Electric Bikes - Solar Powering e-Bike

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paverman4u
08-02-10, 08:02 PM
Let's say I were to want to ride my e-bike from Washington DC to Pittsburgh, PA at some point. I'll of course help along the way with some human pedal power. However, I'd like to get solar panels (by the way I'll have a BIG DUMMY and could easily carry several panels if need be) to charge a spare battery while I'm running on the main battery. When main battery runs out, switch it for the spare.

The battery is 10 amp hour and 36 volts, the motor is 1000 watts.

How could I calculate the wattage and total number of the solar panels that I'll need to be hauling around?
What are tips to connect the spare battery to the solar panels so as to not damage it?

The idea is I would need to be able to run long enough on the activey battery + pedal power such that the spare battery could be charged by the sun. What are your thoughts on this and how to calculate the number of panels I'd need + how to charge the 10amp Hour, 36 volt battery without damaging it.

Here is an example of 1 solar panel. It's 224 watts/20 volts.

http://www.affordable-solar.com/sharp-ND-U224C1-224-watt-solar-panel.htm

Thanks!

nwmtnbkr
08-02-10, 09:09 PM
Let's say I were to want to ride my e-bike from Washington DC to Pittsburgh, PA at some point. I'll of course help along the way with some human pedal power. However, I'd like to get solar panels (by the way I'll have a BIG DUMMY and could easily carry several panels if need be) to charge a spare battery while I'm running on the main battery. When main battery runs out, switch it for the spare.

The battery is 10 amp hour and 36 volts, the motor is 1000 watts.

How could I calculate the wattage and total number of the solar panels that I'll need to be hauling around?
What are tips to connect the spare battery to the solar panels so as to not damage it?

The idea is I would need to be able to run long enough on the activey battery + pedal power such that the spare battery could be charged by the sun. What are your thoughts on this and how to calculate the number of panels I'd need + how to charge the 10amp Hour, 36 volt battery without damaging it.

Here is an example of 1 solar panel. It's 224 watts/20 volts.

http://www.affordable-solar.com/sharp-ND-U224C1-224-watt-solar-panel.htm

Thanks!

Having experimented with solar for recharging while I owned an RV, I'm sorry to say that the technology is still lagging, just like battery technology. You're rarely going to reach the specs cited for most solar panels--those are the optimum numbers for a location with lots of sun for a significant amount of the day. Most formulas to calculate the number of solar panels needed require you to know the number of sun hours per day, which will vary greatly by season (and location). http://www.ehow.com/how_4870036_calculate-panels-needed-whole-house.html

Personally, I wouldn't invest in solar panels at this point. Hopefully, we'll see some significant improvements in battery technology and solar panel efficiency within the next decade, but I'm not holding my breath. Good luck.