Solar powered bicycle with unlimited range - Sun Biker
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Benoit is 36 years old (in 2019) and just like society expected, he had a job, an apartment, a car & the right amount of friends. In the garage a few toys, which didn’t get out a lot because ‘we are so busy’.
It felt it was time to change some things, and it would probably be something with travelling.
To keep it short, he bought a bike, made it an ebike, added a trailer with solar panels to charge the bike and filled the trailer with a kayak and freediving gear.
On April 1st at 10 am he left home and started pedalling north with a new ID: Sun Biker.
He’s doing this journey for the joy of traveling, the enlightenment of meeting so many great people. The budget of his trip is low. He’s living a nomadic life. Which is a great experience in our capitalist surrounding.
If you might be curious in this way of travelling around the world and learn some tips and tricks from Ben - watch the video.
COMPONENTS:
Bicycle: Koga Worldtraveller
Motor: Crystalyte HT 3525 with regeneration break
Controller: Crystalyte
Battery: 17Ah
Solar charge controllers: Genasun
Solar Panels: 2 x 200W victron energy
Range on a Sunny Day: Unlimited
Range on a Rainy Day: 40-60km
Trailer: 60cm x 200cm built with the help of:
Marine Technics: www.marine-technics.be
Donkey Trailers: www.donkeytrailers.com
GEAR AND TOYS:
Méraud Bonaire watch to be on time.
Oru-kayak
Freediving gear.
MSR hubba tent.
Exped mat
2 sleeping bags for hot and cold (Coleman & Quechua)
Basic cooking gear.
A bag of repair tools & spares.
FOLLOW Sun Biker:
Instagram: bunwavandenhowte
Web: www.sunbiker.com
All the Peter stripol people are going to get recommended this now. Glad I was the first :)
yeah, this is how you do it right.
"so this took about 3 hours"
Jup, the little wheels Peter used for the panels bothered me. Happy to see this version :D
He copied it!!!
Haha, i was thinking the same thing!!😂
He goes in a way no man has ever gone before. From star trek to sun trekker. This guy is a pioneer, an engineer and a leader. My kind of friend.
God bless this man and protect him in his journey
the best ultimate car replacement vehicle with huge load capacity, best I've ever seen!
but illegal in many countries
NICE!!!! jealous! Interesting setup. I use similar solar panels on my van, also 200w same size. Since then the prices really dropped. You can get a decent quality 320Wp panel nowadays for 99 Euro's. MPPT solar controllers are also becoming more affordable, as are lithium batteries. Point being: today you could have it a LOT cheaper.
Best of luck to this man.
He should surely have a TH-cam channle his adventure is epic!!!
You mean yet another channel with projects completely useless for everyday life of billions of people and even having others pay it for ya?
Hell yeah!
Get rid of the flag on the corner of the rear photovoltaic panel. If the flag shadows even one cell, you will take a BIG reduction in the available power. Panels like that, usually only have 3 anti-parallel diodes, which means, the loss of one cell costs the voltage of 24 cells! That works out to a 17% loss in output, assuming the panels are wired in series. The reduction is even greater, if the panels are in parallel. That's a very significant savings in energy spent pedaling! At the very least, the flag should be on the higher edge of the panels, so the flag cannot cast a shadow on the cells near it.(assuming, the panels are tilted towards the sun)
Resect for your comment, some might call u a party pooper for saying that, Im calling u observant and smart, and super cool for noticing such a inconspicuous detail
I think it's important for safety so it's obvious to car drivers seeing the panels end on how far back they go.
@@iolair1973 Yes, but it is existing high flexible flag post extra made for bike trailers, and you can also paint bright reflective yellow on the back of the trailer...
About energy saving you have also aerodynamics that plays a lot! Check this nice channel that talks well about th-cam.com/video/LxVWA0olkCY/w-d-xo.html
You are likely right but I would guess that those panels are producing more power than he needs.
Amazing, absolutely Amazing. I wish you safe travels, where ever you and your bike go. 🇨🇦👏🏽🙏🏼👏🏽🇨🇦
👌🏻
Cool setup, but it needs trailer brakes or better just replace the trailer wheels with powered wheels and enable Regen braking.
I watched the Peter Stripol version first and this got recommend.
I am from Belgium and that guy has a Belgian flag so I think it is a fellow Belgian. He is living my dream. Although, I do a yearly cycle vacation myself, just not with that much solar panels and without any electric assist
I have had a very similar idea for some time. Nice to something close to my idea working so well.
Why not drag a wind turbine behind you.That would be different.
