so that it is more airodinamic and also give you shade in sun, install a sturdy stand so it doesn't fall , regeneration and storage of power so it can be used in night time, manufacture this and sell it to hot weather countries because it is a better option than electric bikes, I hope you will consider my suggestion.
Thanks a lot Amit, I think your suggestions are really good and the technology for this (particularly Lithium batteries and lighter more efficient solar panels) is getting better and better. Could you maybe develop your own solar bike and demonstrate and market it?
I really liked this. Green energy is always awsome. If this isn't a patent could you please give me some information about the components you used to build this? I would love to build one if I can. Thanks alot
This isn't patented. It's a 240W solar panel with 55 cells wired in series (5x11). The bike is a standard electric 24V 180W bike. Then you just remove the batteries and wire in the Solar panel. The most difficult thing is actually the frame. That's steel tubing and wood.
@@aktsolar Just one more question please, did you park this bike under the sun to charge the battery everyday before setting off, or was the panel charging the batteries while you were travelling? Thanks.
Instead of making a "rigid" solar panel can't you make it flexible and then turn it into some kind of a wind-turmbine shape that way you can get both wind and solar power at the same time.
Why not a recumbent design? You never see recumbents powered electrically. Wouldn't that be a lot more aerodynamic? Granted he wouldn't be as visible but you could put highly reflective stickers on the back, sides and front to make him more noticeable. Surely it would be a lot more comfortable. By not exerting force downwards on the pedals more pressure is on his rear end as well.
+AKTSolar The Chap ridin the bike looked like Lawrence of Arabia at the end there,, Good Job... Take what you learn and REDESIGN your bicycle to make it lighter and much more comfortable for the rider...
I don't see the advantage of removing the chain? Just being able to peddle along would increase your speed, especially uphill, even if just peddling at a leisurely pace. Also adds stability as you'll be able to control the bike better.
+The_ Pentaquark. You're right - maybe we should rename it Solar Freewheeling across the Sahara because it is free in every sense :) Thanks for the idea!!!!
AKT Solar love'in the 'lets go and do it' attitude p.s. kinda reminds me of the Ed March (Honda C90) spirit - though perhaps less self-serving i.e. 'OXFAM'
Hi there, The top speed was 55 kmph but that was down a very long straight hill with no wind and was rather dangerous. The average speed was about 20 kmph and on the flat the top speed was about 27 kmph in the middle of the day. Minimum speed would have been about 5 kmph up hills. Generally I stopped at the end of the day when the speed got down to about 10 kmph. Do ask if you have any further questions, Simon
Thanks for this. Yes, we did this many years ago. I was looking for a charity that you could trust. And I thought Oxfam was one of the best respected charities. This was before the recent scandal and I’m not sure I’d choose Oxfam now. Also I’d ideally like to give any money to local people on the ground. I’d be very grateful if you have any suggestions. Thanks again for the comment, Simon
awesome brother I liked your design. probably i'd also build something like this after I complete my 12th grade, of course with your permission. may I know what that was in the frame? that box to where the electricity comes from the solar panel also may I know the specifications of the panel and the motor? please also what was the top speed you hit?(approximate)
+SriHari Bharadwaj Hi there, I'm not sure about the box exactly. It's the same box that came with the electric bike. All we had to do was remove the original 24V batteries and then feed the panel directly into where the batteries used to feed into.
my parts list was this.. (but i also use a battery so that i can ride in low light conditions, the solar panels keep the battery topped up and drive the motor, using MPPT controller you get maximum watts from the changing light so that when driving under trees etc you dont lose power) Im using 48v lithium battery (about 5ah), 450w controller, 500w motor and 3x 100w flexible panels to give me 300w of solar.. In theory my range will be unlimited (as long as the suns shining) What you need to make a solar car/bike.. Brushless motor Controller (that matches the volts of your battery pack.. ie 24, 36 or 48v) Battery of some kind (or several in series to required voltage).. MPPT solar regulator (to charge batteries and run motor) Solar panels (flexible 3mm thick ultra light is best and now quite cheap) Electric throttle (twist or thumb drive) Electric brake levers Bike wheels and parts Some basic welding for frame.. Some electrical wires.. Basic electrical knowledge.. (ie: know how to wire up DC batteries to things, volts x amps = watts etc)
@@moayadsalih3563 hi there. I built 2 prototypes which were basically the front of an drift bike with a motor and solar panel on the back. I did lots of testing and was able to increase distance a lot of sunny days.. 3 years later I redesigned the whole project to be mountable on any hardback mountinbike. I now use the center bike frame to hold solar panels and also on the carrier. I'm using a 48v 750w tongsheng middrive motor.. 6ah 48v lithium battery.. a 48v mppt solar controller and around 50w of 18v solar panels on parallel. I never have to plug in my bike to charge. I just park it in the sun. I'm developing a kit for people to make their own for any electric bike. For more info email awakekiwi(at)gmail(dot)com
I've cycled in the heat in Mexico and motorcycled Spain-Senegal so the idea of a sunshade that generates power appeals to me, but doesn't it make it unstable in gusts/sidewinds? Is it a practical long-term viable proposition? Lessons learned?
