The Sunmobile
The concept for this vehicle has been evolving for several years, mostly in the mind of Kelly Hart, who designed and built his first solar vehicle in 1999. Partly as a response to the uncertainties of Y2K, but also for environmental reasons, Kelly put together the "Sunmobile," which is powered both by the sun and by pedalling.
The Sunmobile is based on a commercial four-wheeled, two person, pedalling "bike", called a Rhoades Car. On this platform, Kelly designed and built a solar electric powered vehicle that retains one of the original human powered pedals. The Sunmobile is charged exclusively with the photovoltaic panels mounted as a roof canopy/sun shade. It will travel at up to 30 mph, and has a range of up to 30 miles on a fully charged battery.
At first, the one horse power, 24 volt, permanent magnet electric motor was connected to the bicycle chain derailing system from the passenger side, so that a combination of 36 speeds, or gears, were available for various inclines of travel. This arrangement worked OK, but the bicycle technology was ultimately a bit fragile for the torque demands placed on it by the motor, and it needed frequent repair.
Now the same motor is coupled, with a centriugal clutch, to a riding lawnmower transaxel, with six forward speeds and reverse. The tranaxle powers one of the rear wheels, while the other wheel is powered by the pedals. This arrangement allows the driver to add motive power when desired, either to assist going up hill, to add traction in soft dirt, or to provide physical exercise.
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