I'm an electrical engineer, we don't make our own stuff any more professional looking than you do. lol.
Bro you can’t do that, that’s just negligence and not doing proper work
@@RektalReptilhe said "professional lookin." that doesn't mean it's not professional
Quality standard are very different from one country to another ; even the title "engineer" isn't the same.
The thing that will make a big difference will be a trailer that can be locked so that you do not need to worry about your goods much. Also there could be a spare battery so that it could be charged on top of solar charging.
Always good seeing people living life ..😁😍
Should have stayed and chatted to you in Lidl carpark Lagos . I have same idea. Glad I found your video. Good luck hello from Portugal
Adventure of a lifetime, stay safe out there, .99% positive response from people is great but watch out for that 1%....
So very inspiring!!
I wish him the best
We should be given this setup at birth.
i want to do the same thing but my solar panels would be a camper shell. i would have them on front top and sides that way during the day as long as the sun was shining i would get some kind of a charge.
This is Great 🌈
👑
💜
💙
💚
💛
🧡
❤
🥰
Interesting. All the best for him.
Some months ago I saw another very impressive Spanish biker who did a 13 year trip around the world over his push bike .( Biciclown , Álvaro Neil )
Wow, I am blown away by how many rules this vehicle and its operations break and it can still go such a large distance without being stopped. Although... looking at the blog it seems abandoned, sooo...
Nobody cares about rules on a bicycle. 😂
@@boblatkey7160 Yeah, we still have a long way to go.
Abandoned is a bit strong, I'd rather use suspended due to the pandemic... and the the curves that live takes.
@@rainerzufall689 My ebike violates pretty much all rules too, but few authorities care as you're mostly a danger to yourself, unlike with a car which can cause massive damage with even a small slip up. But I'm Dutch and honestly if you have front & back lights, chances you're gonna be pulled over are non-existent here.
Personally I would've worked a bit more on the aestetics, work away the cables nicely, put the tail light on properly instead of just taping it on off-center, make sure everything is bolted down and not easy to take off(especially insome parts of europe).
@@rainerzufall689 I am blown away with how many people cars kill and how many people cars disturb.
Foldable solar panels on a "rooftop", provide additional power, sun protection and less sweat! Overpaneling with lighter panels allow for charging while powering at a faster pace. You can extend your day to riding later in the day and even saving some for the morning. Also cloudy days means you have more solar capture area.
In short: more solar panels = more power but this guy probably already knows it and he might just be fine with his current setup
I hope he gets enough skin exposure in our only one Sun's light, at the right time of the day: health101.org/d "...we all know that sunshine causes skin cancer, right? Wrong! Sunshine is not only not the... "
@Rich Ratch Yeah, I think that is right, thanks for your correction.
You saw this? th-cam.com/video/P1LB0jPh7QQ/w-d-xo.html
@@denbecr49 Roof panels for riders would be best for reducing rain and stopping too much sun, and so then the roof moved for enough sunlight's nutrients and warmth: health101.org/d : "The statement that sunshine is a requirement of vibrant health is viewed by some as nonsense because we all know that sunshine causes skin cancer, right? Wrong! Sunshine is not only not the primary cause of skin cancer, but the vitamin D produced in your body from sun exposure helps your body to stay ahead of cancerous cells so that you never get a diagnosis of cancer. But these diagnoses make a lot of money for some very powerful and influential industries, and the burgeoning markets for cancer prevention drugs (that "may" help prevent cancer) only add to the importance of keeping the information on natural ways to prevent cancer away from the general public.
But the truth is out there for those open-minded enough to hear."
This guy is my hero!
i really hope this will be the future E-bike.
Someone should make them first ;).
Excelente idea, espero verte pronto por Cádiz
Maybe))
I'm now in Tarifa, so in a few days I'm in Cadiz
That man wouldn't harm a fly... literally :D
This man stole this trailer from my mind! I'd like for him to give it back.
jk That's totally awesome. I really want to build something like that for my bike.
What a great idea..good luck
Amazing 👏. Brings back memories of my cycle touring days. I will definitely check out your website. Bon courage!
So this time it's a bike, it could easily be a dinghy he tries next time, lovely concept
actually that is one of the options, i'm considering...
Since he has the trailer, I wonder if it'd be practical to install a couple of solar batteries instead of the one he has?
He could even charge them at night if he stops somewhere where there's power available that way he'd be set for a few days without having to worry about sunlight and/or traveling range. It might even help with his schedule.
Amazing. Thank you for finding for me, another project to do ;)
You can add a few large caps to the charging system to help you get a more consistent charge, and keep the charge controller happy.