N Nicholson Yes, it is quite practical. Having the panel horizontal meant it wasn't too unstable in gusts - as you can see when trucks go past. Nowadays you could also use a much lighter panel and also have a more powerful motor. So definitely practical. Key lesson learned: sort out a more comfortable seat!!!
How did you wire the solar panel to the motor, I've been told you can't do it directly, did you go through the battery's, or use some sort of inverter.
Hi, you can wire panels directly to motors as long as you match the voltage and power correctly. So for this we used a 55 cell solar panel (5x11 cells) all wired in series. This produces up to 27V 220W at maximum power which worked very well with this "24V" "180W" motor. I hope this helps, Simon
Raise the steering wheel up higher so your not so hunched over That would definitally help and get rid of the solar panel frames! those things add tons of weight! get some lightweight flexible solar panels you will have a lot more efficiency that way and comfort!
Hi Irfan, I’m not sure what info I can give. This bike used a 180W 24V motor and.a 220W 55 Cell panel wired directly into the motor’s controller i.e. with no battery in between. Basically we replaced the battery with the solar panel. I hope this helps, Simon
I’m afraid I don’t know. This motor is over 10 years old and I’m sure is not being sold any more. You could do a Google search for 200W (or 180W) 24V bike and I’m sure you’d be able to find a suitable motor. Good luck!
@@PTIOfficial8148 Quite late, but in the future, aliexpress if you don't mind it coming from china! Just in case you want hub motors in the future I thought I'd let you know.
It's not special trip because your travel NOT ALONE, you just travelling together with your team / friend, so this very long trip is not a challenge. I will proud of you if you make a long journey ALONE / Single Fighter/ Survivor. Riding on the solar bike batteryless, it will be amazing if there are a survival trip alone in the great desert, Sahara.
I completely agree. Only danger being a recumbent bike might be it’s more difficult for vehicles to see you. Although with a massive solar panel above your head that’s less likely to be a problem :)
Why on earth didn't you use a recumbent trike to mount that on? Even on a budget you could've used a cheapo regular trike and put a recumbent seat on, would have been so much safer and comfortable.
How many watts is that solar panel.How many watts do it has to be atleast to charge a electric bike or scooter.Say if the electric scooter or bike battery is dead can the solar panel keep the battery charged to where you can keep riding ??
The panel is 220W with 55 cells in series giving a Voltage at max power of 26.9V. And yes a solar panel - even a much smaller one - say 30W - can be used to charge a battery or keep a battery topped up. I hope this helps, Simon
seems like it would have been easier to be in like a recumbent style but raised up higher on a trike with the solar panel ontop of a plastic body that is more aero dynamic ... Also if the body was carbon fiber it would be less weight. Good job though.
+Adonai Zedek I agree, we could have made it much better and I like your idea of a lightweight tricycle very much. Do let us know if you progress with it. All the best!!!!!
AKT Solar Will do. Great job with what you did. I have been procrastinating for years on this. I just watched a lady who did the same but bicycling with a carbon fiber bike the 250watt panel on the back of the bike. She was going across the USA. She has a big visor in the front on her rig. An idea would be to have the flexible solar panels on the front visor connected to a rig on the back that is on the outside of plastic aero dynamic fenders on the rear or the panel can flip up for max exposure and go down ont eh sides when not used. No i just need to get the money togther :)
I have built a semi recumbent style bike with a lightweight 3mm thick flexible solar panel roof (rain cover).. im using a 450w controller and 3x 100w flexible panels.. these flexi panels are slightly more efficient than standard solid panels and i can get 300w from 1.5 x 1m roof.. will post some pics and a instructable once ive finished the solar roof.. everything else is done..
im also going to build a small trailer.. (or just use a standard bike trailer) to carry luggage (or an extra passenger).. the trailer will also have a flexible soalr roof to give more power..
Hi there, Thanks for the question. We were fortunate it didn’t actually overheat. It’s only up to around 220W going into it and it’s very well ventilated with the air around it. So there were fortunately no problems about overheating.
Actually no capacitors either - we just matched the voltage of the panel to the voltage of the motor / motor controller and it worked with no charge reservoir in between.
