Stanford University has long been a leader in the development of electric vehicles and currently serves as the headquarters for Tesla. New research from that institution is aiming to make the conventional electric car—not to mention icky carbon-belching fossil fuel vehicles—as obsolete as the methane emitting horse-drawn wagon of years past.
Developed through a $50 million federal grant, the SolarBike® melds traditional bicycle technology with the zero-carbon, renewable energy benefits of solar power. On sunny days, solar-assisted power helps the rider move along, and on cloudy days unassisted leg power takes over.
“This has the promise to revolutionize human transportation,” said Dr. Sven Goolie, the lead researcher in charge of the project. “Like the peanut butter cup, this combines two great ideas—feet power and sun power—into one environmentally delicious package.”
The SolarBike® is not a traditional solar-powered vehicle of the type fielded in such events as the American Solar Challenge. The team at Stanford seeks to revolutionize the concept.
“Today’s experimental solar vehicles are limited by the low-power output of solar panels and the weight of electric motors, not to mention batteries to store up energy if the vehicle needs to run on a cloudy day,” said Goolie. “In our approach, the solar panel directly channels its limited power into electrodes attached to the leg muscles of the bicycle rider. They emit continuous electric shocks that cause the muscles to contract at rates beyond what is normally possible through biology, increasing performance by as much as 30 percent.”
Additional benefits include the solar panel serving as an umbrella on rainy days and protecting the rider from harmful UV rays when the sun is shining.
Still, there are challenges that need to be overcome. Power output remains limited, making the solution currently available only to the youth market.
And what’s it like to ride this miracle bike?
“You really move along,” said test rider Billy Hobbson, age eight. “All the snaps and pops on your legs hurt a bit, but it makes you just want to get where you’re going faster. Dr. Goolie is a nice man. He always gives me a glass of chocolate milk and a cookie after each time and that helps make the pain go away.”
As the technology improves, adult versions are anticipated in less than five years, according to Dr. Goolie. “We’ve already had tremendous interest in the concept, particularly in California,” he said. “A number of major cities are looking at CARB grants, with the idea of moving their police forces and similar operations over. A multi-billion-dollar bike lane expansion initiative will be in front of the governor shortly.”
Tandem and quadracycle concepts are on the drawing board as well for both the commercial and consumer markets. The future sure seems bright for the electric bike.
For more information, please contact the community-driven support group Parents Opposing Opposition to Pedaling Solar (POOPS) or visit the website HERE at http://mysolarbike.com.