Awesome
Thank you for posting... I made a link to our facebook Bicycle Trailers Group...
Fantastic news ZiggZagg! Thanks a lot!
belgium represent , this mann living the life
This guy is my spiritual brother.
that fly
Super duper idea,,most simple looking,but best in delivery of needed power
This is way cool! He must tough as nails!
Amazing adventure, a little bit jealous but in a good way. Now how to make a living while traveling this way ?
Awesome! It would be interesting to do the same thing, but with fewer toys, and then you could sleep in the trailer. I wonder how much more power you’d get if the solar panels were the more expensive, more efficient kind?
Before the trip, the size of solar panels was a guess. nNow with the experience, the panels can be smaller, I had more then enough power. so more efficient and much smaller panels will indeed be the next move.
i would love to have one
Nice video collection 👍 Brother
Maybe have small coil overs or leaf springs on the trailer so it doesn't bounce so harshly
Now, version 2 with suspenion is in testing fase.
@@MrBenoitvh , do you have a video with it? How is the project going now?
@@LichtTempler progress is slower then expected
Novel in the making!
If you really wanted to get geeky, raise the panels a little higher and put an angle sensor on it, put the solar panels on a strong set of gimbals and have it so they auto adjust to the best angle to face the sun.
And move solar panels over head, to protect self from sun, rain, etc..
A light weight boxed trailer for things could still be dragged along
.
.
@@rrMuraliRamsamy Yes Exactly! Could also make solar panels that go along the length of the toe bar, NO SURFACE AREA UNTOUCHED by solar panels!!!!
@@jcreedy20 .. But he's saying himself that the energy catching while rolling it is not very much interesting, and dont forget airdrag... ; ) if you really want to save energy... (Less is more !!) th-cam.com/video/LxVWA0olkCY/w-d-xo.html
But i see you like to drem like myself, and sometimes it can be compatible, like here.. th-cam.com/video/_qD2op_CTZI/w-d-xo.html
I love how compact it is
yes, roughly the size of 2-3 small cars.
@@ivok9846 LOL
Brilliant job!
I'd love to do that - pack an inflatable paddleboard underneath too
Dang peter Stool stole your thunder
The fly at @7:34 😂
The best idea so far
Hi, congratulations on the construction, I live in Brazil and intend to create something similar. I have a question, can the battery at the same time turn the motor and receive energy from the solar panel at the same time?
Yes th-cam.com/video/14yliWlykfg/w-d-xo.html
Yes, it works perfectly!
Thanks
It can, but better for the batteries to split those processes. Buy two batteries and change them.
I always have to ride with proper padding otherwise it’s very hard on the pelvic floor nerves.
You can buy a battery motion alarm 120bd as soon as something is touching your bike, the alarm is so loud that it s a kind of impossible to have problem... There s a remote contrôle to control the alarm remotely and it costs 30 euro and less, jist be careful in the rainy wind as when too strong, the alarm will start :)
Its too big and heavy for my taste. I would have pack less and cut the trailer in half. 100kg for the whole set up is already too heavy. You lose a lot of watt for just moving that load.
Impressive 🎉❤
Interesting he used heavy panels, they have flexible panels weighing 1/10th the weight. Also I’m not sure about those corners sticking out! Love the idea though.
Is the roof over your stuff soft... I cant blame him...
Cars are a lot more dangerous than this could ever be
I was thinking more on walking paths etc , things could get tight.
The flexible panels are less efficent. He would need more than twice the sq. ft. to get the same current.
Where did u get those efficiency numbers ?
You go man!
Well done making an efficient system!
Any chance you’re using an FoC for your controller? If not consider it long term, you’ll save a lot of juice and gain a lot more efficiency!
Much love from Australia man, love your attitude so much!
What's a FoC? Perhaps I'm using it, don't know
Ill have to google that...
@@MrBenoitvh It's a motor drive technology, Field Oriented Control, it has the ability to give much more finitely timed control over positioning and torque
wonderful
He should use a compressor fridge...that coolbox consums a hell of energy
cool sun biker .
Rain is the only problem for thus 😂
Cool beans!
I've always believed that standard regen is wasteful, batteries can't accept the high rates that regen gives. What's needed are capacitors inline, to accept the massive charge that regen provides, then they can trickle that charge into the batteries at a reasonable rate. Great build, shame we don't get enough sun in the U.K. for that to be useful. Well, not where I am, anyway. 👍
Well that's just plain wrong these days. A lot of these batteries can't accept very high levels of input current. Certainly the current from a re-gen is not a problem at all.
