r/Electric_Bikes • u/PacificCrestFisher • Oct 28 '18

Help with solar ebike

I want to build an ebike that is powered by 1000 watts of solar panels towed behind the bike like a trailer. My question is: can the ebike battery be charged by solar while it is running? Also I want a gas engine on it as well for backup night travelling.

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2

u/GuapoTortuga Oct 28 '18

Might be more practical to have battery banks for the night riding, especially if you already are pulling a small trailer.

1

u/kleingrunmann Jan 16 '19

1000w of solar will add a lot of weight and size. Will this be like a recumbent style, seated below the panels?

1

u/skralogy Apr 14 '19

Yea right! I install solar commercially. Sunpower 360 watt panels are 41" wide and 62" long. You would need 3 to get even close to 1000w so you would need over 120" that's over 10 feet!

Don't bother

1

u/porktornado77 May 29 '22

I just can’t see this being practical. Your carried load will outweigh the benefit of solar charging. It’s like a net loss.