My good good friend Laurence Clarkberg is the one who destroyed my life a couple of decade in the past by promoting me my first ebike. He determined to construct an ebike that would take him and his spouse Judy throughout the nation in consolation and magnificence so he constructed the Solar Pony. I really like this construct as a result of it jogs my memory of what’s doable should you ignore what everybody else is doing and assume exterior the field. Watching this ebike go down the street brings me a lot pleasure it’s arduous to explain. This construct jogs my memory of seeing Amish time touring again from the longer term. Mockingly plenty of Amish communities have been embracing ebikes and photo voltaic panelpowerstations for charging which I’ve to confess I completely love.
Three separate motor/battery techniques for her pleasure
One of many most important factor that makes this construct distinctive is that it has 3 completely different shark packs paired with completely different motors giving it triple redundancy. The 2 mid drives are TSDZ2 techniques which work effectively with this trike as a result of they really let you pedal backwards which is critical to activate the coaster brakes that come inventory with this tricycle. The BBS02/BBSHD have a double clutch system which implies if you pedal backwards solely the pedals transfer and the chain doesn’t transfer. The mid drive batteries are plugged in repeatedly to the photo voltaic panels which every have their very own Genasun 52v lithium battery MPPT cost controller from Grin (max charging pace is 8 amps).
It’s all in regards to the Regen
Initially the trike got here with a big drum brake within the entrance wheel, however Laurence changed it with a Grin All-Axle motor and a separate shark pack. This Direct Drive motor permits the trike to have regen braking to assist get well power that may in any other case be misplaced happening hills. Laurence didn’t like how weak the rear coaster brakes had been so he customized welded a brake attachment level on the entrance metal forks. Additionally the Grin All-Axle motor comes with a big built-in torque arm so that you don’t have to fret in regards to the dropouts ripping out from all of the torque on the entrance motor.
Mid Drives paired with IGH
For hilly terrain like we have now in Ithaca it’s tremendous good to have a mid drive vs simply utilizing a hub motor. The trike got here inventory with two Nexus 3 IGH with a coaster brake. With out the addition of the motors this trike was fairly arduous to stand up any hills and was actually designed for stage recreation trails. With the addition of two mid drive motors it could actually sort out just about any hill with relative ease. The highest pace is mostly round 20 mph with common emotions of security and effectively being dissolving rapidly when taken over that pace. The DD motor is mostly solely used on hills with regen getting used when happening hills and an additional pace enhance when going up hills. The Nexus coaster brake operates if you pedal backwards however is comparatively ineffective with a motorbike this dimension. The unique Trike design was by no means actually designed to go down (or up) actual hills and as a substitute of getting satisfactory brakes it simply had a sticker telling you to not use the bike on hills (true story).
340 Watts of Photo voltaic Panels permit for steady journey day after day with out having to cease
If the solar is shining the panels then usually the quantity of energy it’s generates is about the identical quantity of energy than it makes use of. If you cease the eTrike you’ll be able to pull the place locking cotter pins and regulate the panels to be perpendicular to the solar to maximise the facility charging within the mornings and evenings if you would usually wish to relaxation.
An eTrike designed for epic cross nation journeys
When Laurence constructed the Solar Pony it was expressly to journey lengthy distances in consolation with out having to fret about discovering locations to cost alongside the way in which. The tandem seating is sweet for lengthy journeys the place one individual can steer and the opposite individual can learn or simply get pleasure from their environment. The construct price for the Solar Pony all-in is about $5000 which is a good funding should you contemplate how a lot it prices in gasoline simply to drive throughout the nation. It looks as if each time I refill the tank it’s proper round $100. It makes plenty of sense to have a leisure automobile that may be 3x slower than driving, however finally ends up being a way more pleasant journey. The photo voltaic panels additionally defend the passengers from solar and helps a bit with the rain (though not a lot). I really like the practicality of this construct and the way it extends first rules pondering to maximise usability whereas nonetheless minimizing prices. Cargo may be carried in giant plastic bins strapped down behind the seats. Laurence additionally has a big light-weight sluggish automobile triangle to assist warn automobiles to decelerate and never attempt to run them off the street. There’s additionally double headlights and double taillights powered by the ebike packs with waterproof connectors for security and reliability.
For more information on this construct you’ll be able to take a look at an article on Laurence’s ‘Wheels of Fireplace weblog’ right here. I additionally shot a brief YouTube video with Laurence you’ll be able to click on above with slightly extra perception in regards to the etrike. Its arduous for me to specific how a lot enthusiasm I’ve for this construct. Whereas Hollywood wish to painting giant, heavy automobiles with absurdly inefficient off street wheels tooling across the wasteland getting crap for gasoline mileage the truth is that our post-apocalyptic wasteland will more than likely be crammed with builds extra like this one which mix creativity, ingenuity and loopy effectivity.
Trip On, and on and on and on and on, and by no means cease simply because it is advisable to cost…
