LEARN3: Miroslav Miljevic and his amazing bicycle powered by sun "Cycle sol"

Solar-powered electric bicycle designed as an eco-friendly and efficient travel solution
for commuters. Photo Daily Mail

You will definitely stand out on the road on this radical canary yellow bike called a “Cycle Sol” which works like any regular pedaled cycle, but it has a canopy lined with solar cells overhead that charges by the sun, or by plugging into a regular power outlet.

The solar cells charge up a battery which powers a small electric motor hidden in the back wheel.

While you won’t be winning any bike rallies on its own power which has a top speed of 15 mph (24 km/h), it will save on ‘leg power’ to make pedaling easier and lower the resistance in peddling up hills.

Its handle bars are positioned on either side of the seat rather than the front so you can lean back for a comfortable, leisurely ride.

The Cycle Sol can be pedaled like an ordinary bike, or electrically powered
at the flick of a switch. Photo Daily Mail

“I designed the bike as an eco-friendly piece of technology to help commuters.” said Miroslav Miljevic, based at Z & Co Design in London, who designed and invented the bike as an eco-friendly form of transport.

The Cycle Sol bicycle is currently in the concept stage, but Miljevic hopes to mass produce it once he’s found a manufacturer.

“It is just like an electric bike but the motor runs on a battery that is powered by solar energy. There is a large flexible panel on the roof which is covered in solar cells that soak up the sun.”

“You can leave it outside the office during the day to top up the rechargeable ready for the ride home.”

“These days solar cells are pretty good at picking up the lowest amount of light so it should still work when the skies are cloudy.”

“At night time the small battery can be charged using the mains electricity in just a few hours. To save energy, the motor can be turned off or on so the cyclist could just use it when they’re peddling up a steep hill.”

The bicycle can be left in the daylight to charge, even when the skies are cloudy.
Photo Daily Mail

“The handle bars are positioned on either side of the seat rather than at the front so you can lean back for a comfortable ride.”

“It is still easy to balance and a belt inside transfers the left and right hand movements to the front wheel so you can steer.”

“And if the worst happens and it rains, the roof will keep you dry.”

“I believe it is just what the modern day commuter needs — it helps you along your way while also being kind to the environment.” Miljevic concluded.

More Solar-powered Bikes
If you can’t wait for the Cycle Sol to hit city streets, there are other alternatives currently available.

Charger without Battery and Solar Panels. Photo Green Bike Tour

Electric-assisted bikes are quickly becoming an emerging new category as a form of transportation based on the concept of enhancing rather than replacing ‘human power,’ which has been rapidly developing in Taiwan, Japan, and Europe, and even recently in North America.

Estimates for sales of electric and electric-assist bikes in Japan numbered some 200,000 and 50,000 in Europe during 2003 alone.

This form of bicycle has a control system which detects your pedaling effort and adjusts to compensate the amount of assistance it provides anywhere from 50% to 400%, allowing you to travel longer distance with less effort, at a greater speed.

It has an on-board battery supplying power to an electric motor that also powers the rear wheel, which can provide assistance for up to 40 miles, depending upon the type of terrain traveled and rider’s size.

Charger with Solar Panels. Photo Green Bike Tour

Road laws usually consider these new hybrid bikes as non-motor vehicles, therefore allowing them for use on bike paths, locking up at bike racks, and requiring no license to operate. However, not all laws or ordinances are totally clear.

These bikes can be “solarized” by adding photovoltaic panels to the front and rear luggage racks to provide 40 watts of power to continuously recharge the battery. More panels would be required to make the solarized electric-assist bike entirely self-sustaining, but Green Bike Tour says this system extended the battery range for a 200 pound rider from 32 to over 40 miles.

To travel further distances, the bike can be alternatively charged by plugging into any regular outlet to 80% within an hour or less.

There are a number of choices that we can make as commuters which help to reduce our footprint on the environment and economy, and even improve our health.

Various models of electric-assist bicycles are available with optional solar charging systems that are separate, stationary units. While we do not have any particular product that we endorse, Green Bike Tours does appear to recommend Electric Bikes at www.electricvehiclesnw.com/index.htm