Darn. Just the motorcycle. I had visions of the creep festooned with photovoltaic cells and pinwheels. Maybe an idea for Halloween, David?
A Purdue University student has transformed an old motorcycle into a solar-powered bike with a top speed of 70 kph.The university says in a statement that physics major Tony Danger Coiro bought the 1978 Suzuki for $50 and spent $2,500 retrofitting it into a street-legal bike. Two solar panels mounted on either side of the bike charge its lead acid batteries, but they are also chargeable with a plug-in AC current.
Coiro's solar bike has a range of about 40 kilometers from each charge, and can go as fast as 70 kph.
The South Bend junior has received a provisional patent for his invention, and he says he hopes to improve his design to create a 160 kph, sun-driven racing machine.