Batteries can accept tons of current just fine. You can limit the current anyway if you are worried. You can also use a resistor like trains do, to dump extra energy.
As an electronics design/service engineer I must say the the wiring's a bit messy, could do with tidying to minimise possible problems.
Oh thats for sure. As he mentioned - "creative style", but at the end it's the fact of traveling that count and not the most perfect bike.
Are you planning to travel like this as well?
You're right, but it's a prototype 😆
Damn, your setup is even crazier than mine. I use a gas generator though, I gave up on solar.
How interesting! Gets cought in a wind storm and he's suddenly a airplane ✈️
Probably a LITTLE too heavy for that.
Wow, all this tendency on ics, one defective elec component could wipe all ecomm, and even a solar flare, but he can still motor on>
When are you coming to Greece, Athens? Would love to meet you !
I hope to go in de direction of greece next autum
Amazing. I would double or triple your battery capacity and mount it on the trailer. This would nearly eliminate power issues.
I would also place the motors on the trailer's wheels. I make single wheel trailers with a gas engine powering the wheel. I can put larger engines on the trailer than will fit on the bike and the trailer is removable and switchable to other bikes.
@@denbecr49 Interesting. Curious though...does pushing the bike via a motor on the trailer make it more difficult to handle/steer because of the axle connection with the bike?
@@Matt-dc8lp I prefer seatpost attachment because traction increases as power increases due to the tire pushing upwards toward the hitch. The trailer doesn't bounce as much as it does with an axle height hitch.
It handles very well except it doesn't have to lean quite as much in a turn. Barely noticeable, but feels strange at first.
U turns are best done by pedal power.
Advantages are everything obnoxious is away & behind me; exhaust, gasoline, noise, heat. Vibration is absorbed in the bends of the tubing in the tongue. The bike remains unmodified. The latest model is 5.7 hp and goes about 35 mph with way more acceleration than it needs. I expect it to go near 50 (so I can cruise 35) when I get the proper sprocket on the wheel.
I may modify it or a slower one to carry a campsite. I could quiet it with a high volume muffler made from a propane bottle or small extinguisher and disguise it as a typical touring trailer so I don't have to worry about legalities. The cops aren't likely to suspect the trailer is pushing me, unless I let them see me going too fast. Ghost pedaling will help establish the illusion. I'm considering adding a small alternator to the drive train for lights, radio, charging my smart phone, heated clothing etc. I already made a 12V heated jacket for motorcycling. I think this will be more fun and adventurous, bike bumming and stealth camping at 100 mpg on back roads instead of 36 mpg on interstates with a 900 lb. Goldwing.
Interesting, why would you double or triple the battery capacity? In normal circumstances i never run out of power.
@@MrBenoitvh it was mentioned that you had to go operate slower due to lack of battery life in the cities (due to shadows and such). A bigger battery would compensate for this by providing a bigger bucket to fill when the sun is available.
I punched back in from lunch at 7:39pm.I text it so I can remember
He should have each panel Angeled to each side so when he is riding one panel will always be getting max charge no matter which way he is facing
Then the other will get less, so no gain. Both should be adjustably pivoted to face the sun, at least on long straight stretches.
Correct but he can’t stop and re-adjust them every time he takes a turn so one panel getting max sun at a time is better than none of he is facing away from the sun.
@@larrytaylor2692 I wrote "at least on long stretches". One angled toward and the other away is no better than both slightly angled away. Logic & experience.
There is one who equipped his panels to automatically angle toward the sun.
Those look heavy he should use the flexible ones . Won't last as long but increase his travel
Amazing experience. Am jealous ^^
don't be, few cloudy days + few steep hills....geez....
вери гуд, спасибо парни
Спасибо!
Should consider adding motors on the trailer too or at least trailer brakes...
Wow I like your setup I have a ebike I would like to do what u do goog look trave
the back looks too long. I'd personally make it only 1 panel back and stack the 2nd on just below it. Unfold the 2nd one as well to charge wen stopped. Or....i think using the 2nd panel for a top cover is feasible as well. Will provide shade and some level of cover against rain for the rider(but this would require elevating the panel using additional tubing etc making it heavier and possibly could not be used in windy conditions.
There has been some thougt of these option. What i'll certainly do is get smaller panels, the 400 watt is overkill, and newer panels are already more compact for the same output. About the solar panel on top of the bike, personally i'm not a fan, as that lift the balance point quite high. In this setup the center of balance is under me, so it is very easy to handle.
