Therapy Products’ E-V Sunny Solar Electric Bicycle
The E-V Sunny Bicycle, developed by Canadian Entrepreneur, Peter Sandler, President of Therapy Products, employs light-absorbing Solar panels built into the wheels to generate continual power from the sun. The bike is the first of its kind in the world, the first all-solar electric bicycle powered entirely from the sun.
The bike is propelled by a 500 watt front hub motor, with the bike’s variable speed electronic controller capable of propelling the bike to speeds of up to 30 kilometres per hour. The wheel-mounted solar panels also help maintain a constant charge to the batteries. Total weight for this innovative two-wheeler is a modest 34 kg.
The E-V Sunny Bicycle costs $1295.00, comes with 17 amp hr. batteries and a built in battery charger, and comes with a 90-day warrantee. The cost of the kit starts at $795.00, with the Company providing after sales servicing as well.
The Sunny Bicycle is just one of the many new solar environmental initiatives the company is developing for both recreational and commercial applications. As a strong advocate of the Kyoto Accord, their advanced solar technology impacts cost-cutting energy savings as well as a capital reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gasses.
$1295 isn’t bad for en electric bike, but it’s steep for one without Li-Ion - and a 17ah Li-Ion battery isn’t cheap. So while this bike sure looks neat and I love the solar-collector wheels (which aren’t going to generate all that much juice, BTW), the thing is going to be heavy to ride, with that big heavy Lead Acid pack squarely over the back wheel…