DIY Solar-Powered Scooter & Electric Bike {VIDEOS}

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This isn’t one of the stories we write about hoping it will change the world, but it’s one of those cool DIY cleantech stories you just can’t pass up. Home inventor Terry Hope of Canada has created a pretty cool-looking solar-powered electric scooter. And he is now working on a solar-powered electric bike.

Here are two videos of the electric scooter — The Hybrid Electric Kinetik Photovoltaic Vehicle (Thekpv) — which you can see, ain’t no sluggard.

Here’s a little more information on Thekpv and how it came about via its website:

Thekpv gained momentum in the summer of two thousand-eight by a fellow named Terry Hope. He worked as an engineer aboard the Copper Sky. An 88ft steel haul staysail schooner. The captain would not allow him to bring a full size stand on electric scooter.. If he wanted to bring any electric vehicle aboard the vessel his vehicle had only one option.. fit inside a suitcase. Following about a thousand hours of electric vehicle research & development his personal electric scooter / bike concept materialized with three goals:

1) Incorporate photovoltaics into a prototype electro-solar bike / scooter hybrid mobile power source.

2) Construct the smallest electric vehicle thats still practical and can be stowed away inside a suitcase for easy transport.

3) Engineer electrical and mechanical systems to harvest and store electricity evolving into a net zero energy mode of transportation.

Here’s a video on Thekpv’s solar panels:

And now, Hope’s next project, the SolarCross E Bike:

For those interested in the details, here’s Hope’s description of the bike:

This e-bike conversion began with a stock Specialized FSR bike and evolved into a masterpiece. Several things are unique about this ebike, the first being the custom freewheel crank. The freewheel crank consists of three sprockets, starting on the outside is the 80T (tooth) chain sprocket which the electric motor drives. Then behind the 80T sprocket is another large sprocket 42T and behind this is another sprocket which is really small at only 22T. The 42T and 22T sprockets are connected to the rear wheel by regular bike chain, the smaller 22T sprocket gives the biker the ability to climb up the steepest hills or even ride around without the rider even having to pedal. The larger 42T sprocket is used mainly for faster speeds and quick acceleration and requires the rider to assist the electric motor and pedal just like riding a normal 18 speed bike. Basically what this all means is the motor does NOT turn the pedals at all, the rider can choose how much effort they feel comfortable with and select one of the 18 gears to suite the speed at which they need to be moving. This allows the rider to get to where they need to go fast while also exercising and not arriving as a sweaty mess.

You can read more on the Solar Cross page. The project is currently approximately 90% complete, just needing the panels put on it (though, it looks like he may also be in the process of reworking it a bit before, per the note in the video above).

h/t EarthTechling

Related Stories on CleanTechnica:

1. Help Design Electric Super Bike!
2. Hertz Now Offers Electric Bicycle Rentals! (in London)
3. Exercise with an Energy Purpose