@@MrBenoitvh i laughed at very easy to handle 💯that was a good one
This live like you're homeless lifestyle is really interesting! I feel I spend way to much time and money on: utilities, maintenance, insurance, repairs, employment, tenants and other BS! Do you think we're just doing it wrong?!
I don't think so. It's just about having this experience for once or twice in a lifetime. Take the chance when you can.
@@joonasoskarihomanen3959 there's a guy who gave away all his money and now lives in caves for free! Eats free food grocery stores throw out! He's basically homeless by choice!
@@joonasoskarihomanen3959 IDK if it's really the best plan, but it's an interesting philosophy!
Interesting viewing for Simon Clarke 😂
You could also use your legs to charge the battery in case of rain
very interesting, sir … best of wishes to you in future.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
there is flexible(light weight) solar panels... even rollable ones...
perfect ! But just don't come with this in France, it will be stolen in a matter of minutes...
Lol I doubt he leaves it anywhere without 5 steel chains, a deafeningly loud alarm and a GPS tracker
Means that a lot of thief in France?
@@nowisthefuturenitf8210 jear, i come from germany. once we was there, one of our bikes was instantly stolen xd (sorry for the bad grammar)
@@delitsch0079 thieves are everywhere. Well your English is good man.im learning it every day too.
@@l.k5244 on the video you see them sleeping in tent with the bike outside, no particular protection. They can't afford the weight....
Muito bom parabéns
nice setup . what wh you are getting daily from solar (i have 200w and with some manual tracking manage get around 1kwh while panel stand in one place ) . do you use brakes on trailer or just bike brakes? how fast are yuor going with trailer ? thanks ahave mane nice sunny trips :)
On daily bases I get all the energy from the sun. On long days I use 24 Ah, from a 17Ah battery. The wh I don't know, but is 48v. So it's quickly calculated.
I have only brakes on the bikes. The Regen brake helps a lot. On good roads I confortable get to 30 km/u. On normal roads I average 25km/h
@@MrBenoitvh I tour on a motorized bicycle so simple a cave man could do it. Works on any bicycle with a seat post. I used one to go across America 🇺🇸 last year Florida to California and back.
It turns out that all of the peddling kept ruining my adventures.
I post regularly on my channel.
Cool stuff
Its sad day when having to ask him if he worry someone will steal it, because in Europe its very real.
There was guy who travel around the world, ha came to poland and someone steal his bike
There's selfish assholes everywhere...
@@fartingfury not asshole, sometimes you need money for kids
@@Niceguy54444 There are places like that, but I don't think there's any European government that world knowingly let children go hungry or unsheltered...
Kamil Nowak don’t have kids if you can’t afford them.
Total Great!👍🏻
I love how Scandinavia is easy on this. In California police would stop you daily and often.
The whole time I was waiting for you to ask how he gets money for food
Just like anyone who goes on a journey.. Save before the trip and/or get free meals through friends met along the way..
Selling solar panels 😂
Actually I rent out my apartment, that rent is my travel budget.
@@MrBenoitvh Oh wow, cool! Thanks for answering my question! It seems like a cool experience traveling free on the road, but wouldn't it be nicer to have a companion with you? Don't you get lonely and depressed traveling without an intimate partner to share the experience with?
Lee's Channel hi, aren't you mixing loneliness with solitude? Traveling solo brings you in contact with so many people and you recieve so many invitations. So i experience the opposite of Loneliness and depression. And further, traveling with a partner, means every option has to be debated. If i want to stop somewhere, i stop somewhere, when i want to stay for a week, i stay for a week. If i don't feel like doing anything, i do nothing. Doing such a trip with a partner means comprimises on every decision. Obviously, sharing this live with a loved one, can make it also even greater.
So, does the trailer directly charge the battery or is there an intermediate battery you charge?
Raise the roof or popup and could have a solid wall place to sleep, cook, shower, bathroom.
I don't understand what people who do this do for money?
I'd love to do it but would run out of cash quite quickly
You travel as cheap as possible and rent out your appartment
@@MrBenoitvh and cut your ties and responsibilities to others nothing is cheap .
So, in the shade it still charges faster than it uses electricity to move? Otherwise it is not infinite range, right? He stops to charge just like with an electric bike without the solar panels... So basically zero electric range since it is mainly human powered? I am just annoyed with the lies in the title of the video I guess...
He can honestly say unlimited range because it's an electric that never has to be plugged in. The panels provide enough power to keep him rolling long after an ordinary charge would have run completely down, requiring him to find an outlet he can use for some hours. So what if he gets a charge when shopping, eating, surfing, diving & even sleeping?