AKT Solar Simon if you like the kinda eco thing why not attend the European Shell Eco Marathon at The Queen Elisabeth Olympic Park London - 1st,2nd &3rd July and watch 200 teams from 24 countries battle it out for the most economic car - its free and mind boggling - We have a team in it
Hi Mahesh, it’s a 220W panel linked directly to a 180W motor. (That means that when the sun’s shining directly onto the panel it won’t use all the power it can produce.) One other thing to note is the panel uses 55 solar cells in series to produce the right voltage to be connected directly to a “24V” motor. Not sure about the efficiency although I can work it out later (by multiplying the area of the panel in square meters by 220 and dividing by 10).
I bet your butt pain is greater than any toothache or anything else in your life 😳😳 Edit: today you have flexible solar plates, you can do a good upgrade!
Hello Hossen, Unfortunately it would not be easy at all to cross from East to West. I'm sure there are roads but the North-South roads are much better as those are the major trade routes. Also it would be very difficult to bypass the most dangerous areas of the Sahara (such as Northern Mali) if you were going from East to West. Do let us know how you get on with your plans though as we'd love to hear more about an adventure such as this. All the best, Simon
@@aktsolar it's not special trip because your travel NOT ALONE, you just travelling together with your team / friend, so it' not a challenge. I will proud of you if you make a long journey ALONE / Single Fighter/ Survivor. It will be amazing, and full salutation.
+SolarizeYourLife Hi there, That's a good idea to use a recumbent bike. And you get lighter solar panels now as well - maybe that would be a good project for you?
He's hot and he rides with a long sleeved shirt and black long pants. Brilliant. All he needs is to mist himself down frequently wearing PADDED cycling shorts and no shirt and he'd be much more comfortable. Why no add more panels on each side? Its like this guy has never ridden a bike before.
Yes, it was partly to avoid sun burn and to give at least a little bit of protection in case I fell off. And you’re certainly right padded shorts would have been much more comfortable :)
Mel John Gumangan Hello, Thanks for your comment. It's true you could heat the panel up with insulation but actually with photovoltaic panels they work better if they are kept cool so it's useful to have wind flowing around the panel so it does not heat up too much. Do let us know if you have any further ideas. All the best, Jonny
None at all actually. We used low-tread kevlar tyres from eBay and inflated them to high pressure (all to reduce friction). And, although we had many spares, we never needed to use them.
For anyone looking at this now, flexible modules are available now at nearly 400Wp but only 7 or 8 kg. I guess still need a support material, but can be much lighter!
Great to see this, a decade ago! Solar panels, batteries and motors are constantly being improved, I wonder what you could do with today's technology.
My Desktop PC a few years ago came with 1 TB of memory - now you can get the same memory on a micro-SD card to out in a phone.
I feel that we will eventually get all-solar powered bikes that can run even in the UK - except on very cloudy days.
You’re absolutely right, you could make this so much lighter and more powerful today and the technology’s constantly improving so there are even better things to come :)
Rider position on a bicycle is a balance between comfort and power. They are meant to pedal, so when you aren't pedaling the position qickly becomes uncomfortable. Look at how much different the position is on a scooter for example.
Regardless, I'm pretty impressed. Probably gained a good deal of efficiency but running the juice right to the motor vs. charging a battery.
I completely agree :)
Lovely idea and congrats for the success! Who would have thought that a bicycle trip in the middle of the desert could look so damned-right claustrophobic, hey? Lol
Pretty amazing - can’t wait to see the recumbent version!
I love your idea of roof panels. I'm inventor myself and love to share my ideas some time. Great work, thanks
You are a real hero man! Hats off to your team also.
Thanks a lot Sabir. All the best to you as well, Simon
Wearing black pant in the summer is terrific idea. White cloth would be best choice and made you more cooler.
Imagine 1,272KM on 12Kw of power in 9 days. That's over 100 km/Kw. That's pretty incredible. this was done 7yrs ago, imagine what we should be able to do today with better hardware. But instead we use more Kw getting to work and back then they did crossing the entire desert. Giant heavy steel box on fat high friction tires was good enough for my parents, it's good enough for me.
Honestly I'm sceptical. This video cuts a lot and shows only tiny bit of the reality. First of all there is so much dust there you have to clean panels regularly. Second there is so much wind it slows you down a lot. Imagine constant 12m/sec wind against you. Third notice he has no bags on him. Not even water. Any additional weight will slow him down and cut down range he gets. Last but not least, you can't have free energy that much from this small panel. It cannot power your bike enough while you are using electric motor. So you have to stop for few hours in order battery to fill up. That's not practical and better just to use electricity from someone's house.
Hi Dilyan, I really did do this. My brother followed me with a transit van which I’d sleep in and which had the food in it. Then each day we’d start from where I finished and I’d go as far as I could each day. The motor in the bike is 180W and the panel gives up to 220W.
