I've been diving into sustainable living and solar energy projects lately and had a wild idea while in traffic. I'm thinking about converting my old 1995 Honda Nighthawk 250, which has engine issues and is just sitting in my garage, into a solar-powered motorcycle. Instead of putting money into fixing the gas engine, could I strip it out and create an electric drive system that utilizes solar charging? My daily commute is about 15 miles each way, mostly through city streets, so range is manageable. I've done basic solar installations at home and for my workshop, but I'm new to vehicles. I'm particularly curious if I could fit enough solar panels on the bike to make a meaningful contribution to its charging. Would I need a separate charging setup at home, or could the bike be somewhat self-sufficient? Also, what are the battery weight and capacity considerations for this kind of application? I'm exploring various solar panels and battery systems online but I'm uncertain if the physics back up this idea—can a motorcycle really capture enough solar energy?
3 Answers
Just a heads up: I built an electric motorcycle from scratch, and let me tell you, it’s not easy! Many projects end up half-finished because the complexity is way higher than expected. Plus, the range is often disappointing unless you're riding very patiently. Motorcycles aren't the most efficient for this kind of energy use when you're speeding up, so keep your expectations realistic!
You'd probably get the best results with two batteries that you can swap out. Charge one with solar or wall power while you're riding the other. Solar panels are still too bulky to efficiently charge on the go. A folding solar array might work if you park, but good luck keeping it from blowing away!
You can definitely convert it to electric if you know what you’re doing—I’ve seen plenty of conversions on YouTube. But fitting enough solar panels on the bike to really charge it? That’s pretty unlikely. Your best bet would be to have a small solar setup at home or in your workshop that you can plug the bike into for charging. Check out something like the Aptera if you're looking for an idea of what could work well. Otherwise, a trailer with more panels might be needed!
Totally agree! The density of solar power just doesn't match up for what you need on a motorcycle. A 400W panel can be a pain to handle, and its output isn't enough to power you efficiently. Going with a full electric bike and setting up a solar array at home sounds like a way better option.