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Pedal Power Meets Photovoltaics via Solarbike

by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia on 03.15.11
TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)

Solarbike specialises in electric conversion kits for bicycles. But the business's founders, both research scientists at the University of Western Australia, have been working on a way to easily have electric bikes powered by the sun. After some trial and error, which they transparently document, they've arrived at reasonably affordable photovoltaic systems that allow electric bike owners to ride like a solar wind. (video of solar bike in use, after the jump)

Starting at $1,150 AUD, the solar bike kits consist of a photovoltaic panel, a regulator, a deep cycle sealed lead acid AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery and a modified sine wave inverter. Position the solar panel where it will receive five hours of sunlight, plug in the various components and you'll soon be enjoying renewable energy powered transport.

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