It’s a 55 cell panel meaning it gives around 26V at max power so there’s no need for a battery in between.
The wind is pretty constant direction in the part of the world (they’re the same “trade” winds that people use to sail across the Atlantic). And the are in a South Westerly direction. So they’re either across the bike or coming from the back left.
If you would like any more info I’d be very happy to supply it and we have a few other videos up of practising with it in case you’re interested.
And just on the dust, I didn’t actually notice much dust there. We did have a spare panel in case the first one broke. I think we put that on on the last day and the only difference I remember between that and the one we used for the other days is that the stickers on it weren’t faded.
youtube so weird, i was looking for such videos for so long and only now it showed in recommended even i tried to search it manually
Yeah some problems with Calbe-driven robots))
It learns
@Aljoša Gačnik S56FGP lol, you're right too. It's difficult to find the duck in the geese.
Next time try a trailer with rotatable bungee supported solar panel.
well done, I could almost see this becoming a usable vehicle if we had better weather in the UK but wouldn't work in winter.
It should be better if you towed like 2 of these panels behind your bike, like trailer style
I would go with trike and pedaling power as well. It would be more aero, stable and comfortable:)
Very impressive discussion showing the potential to havest solar energy with the roof giving shade as well. Cheers.
Soo nice there is no words i want this
Its make me feel happy when western world people doing always experiment and remaining world just used that equipment
ua-cam.com/video/NNu2AzN4ZLw/v-deo.html
looks like wind power would have been a better bet lol
They banned air-powered vehicles at burning man because they're so fucking fast they were worried someone would get killed.
theduderski maybe a small wind turbine could have produced a little more power to boost speed as well. Maybe mounted on the front area of the bike. We’re building a solar scooter, highly influenced by Marissa Muller’s cross country solar bike adventure. Considering all the ways to capture the natural energy that is all around us, including the possibility of making an “electricity producing shock absorber” that would be installed in place of the seat springs, as well as SunPower solar cells mounted possibly to a bike trailer, and as mentioned, possibly a small wind turbine to produce a few extra watts of charge power for the batteries. Considering Realrace.com wind turbine generators, here on you tube, however not sure if he makes a smaller version of his generators that wouldn’t weigh to much for mounting to an electric scooter 🛴
So you're re-inventing the sailboat? This is all about virtue signalling.
@@LarsLarsen77
Are you even joking?
Spinning blades would be a danger. Sail power would be better.
Wonderful
I like it
It is wonderful
Very well done guys! That looks like a good idea, perhaps some of the parts could be strengthened and improved upon by 3D printing a carbon fiber onesie of it with a more streamlined design, to help with airflow......maximize control... It is so inspiring to see people around the world taking the lead in innovation where our SUPPOSED leaders TOTALLY FAIL us. Humanity is much more adaptive that the public is lead to believe.
Thanks a lot for the encouragement and advice. All the best!!! Simon
So that's the size of solar panel that one needs huh? Maybe a trike would be more comfortable and stable.
330 w
Yes and trike would have been a lot lower
That is right! Lower and more aero plus pedals and comphy ride!
A trailer would be nice too
@@timogronroos4642 a recumbent Bi cycle with full fairing is more efficient than a trike, less drag
So today in labs we have 50% efficienct panels
In 10 years we will have those 50% panels availiable for customer
That will make a panel with the same size as the one you used have *2.5 more watts
That means 500 watts power
With a decent battery fpr stability this will be very very practical
Let’s hope you’re right - 2.5 times more efficient would mean we could easily use it back home in England :)
Goodluck with the production then. Till now after all these years < 25%
I proud of you guys 👍👍👍
Wow ! Amazing !! 👍
GREAT IDEA!!!!!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼. If I may offer an idea or two, in case you want to try Death Valley. Raise that panel be 3-4” so that the infrared heat isn’t on top of your head, allow more air flow. Air flow, that blue mounting bar need to go or altered. Instead of one panel mounted along the axis or spine of bike, mount 2 panels against or 90 degree to the spine of bike, increasing the watt or volts or amps, go faster.
Great suggestions Peter. I’ll certainly take them into account for the future. Cheers!!!
inspirational. the next step should be a similar journey with no support vehicle and all necessary extras and cargo on the bike
I completely agree. Not sure my wife and children would be so happy about me making that journey though!!!
