http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/ Engadget Comments for DIY Solar Flyer motorcycle tearing around Phoenix, Arizona http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
still, kudos to him for taking the initiative.]]>May 6th 2009 7:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 7:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/The solar panels on bike would only generate a few watts so the charge time will be in the length of days, a plug in battery charger is probably used. If this bike is charged purely by the solar cells on the bike then kudos to the bike owner but that is unlikely unless he only uses it once a week or something. Don't get me wrong I think it is a cool project, I love the idea of electric bikes but my beef with the report is it makes it seem like the solar cells give you this magic solution. You would be better off mounting a solar panel to your roof to charge the bike.]]>May 7th 2009 12:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
Look at all the discussions about the new Prius not having solar panels on the roof and why..]]>May 7th 2009 2:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/Max distance= 50Mi

So... about a half hour run time then? mhmm...]]>May 6th 2009 7:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
WHAT IS WRONG WITH GAS?]]>May 6th 2009 10:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
I'm going to assume you're joking.]]>May 7th 2009 12:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
one day it will be all gone.]]>May 7th 2009 5:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 9:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 8th 2009 9:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 7:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 7:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 7:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 10:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 7:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 10:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/I know they're supposed to self-cleaning and all, but every now and then
a vagina can really benefit from a good rinsing.

A nice douche can be a guy's best friend.]]>May 7th 2009 12:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
He's a tool.]]>May 7th 2009 8:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
Battery OUTWEIGHS gasoline for the same amount of energy stored by a factor of bazzilions (ok, ok, it's not bazzilions)...]]>May 6th 2009 10:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 5:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/You cannot call it solar motorcycle. Heck you can drive it in night, can' t you?]]>May 6th 2009 8:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 8:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 5:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
seriously though, there have been plenty of these kind of news around but they're no where to be found on the actual market]]>May 6th 2009 9:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
Which means that (at 100% efficiency), in 8 hours, you'd have 800Whr (= 1hp*hr), which translates to 10hp for 6minutes..

So let's summarize this BEST CASE SCENARIO (at 100% efficiency)

8 HOURS of charging = 10hp for 6 minutes

That translates to: Old man, you're full of bullshit. Unless your idea of transportation is having your bike sit outside for a couple of days, and then taking it for a short ride.]]>May 6th 2009 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
He bought one of these (credit to "travis" on another blog):
http://www.electricmotorsport.com/EGPR/egprPage.htm
and slapped some really cheap solar panels on it. I'm not even convinced the solar panels do ANYTHING.

It's all a great big hoax and the reporter fell for it.]]>May 7th 2009 9:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
Because that's about the amount of impact this dude's "electric" bike as. 300-mile range? Yeah, maybe if he hooks up a trailer full of batteries. Have fun waiting six months between trips to the corner store for them to charge, too.]]>May 6th 2009 10:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 10:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
It would take about 1,000 watts to completly charge the bike if it went 50 miles. They are other bikes that charge completly from solar but with fixed arrays so you don't have to drag them with you everyday.

If he used lithium batteries he could go 300 miles on a charge. It's actually best to charge off peak and make your solar on peak and sell it to the grid. That helps everyone. We sometimes have a electric cycle and a few electric cars for sale on the Phoenix Electric Auto Association wenb site www.phoenixeaa.com
]]>May 6th 2009 11:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
The bike is an electric motorsports GPR as someone already noted. 44Ah 48V battery pack = 2112 Watt-hours to completely charge. Also lithium ion batteries do have good energy density, but won't necessarily give the bike a massive range increase. The same company has already made a new model that uses lithium batteries with a total 3.3 kWh capacity and it has a range of 35-60 miles.]]>May 7th 2009 11:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
Needless to say, I was very disappointed.

]]>May 6th 2009 10:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 5:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 10:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 10:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 6th 2009 11:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/
on to the story at hand, great idea. sad it is self funded. reminds me of the guy who built the car in his basement. It wouldn't take "days" to charge, as one reader pointed out. it would take a hell of a long time though. they do make fast charging lithium battery's, but they have a short life. it would be more functional as a trike. way more surface area, and made out of carbon it has the potential to be almost as light as a reg Harley trike. "if you call that light..."

any way my two stoned cents.
]]>May 6th 2009 11:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 5:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 1:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/06/diy-solar-flyer-motorcycle-tearing-around-phoenix-arizona/May 7th 2009 7:28AM