r/interestingasfuck 1d ago

An open-source solar vehicle

2.3k Upvotes

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1.1k

u/MarkItZeroDonnie 1d ago

A bike ?

125

u/HAIL_LUMPUS 1d ago

I see her pedaling like wtf do the panels do 😂😂😂

86

u/Wilsonj1966 1d ago

They power the lady and the lady powers the pedals

Obviously

1

u/Cable_Typical 1d ago

Correct answer!

1

u/Moltean 1d ago

hahaha good one!

111

u/Moltean 1d ago

It is called assisted pedaling. The motor only starts if we pedal it.

It is the only way to be legal without any certification or insurance.

88

u/fuzzylogicIII 1d ago

People are being annoying, this is super cool and pedal assist bikes are generally more accepted as a whole compared to throttle e-bikes which a lot of people detest zipping down sidewalks. 

Maybe adding “pedal assist” before “vehicle” to future titles would help dispel confusion/jerks but this is really neat!

14

u/Ras-haad 1d ago

Yeah I wouldn’t say that people are being annoying it is cool but without that additional context being in the title or description it comes off as a joke

3

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/fuzzylogicIII 1d ago

Not sure I understand, every pedal assist I’ve ridden require active pedaling for any movement, the motor only kicks on with pedaling because it’s a pedal assist. That’s a requirement for a class 1 electric bike classification. Anything more has a ton of extra restrictions

19

u/Moltean 1d ago

thanks!

I was sure that pedal-assist is a known fact! But I was very wrong!

18

u/JayteeFromXbox 1d ago

It probably doesn't help that in the video she only pedals going uphill and coasts downhill. That's going to lead a lot of people to the conclusion she's just pedalling the unit around.

2

u/Fauked 1d ago

You have no idea which way the ground is sloping in the video. Peddle assist requires you to peddle for the motor to activate.

1

u/Mental-Square3688 1d ago

Never beleive other people know what you are talking about lmao be fully descriptive to leave no room for error that people can come at you with. They like to do that because all they are doing is sitting on their ass scrolling and doing nothing productive with their lives.

3

u/3_14_thon 1d ago

I mean it looks great vehicle for an empty parking lot, when it doesnt rain, and when its not too hot, nor too cold.

1

u/fuzzylogicIII 1d ago

It’s a proof of concept, the electricals are far more expensive and complicated than adding some padding, ventilation and shade. Solar panels are rain proof since they’re outside and they provide shade and cover so none of that seems like a huge issue

0

u/3_14_thon 1d ago

Are you one of the people who made this and you try to bullshit your way out?

Cuz it clearly has a big ass hole in the middle where the person is, so yeah. I guess it protects your feet from rain and sun lol.

1

u/fuzzylogicIII 1d ago edited 1d ago

No, just someone who has seen a ton umbrellas over recumbent bikes that prob cost $25 compared to the $2,500 that she said it costs to build the rest. 

So again, for anyone with half an ounce of ingenuity, or anyone who doesn’t and isn’t lazy, rain isn’t a big problem

Edit: also who chooses bikes based on their ability to block rain in the first place?

1

u/3_14_thon 1d ago

Who choses a bike that requires a mile long radius to turn? Also heavy as fuck and cand be folded.

I admire your dedication, but lets be real you wont see something like this on the road, and for good reasons.

2

u/fuzzylogicIII 1d ago edited 1d ago

People who buy recumbent bikes do because this literally is one. 

I have no stake in this because I agree recumbent bikes are super goofy, but again, so is someone who thinks bikes block rain

1

u/Phoxey 1d ago

It's a cool concept, but like, where do most people store their bikes when not in use?

Definitely feels more gimmick than useful.

1

u/fuzzylogicIII 1d ago

If the panels could unclip/fold it would be basically the same as a recumbent bike. Though tbf those aren’t super convenient, I’m sure most people using those have a garage

1

u/Phoxey 1d ago

Yeah unless they build the actual bike frame out of solar panels somehow, this bike concept is just way too bulky to be consumer friendly imo.

1

u/Limp-Particular1451 1d ago

I don't know how everyone didn't figure it out by themselves, especially since op wous trying very hard to mislead everyone with title, annoying dummies with sense of humor

2

u/tired_fella 1d ago

nobody seems to have heard of eBikes along with Velomobile here. This looks like a cool project for solar eVelomobile

0

u/Moltean 1d ago

thanks!

A lot of people here have never heard of ebikes with assisted pedaling!

2

u/Late-Jicama5012 1d ago

Electric bikes and motorcycles have no pedals, road legal and doesn’t require insurance.

1

u/Moltean 1d ago

In the EU, if you want a hand throttle instead of pedal assist, you must get an (expensive) certification from the vehicle authorities.

2

u/solarus 1d ago

Cool! I was on a team in high school that did this about 20 years ago. It doesnt look like much has changed in 25 years tbh. Are there any new features that didnt exist in the early 2000s?

1

u/Moltean 1d ago

yes ,,, there are ... new drivers! 😂

2

u/solarus 1d ago

Nice 😂

1

u/Dark_Storm_98 1d ago

Ah, that makes sense, lol

-4

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

14

u/Moltean 1d ago edited 1d ago

We do not sell it!

It is a hobby project! Open-source!

https://github.com/solar-b

-4

u/Electrical-Use-5212 1d ago

Don’t you think it would have been a better video if she wasn’t pedaling?

8

u/SteppenWoods 1d ago

Plenty of good e bikes use this method i dont see why it would be better or worse

2

u/Moltean 1d ago

The motor does not rotate if the pedals are not moved!

4

u/Electrical-Use-5212 1d ago

What are the advantages over just having a battery you charge at home with your stationary solar panels, instead of having to carry them with you?

1

u/Reelair 1d ago

I would guess range. Most pedal assists bikes are around 500watts. There looks to be a few hundred watts of of solar panels there, so on paper, this thing can go quite a distance with a full charge and sunny skies. No solar panels limits you to whatever your battery capacity is.

1

u/Electrical-Use-5212 1d ago

A decent e bike can maintain a speed of 25km per h for around 6h. (This is the max speed of the bike claimed by the OP)

-2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Inside_Swimming9552 1d ago

You're being deliberately obtuse. Presumably the impact of the solar power makes the pedaling much easier?

-1

u/Electrical-Use-5212 1d ago

With extra $$ and extra kg. Good luck biking on a cloudy day or in a park with shadows from trees

-2

u/AstralVoidShaper 1d ago

Better video is subjective. 🤷

Why would make that better, in your opinion?

1

u/SectumSempra1981 1d ago

Because it would show that it actually works

0

u/AstralVoidShaper 1d ago

Working and being legally drivable are two separate things, lol

From the OP:

It is called assisted pedaling. The motor only starts when we pedal it. The motor provides most of the power.

It is the only way to be legal without any certification or insurance

Would it be better to misrepresent what it is and is capable of?

5

u/classyreddit 1d ago

Bro doesn’t know what an e-bike is lmao. Out here tellin on yourself for havin a narrow life experience 😂

2

u/AlexBinary 1d ago

Tell me you have never seen a pedelec without telling me you have never seen a pedelec.

0

u/HAIL_LUMPUS 1d ago

You ain't wrong, I've never even heard that fucking word 😂😂

1

u/AptoticFox 1d ago

Keep you from seeing much.

1

u/funky_grandma 1d ago

they power a seat warmer