Not sure why so many people want you to go alone without a support vehicle??? Very strange 🤔 the journey is not about survival, its about a solar powered bike
@@offgridsolaruk843 - I didn't indicate or intend with my comment that no support vehicle had anything to do with survival. Its about The vehicle in this video is fossil fueled for one and then there's the achievement and concept of completing it with the solar panel(s) on the bike being the only thing that are responsible for taking the rider and all supplies to the destination. I had the thought watching this again that a recumbent might be a better idea with more panels arranged in a slightly turtle shell shape allowing for a quicker journey, a lower centre of gravity and more sun protection but with all the supplies that may be needed, the design in this vid may be better but with 4 additional smaller panels (in panier setups on front & back) to allow for more power and a bike trailer with all supplies on the back and possibly another solar panel on top of the trailer.
A recumbent bike might have made the journey a bit more comfortable a ride.
And room for more solar panels.
This will be the future e bike in the market,. I think more upgrade should be needed,.... Bigger motor and a big battery pack..
Beautiful Morrocan Sahara ❤️❤️🇲🇦🇲🇦
I enjoyed this so much bro.
Thanks a lot!!!
You are welcome
If you use 4 wheeler cycle instead of this then you will get more comfort.
big brain time.
prolly could fit 2 330w panels tol
for sure, but more weight and rolling resistance also
--- like a Tesla 😄
I believe the size/shape of the seat + the high center of gravity/weird posture will kill the 5th cervical and lower back
I wonder if this would be a practical way to travel there, maybe with 4 wheels, 2 seats and like 4 solar panels?
Would it be possible to build something like this, but in a three or four wheel configuration with a bucket seat?
This way the ride is more comfortable.
A recumbent style bike would work well and add a lightweight trailer and you could mount a second solar panel behind you
Comfortable but probably more expensive. A touring bike could fix a fair bit of the comfort problems. Those bike focus on stability and comfort (at the cost of speed) and is their intended purpose.
I love this
Tip for the next solar trip.
Mount a (semi-)flexible solar panel on an adjustable frame and try to also use it as a sail whenever the wind blows from the right direction.
I always thought around 300watts would be about minimum. Seems to do pretty good.
Trike is a no brainer really, good fun vid.
Thanks a lot :)
Awesome, what a journey 👏
At 0:07 i thought its a snowy place, even at 5:36 it appears like that
*_Хорошо, при солнце - тень, при дожде - зонт._* 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎🙄
That’s great. I have been searching this type of innovation and found it. I would like to understand the some configuration of your bike like; Motor watt, panel configuration and lastly did you use battery or it’s directly solar to motor?
Overall from your ride, how was the performance from solar power to motor, comparing to battery operated motor. Thanks in advance.
180W 24V motor, 220W “24V” panel (55 cells in series) directly connected to the motor. No battery.
Power was fine when sun was high in the sky. Otherwise a bit less power than normally from a battery.
Hope this helps!!!
@@aktsolar thanks for your quick reply . This will me to build one for me.
great work gays
+dhilawar hussain Thanks!!!!
this is nice but the bicycle should have trailer with more panels to faster, and carry your supplies too. Doing this with a van defeats the purpose.
Nice video 😍
Poor suspension system to minimize bicycle weight, will make the bumpy roads stress the neck, back. Will cause headache and tremendous physical stress. But it is a pioneering exercise. May be next time it will make more efficient batteries and will be comfortable ride.
Great work man specially ride in that hot weather conditions I was also thinking about this idea. You must work on it further more like ergonomics solar panel shape so that it is more airodinamic and also give you shade in sun, install a sturdy stand so it doesn't fall , regeneration and storage of power so it can be used in night time, manufacture this and sell it to hot weather countries because it is a better option than electric bikes, I hope you will consider my suggestion.
Thanks a lot Amit, I think your suggestions are really good and the technology for this (particularly Lithium batteries and lighter more efficient solar panels) is getting better and better. Could you maybe develop your own solar bike and demonstrate and market it?
I really liked this. Green energy is always awsome. If this isn't a patent could you please give me some information about the components you used to build this? I would love to build one if I can. Thanks alot
This isn't patented. It's a 240W solar panel with 55 cells wired in series (5x11). The bike is a standard electric 24V 180W bike. Then you just remove the batteries and wire in the Solar panel. The most difficult thing is actually the frame. That's steel tubing and wood.
@@aktsolar Great! Thanks very much for this useful information.
@@aktsolar Just one more question please, did you park this bike under the sun to charge the battery everyday before setting off, or was the panel charging the batteries while you were travelling? Thanks.
There was no battery in this. Although if I did this again I would use a small lithium ion battery.
@@aktsolar Very interesting! So the panel was powering a dc motor directly via a volt regulator or something, right?
best technology
Instead of making a "rigid" solar panel can't you make it flexible and then turn it into some kind of a wind-turmbine shape that way you can get both wind and solar power at the same time.
