On January 22-23, 1999, a group of high school teachers, engineering
students, and technology enthusiasts came together at the North
Carolina Solar Center to transform a pair of ordinary bicycles
into lean, mean, solar machines.
The Solar Vehicles Workshop, presented by Dan Eberle and Art
Boyt, was open to anyone with interest, but really designed as
a primer for high school teachers interested in getting students
involved in the annual Solar Bike Rayce. This contest, held on
May 28-30 in Topeka, Kansas this year, was developed to give
high school students an opportunity to compete in a solar vehicle
design contest. It is a much simpler and less expensive project
than either the collegiate-level Sunrayce (solar cars) or Solar
Splash (solar boats), and is much more challenging than the Solar
Sprint races usually intended for grade school students.
Participants learned the theory behind photovoltaics, DC motors,
motor controllers, meters, batteries, and rayce strategy –
all of which was interspersed with the hands-on conversion of
two regular off-the-street bicycles. After the dust settled,
everyone had the chance to test-ride a couple of very impressive
solar-electric vehicles. The bikes could do 18 mph and had a
range of around 10-15 miles – without any help from the
rider! Pedaling either increases the range or speed, and while
the solar contribution is minimal while riding, the bikes can
completely recharge their batteries over a span of several hours.
All in all, it was an educational and fun couple of days, and
I highly recommend it to anyone interested in solar energy or
electric vehicles.
NCSU’s Renewable Energy Society (a student chapter of ASES) is planning to enter a team in the adult league this summer – both for fun and for the chance to get their hands on some EV and PV technology. Wish them luck!
For more info on the Solar Bike Rayces, just visit their web-site at: http://sunrayce.gmr.com/sea/bike_raycing/about_sbr.html