Design and Mechanical Assembly of a Solar Powered Bicycle

Abstract

The global rise in automobile usage has led to increased pollution levels due to the substantial release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This reliance on automobiles also drives significant petroleum consumption. With escalating oil prices, there is a notable shift towards alternative energy sources, with electricity emerging as a prominent option. This transition aims to combat pollution and reduce dependency on fossil fuels, facilitated by the growing availability and affordability of electric vehicles. Electric bicycles (e-bikes) are experiencing unprecedented adoption rates among alternative-fueled vehicles in motorization history, attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. Moreover, solar e-bikes represent a recent innovation in the world of electric bicycles, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation solution by capitalizing on renewable energy sources. This paper focuses on enhancing the utilization of solar energy for prolonged bicycle operation. This goal is realized by integrating a photovoltaic panel onto the bike's roof. To maximize solar energy absorption, a sun tracker is integrated, featuring light intensity detection for precise panel orientation adjustments to track sunlight. This approach tackles a key hurdle in solar energy utilization by ensuring the panels generate peak power through dynamic orientation adjustments facilitated by the sun tracker.