Flexibles are not as good for their size
Why not a recumbent design? You never see recumbents powered electrically. Wouldn't that be a lot more aerodynamic? Granted he wouldn't be as visible but you could put highly reflective stickers on the back, sides and front to make him more noticeable. Surely it would be a lot more comfortable. By not exerting force downwards on the pedals more pressure is on his rear end as well.
Absolutely, that would certainly have been a lot more comfortable.
+AKTSolar The Chap ridin the bike looked like Lawrence of Arabia at the end there,, Good Job... Take what you learn and REDESIGN your bicycle to make it lighter and much more comfortable for the rider...
communistjesus Thanks a lot! I think that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about him :) Cheers, Jonny
I don't see the advantage of removing the chain? Just being able to peddle along would increase your speed, especially uphill, even if just peddling at a leisurely pace. Also adds stability as you'll be able to control the bike better.
I want to build a 4 wheel bike and weld a solar panel to the top, and the bike has to have a comfortable seat
Made me wonder if a solar bike that turns into an ultra light could work.
Challenge accepted
'freewheeling' across the Sahara - not 'Cycling' really is it? Anyway, nuff nitpicking, well done Sir. Thank you for Posting - very inspirational :)
+The_ Pentaquark. You're right - maybe we should rename it Solar Freewheeling across the Sahara because it is free in every sense :) Thanks for the idea!!!!
AKT Solar love'in the 'lets go and do it' attitude
p.s. kinda reminds me of the Ed March (Honda C90) spirit - though perhaps less self-serving i.e. 'OXFAM'
Show 👍👈 sucesso aí amigo 👍
Hi, what was the minimum, average and top speed you got?
Hi there,
The top speed was 55 kmph but that was down a very long straight hill with no wind and was rather dangerous.
The average speed was about 20 kmph and on the flat the top speed was about 27 kmph in the middle of the day.
Minimum speed would have been about 5 kmph up hills. Generally I stopped at the end of the day when the speed got down to about 10 kmph.
Do ask if you have any further questions,
Simon
It`s so nobel to raise money for new luxury car/house/boat of oxfam`s managers
Thanks for this. Yes, we did this many years ago. I was looking for a charity that you could trust. And I thought Oxfam was one of the best respected charities. This was before the recent scandal and I’m not sure I’d choose Oxfam now. Also I’d ideally like to give any money to local people on the ground. I’d be very grateful if you have any suggestions. Thanks again for the comment, Simon
@@aktsolar Still like the bike
awesome brother
I liked your design. probably i'd also build something like this after I complete my 12th grade, of course with your permission.
may I know what that was in the frame? that box to where the electricity comes from the solar panel also may I know the specifications of the panel and the motor? please
also what was the top speed you hit?(approximate)
+SriHari Bharadwaj Hi there, I'm not sure about the box exactly. It's the same box that came with the electric bike. All we had to do was remove the original 24V batteries and then feed the panel directly into where the batteries used to feed into.
+AKT Solar thank you brother.
my parts list was this.. (but i also use a battery so that i can ride in low light conditions, the solar panels keep the battery topped up and drive the motor, using MPPT controller you get maximum watts from the changing light so that when driving under trees etc you dont lose power)
Im using 48v lithium battery (about 5ah), 450w controller, 500w motor and 3x 100w flexible panels to give me 300w of solar..
In theory my range will be unlimited (as long as the suns shining)
What you need to make a solar car/bike..
Brushless motor Controller (that matches the volts of your battery pack.. ie 24, 36 or 48v)
Battery of some kind (or several in series to required voltage)..
MPPT solar regulator (to charge batteries and run motor)
Solar panels (flexible 3mm thick ultra light is best and now quite cheap)
Electric throttle (twist or thumb drive)
Electric brake levers
Bike wheels and parts
Some basic welding for frame..
Some electrical wires..
Basic electrical knowledge.. (ie: know how to wire up DC batteries to things, volts x amps = watts etc)
@@jaybarnett8176 How has this idea developed now after 3years? Very interested to know because I would like to make one. Thanks
@@moayadsalih3563 hi there. I built 2 prototypes which were basically the front of an drift bike with a motor and solar panel on the back. I did lots of testing and was able to increase distance a lot of sunny days.. 3 years later I redesigned the whole project to be mountable on any hardback mountinbike. I now use the center bike frame to hold solar panels and also on the carrier. I'm using a 48v 750w tongsheng middrive motor.. 6ah 48v lithium battery.. a 48v mppt solar controller and around 50w of 18v solar panels on parallel.
I never have to plug in my bike to charge. I just park it in the sun.
I'm developing a kit for people to make their own for any electric bike. For more info email awakekiwi(at)gmail(dot)com
nice , next time you can use a better site but was wonderfull any way
Ever heard of recumbents?
