In the world of extreme eco-sport, the Sun Trip stands out as a formidable challenge—a rally where e-bikes must rely solely on solar power. Riders can take their own routes or navigate through checkpoints and varied terrain, forbidden from using grid electricity, testing both engineering and endurance. Since its inception in 2013, the event has spanned continents, from Europe to North Africa.
Designer: Shawn Boden Ryan
Innovative Solar-Power Design for the Sun Trip by Shawn Boden Ryan
This year’s Alpine edition introduced a groundbreaking e-bike, powered by a solar panel array ingeniously mounted on its front. Ryan engineered this futuristic bike by adapting a salvaged Omnium cargo bike. Equipped with a 200W solar array and a Genasun GVB-8 boost MPPT charge controller, it connects to two 36-volt batteries from EM3-EV and Infinit, driving a 250W Tongsheng TSDZ2B mid-drive motor.
Overcoming Challenges on the Alpine Terrain
Managing weight was crucial. Despite carrying camping and camera gear, the bike maintained a light weight of just under 135 pounds. However, during the competition, extreme weather posed challenges. With temperatures soaring to 41 degrees Celsius, the Infinit battery’s safety management system temporarily halted energy storage. Ryan described these conditions saying, “The BMS was essentially doing its job and protecting the battery, but it meant that for periods of the day I couldn’t store all the solar energy the panels were producing.” Faced with this, he had to use grid electricity, disqualifying him from the solar-only category.
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Future Visions for Solar-Powered Adventures
Despite these hurdles, the successfully implemented solar capacity powered the bike efficiently on favorable days. Acknowledging the 250W motor’s struggles on lengthy climbs, Ryan has begun redesigning for the future Sun Trip from France to China in 2028. He envisages shifting to a long-wheelbase semi-recumbent design, enhancing aerodynamics and comfort with an expanded solar canopy.
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Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sun Trip rally?
The Sun Trip is a rally where e-bikes must rely solely on solar power. Riders can take their own routes or navigate through checkpoints and varied terrain, forbidden from using grid electricity, testing both engineering and endurance.
What challenges did Shawn Boden Ryan face in the Sun Trip?
During the competition, extreme weather posed challenges, with temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius. This caused the Infinit battery’s safety management system to temporarily halt energy storage, leading to the use of grid electricity and disqualifying him from the solar-only category.
How does Shawn Boden Ryan plan to improve his bike for future races?
Ryan has begun redesigning for the future Sun Trip from France to China in 2028. He envisages shifting to a long-wheelbase semi-recumbent design, enhancing aerodynamics and comfort with an expanded solar canopy.