I've cycled in the heat in Mexico and motorcycled Spain-Senegal so the idea of a sunshade that generates power appeals to me, but doesn't it make it unstable in gusts/sidewinds? Is it a practical long-term viable proposition? Lessons learned?
N Nicholson Yes, it is quite practical. Having the panel horizontal meant it wasn't too unstable in gusts - as you can see when trucks go past. Nowadays you could also use a much lighter panel and also have a more powerful motor. So definitely practical. Key lesson learned: sort out a more comfortable seat!!!
How did you wire the solar panel to the motor, I've been told you can't do it directly, did you go through the battery's, or use some sort of inverter.
Hi, you can wire panels directly to motors as long as you match the voltage and power correctly. So for this we used a 55 cell solar panel (5x11 cells) all wired in series. This produces up to 27V 220W at maximum power which worked very well with this "24V" "180W" motor. I hope this helps, Simon
@@aktsolar 27 v 220 W. that's decent!
Welcome to moroco
Always store your diesel by your cooker....
Yes, solar power is so much safer in that way as well :)
Raise the steering wheel up higher so your not so hunched over
That would definitally help
and get rid of the solar panel frames! those things add tons of weight!
get some lightweight flexible solar panels
you will have a lot more efficiency that way and comfort!
Very cool. Add a 72t front ring and peddle
--- the chase or support vehicle needed to be a hybrid, or a EV vehicle, like a Tesla, or Rivian, or a VIA electric Chevy truck.
Love
Круто🙂👍
Con solo 2 ruote non è molto stabile se c'è un po` di vento!!! Sarebbero meglio 3 ruote!!!
Comunque complimenti!!! 💐🏜️💐🏜️💐🏜️
Hello sir
We have to build ebike for our final year university project please give us details about it
Because I love your work
Hi Irfan, I’m not sure what info I can give. This bike used a 180W 24V motor and.a 220W 55 Cell panel wired directly into the motor’s controller i.e. with no battery in between. Basically we replaced the battery with the solar panel. I hope this helps, Simon
@@aktsolar from where I can buy this motor
Please help one more time
I’m afraid I don’t know. This motor is over 10 years old and I’m sure is not being sold any more. You could do a Google search for 200W (or 180W) 24V bike and I’m sure you’d be able to find a suitable motor. Good luck!
@@PTIOfficial8148 Quite late, but in the future, aliexpress if you don't mind it coming from china! Just in case you want hub motors in the future I thought I'd let you know.
It's not special trip because your travel NOT ALONE, you just travelling together with your team / friend, so this very long trip is not a challenge.
I will proud of you if you make a long journey ALONE / Single Fighter/ Survivor.
Riding on the solar bike batteryless, it will be amazing if there are a survival trip alone in the great desert, Sahara.
This video is yet another argument for recumbent bikes.
I completely agree. Only danger being a recumbent bike might be it’s more difficult for vehicles to see you. Although with a massive solar panel above your head that’s less likely to be a problem :)
Why on earth didn't you use a recumbent trike to mount that on? Even on a budget you could've used a cheapo regular trike and put a recumbent seat on, would have been so much safer and comfortable.
nice job
+Pat vulk Thanks Pat!!!!
How many watts is that solar panel.How many watts do it has to be atleast to charge a electric bike or scooter.Say if the electric scooter or bike battery is dead can the solar panel keep the battery charged to where you can keep riding ??
The panel is 220W with 55 cells in series giving a Voltage at max power of 26.9V.
And yes a solar panel - even a much smaller one - say 30W - can be used to charge a battery or keep a battery topped up.
I hope this helps, Simon
Wonderful I want make this bycle please give me guidance and merital available please love from india 🇮🇳🙏💕💕💕💕🇮🇳💕💕💕💕🙏
Need more wheel back side two little wheel then ur cycle well be stand
You used directly the solar panel with no capacitors to boost it ?
Yes, that’s correct, no capacitors or batteries. Just the panel connected directly to the controller.
@@aktsolar that is dumb man ! Very very dumb
That wasn't cycling but solar powered self driving moped.
Ok Bikechael
@@TrevorPhillips2024 savage
seems like it would have been easier to be in like a recumbent style but raised up higher on a trike with the solar panel ontop of a plastic body that is more aero dynamic ... Also if the body was carbon fiber it would be less weight. Good job though.
+Adonai Zedek I agree, we could have made it much better and I like your idea of a lightweight tricycle very much. Do let us know if you progress with it. All the best!!!!!
AKT Solar Will do. Great job with what you did. I have been procrastinating for years on this. I just watched a lady who did the same but bicycling with a carbon fiber bike the 250watt panel on the back of the bike. She was going across the USA. She has a big visor in the front on her rig. An idea would be to have the flexible solar panels on the front visor connected to a rig on the back that is on the outside of plastic aero dynamic fenders on the rear or the panel can flip up for max exposure and go down ont eh sides when not used. No i just need to get the money togther :)
I have built a semi recumbent style bike with a lightweight 3mm thick flexible solar panel roof (rain cover).. im using a 450w controller and 3x 100w flexible panels.. these flexi panels are slightly more efficient than standard solid panels and i can get 300w from 1.5 x 1m roof.. will post some pics and a instructable once ive finished the solar roof.. everything else is done..
im also going to build a small trailer.. (or just use a standard bike trailer) to carry luggage (or an extra passenger).. the trailer will also have a flexible soalr roof to give more power..
How do you deal about the motor getting overheat
Hi there, Thanks for the question. We were fortunate it didn’t actually overheat. It’s only up to around 220W going into it and it’s very well ventilated with the air around it. So there were fortunately no problems about overheating.
The wind looks like a better energy source.
I'd love to do something like this in the future
I love Sahara desert
Triathlon handlebars were really useless
is there any research paper related to this that you can suggest
No Batteries but I'm assuming Capacitors which is basically a battery.
Actually no capacitors either - we just matched the voltage of the panel to the voltage of the motor / motor controller and it worked with no charge reservoir in between.
Only a Brit would do sumit like this - bloody brilliant !
+Trev S Thanks a lot Trev, I think this is the nicest comment we've ever had :) Cheers, Simon
AKT Solar Simon if you like the kinda eco thing why not attend the European Shell Eco Marathon at The Queen Elisabeth Olympic Park London - 1st,2nd &3rd July and watch 200 teams from 24 countries battle it out for the most economic car - its free and mind boggling - We have a team in it
With 2 extra panels you can do about 900 watts. they would have to put it in a trailer
what is the wattage of the solar panel used and efficiency of solar panel.. what is the wattage of motor
Hi Mahesh, it’s a 220W panel linked directly to a 180W motor. (That means that when the sun’s shining directly onto the panel it won’t use all the power it can produce.) One other thing to note is the panel uses 55 solar cells in series to produce the right voltage to be connected directly to a “24V” motor. Not sure about the efficiency although I can work it out later (by multiplying the area of the panel in square meters by 220 and dividing by 10).
Thank you very much ..
I bet your butt pain is greater than any toothache or anything else in your life 😳😳
Edit: today you have flexible solar plates, you can do a good upgrade!
Butt-ache is the thing I was wondering when he replied regarding being tired 😂
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CYCLE THROUGH THE SAHARA FROM EAST TO WEST?WHERE TO START AND TO FINISH? I AM FROM MAURITIUS
Hello Hossen,
Unfortunately it would not be easy at all to cross from East to West. I'm sure there are roads but the North-South roads are much better as those are the major trade routes. Also it would be very difficult to bypass the most dangerous areas of the Sahara (such as Northern Mali) if you were going from East to West.
Do let us know how you get on with your plans though as we'd love to hear more about an adventure such as this.
All the best,
Simon
@@aktsolar it's not special trip because your travel NOT ALONE, you just travelling together with your team / friend, so it' not a challenge.
I will proud of you if you make a long journey ALONE / Single Fighter/ Survivor. It will be amazing, and full salutation.
Surprised that you didn't use a recumbent bike, or had more panels on top of van...
+SolarizeYourLife Hi there, That's a good idea to use a recumbent bike. And you get lighter solar panels now as well - maybe that would be a good project for you?
+AKT Solar Absolutely, but no one sales them in my area, so I can't try before I buy!
That's the way i'm heading - Building a bamboo recumbent and researching flexible solar panels and mid drive motors oh and possibly a fairing
Viggo Mortensen is it you?
He's hot and he rides with a long sleeved shirt and black long pants. Brilliant. All he needs is to mist himself down frequently wearing PADDED cycling shorts and no shirt and he'd be much more comfortable. Why no add more panels on each side? Its like this guy has never ridden a bike before.
Yes, it was partly to avoid sun burn and to give at least a little bit of protection in case I fell off. And you’re certainly right padded shorts would have been much more comfortable :)
Hello 👋 👍👍👍
a simple insulation under the panel could have improve the temp passing thru the panel,.
Mel John Gumangan Hello, Thanks for your comment. It's true you could heat the panel up with insulation but actually with photovoltaic panels they work better if they are kept cool so it's useful to have wind flowing around the panel so it does not heat up too much. Do let us know if you have any further ideas. All the best, Jonny
Did you get many punctures
None at all actually. We used low-tread kevlar tyres from eBay and inflated them to high pressure (all to reduce friction). And, although we had many spares, we never needed to use them.