I'm working on a green vehicle which allowes me to move by solar- and manpower. Even though a small number of such vehicles exist, I will build it complete new. As it is just a project and still in construction I cannot say more about it by now. When it works at the end, what I'm sure about, I have in mind to travel round the world with that. This will be a big adventure. I'll keep update the project here.
Replies
- SA
Apr 22, 2012That is epic cool. Both the project and the subsequent travels. Is it a retro fit system or modified existing? I like the aspect of it being man powered as well.
ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterNov 29, 2013My "green vehicle" is been built by now. It took longer than I hoped for, but in the end almost all is finished. If you want to know more about this project just visit my website. There is a lot more information and pictures in it. (Please ask me for my website - I cannot post it here: it will be linked back)
Over the winter it is stored away and in spring I'll start for my world tour. I'm curious how far I will come with that...
I'll keep you updated...ReactReply - SAFeb 11, 2014I recently read an article about a guy who converted an old broke down John Deer tractor to solar power. He plows and everything with it. Now that is cool!ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterMar 5, 2014Sorry for replying that late, but the preparation for the big travel is now ongoing. Well the 25km/h max speed seems not much, but noone will drive faster with that thing if you approaching a curve. You either drive out of the road, fell down or have a heartattack! ;-) Driving a trike isn't that easy and such a heavy one will need a lot of practice - but I have the time.
Replace the cell to newer ones are not an option at the moment - when they break, I'll think about that. But honestly, I could have waited for better cells, for better batteries, for better gear of any kind and there will come better things in the future - but I wanted to start the trip before I die. So if I would build such a thing in 10 years, I think everything would be smaller, more efficient, lighter and prettier. When I'll come back of my trip, I'll have a think about that.
But first I have to start and this will be on Easter sunday this year! April 20!!![url= ull][/url]
[url=http://www.d-t-b.ch/solatrike-projekt-solatrike-project/][/url]SolartrikeReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterMar 5, 2014"I recently read an article about a guy who converted an old broke down
John Deer tractor to solar power. He plows and everything with it. Now
that is cool!"
Wow that's cool! I adore such people who just do their ideas.ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterMay 12, 2014So I started the first leg of my travel and could test it out for 3 days. First to say: it's much of manpower needed!! This thing is a bit heavy - I have to load less. I need smaller wheels in the back for the stability. But if I have solved the problems I will go in some weeks on the big long world tour.ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterJul 1, 2014
By now I have cycled about 500km and there was one Problem after the other. No day without a repair and two times broke the axle.I must admit, that this vehicle is not suitable for a world trip - unfortunately. I will search a better vehicle which is suitable for a trip like that. The Project hasn't ended - I just need to change the vehicle.
ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterAug 14, 2014
In the meantime I found a better solution! The new Version will be built right now. This time it's a recumbent-pedelec-trike with a Trailer. On the Trailer are the solarpanels, the batteries and the most of the luggage. The whole Thing will be lighter and lower. I also found some really good solar Panels which are very light and give enough power. By chance I met a guy who produce this Panels on a Nudist campground!!! Isn't that great?For more Information type: Solartrike (but write Sola, instead of Solar!) into your Browser.
ReactReply - SAAug 15, 2014[quote]In the meantime I found a better solution! The new Version will be built right now. This time it's a recumbent-pedelec-trike with a Trailer. On the Trailer are the solarpanels, the batteries and the most of the luggage. The whole Thing will be lighter and lower. I also found some really good solar Panels which are very light and give enough power. By chance I met a guy who produce this Panels on a Nudist campground!!! Isn't that great?For more Information type: Solartrike (but write Sola, instead of Solar!) into your Browser.[/quote]Very cool!ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterMar 27, 2015A new update: During summer 2014 the new vehicle was built for the first test run. It wasn't built completly but I could test it for a week and traveled a Loop of about 500km. This new Thing is better to drive than the first one and the solar Panels worked even in cloudy weather. I was amazed that I didn't had to load the batteries on the socket for the whole trip. I was always driving with the solar energy. The test run was in October 2014 and during this winter the vehicle will get a second Motor for the steep hills and some other Details. In about one month (end of April 2015) I will travel to the Czech Republic, where the vehicle is built and will see how it is when all the luggage is loaded. If everything works I will restart my world tour from there. I have in mind to make a big Loop around Poland and Eastern Germany back to the Czech Republic. In case we have to solve some Problems I drive by the manufacturers and then head off to eastern Europe. That's the plan, but how it will be could be a totally other Story...ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterApr 4, 2015I see the photo I loaded up was used for the Logo of the groupe :)ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterJul 18, 2015In the meantime I started my new Project and am on the way! I cycled already 600 km with the new trike. This one is really better than the first one. I can cycle the whole day and the battery will not be empty. But even though, I still got too much of luggage. I have to think it over and probably I must send my beloved guitar home.If you want to be updated go to my Homepage: (www dot d minus t minus b dot ch)ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterAug 30, 2015Update: I cycled through Poland and am now on the way through Germany. I nearly have cycled 2500 km. There have been some bugs, that needed to fixed, but it is still on the road. Greetings from a nudist Campground in Germany!ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterOct 21, 2015Thanks CherBear for your nice words. I just came back to check the activity of this groupe and discovered that it is already two month ago since my last update.So my newest update is that all the bugs could be solved as I returned to the Czech Republic. I continued traveling and crossed Slovakia and Hungary. At the moment I am in Romania and try to reach Greece before my butt will freeze to the ground.ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterMar 14, 2016Update March 2016. The way led me from Romania trough Bulgaria and I entered Greece from the north. Then I cycled all the way down to Athens. Afterwards I went to Crete for some days and a short sidetrip to Santorini (without the Trike). The ferrys took me over the agean see and now I am cycling through Turkey. I will reach 9000km in the next time. Now I stay some days in Antalya to make some maintenance on the trike. Well it was used and some parts have to be replaced. But otherwise it is running still and I will continue as long as I can and as far as I can. I will keep you updated on my project.ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterJul 27, 2016Update July 2016:
I crossed Turkey, went through Georgia and now Azerbaijan. Tomorrow I will enter Iran. At the moment I reached 12'700km and hope many kilometers will come. There is enough sun to charge the batteries, but unfortunately I cannot ride it naked ;-)
The next route will be through the north of Iran, crossing Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kygristan to China.ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterDec 11, 2016
Update December 2016: I crossed Iran from Azerbaijan until Mashhad. Then I didn't got the Turkmen Visa, so I had to fly to Uzbekistan and leave the trailer behind. The Trike was flown in by AirCargo and I had to build a new Trailer, but with the same Solar panels on it. I then continued from Tashkent to Kazakhstan and further on to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. At that time I drove 15'140km. As it got winter and everything was covered in ice and snow, there was no chance to go on further. So I take a winter brake at home and will continue in Spring 2017 in direction China - I hope! Wish me luck!
ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterApr 28, 2017
Update: April 2017: Now the winterbrake comes to an end and I will go back to my trike in Kyrgyzstan. Then I will cycle via Kazakhstan to China, South Corea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. That's my plans for now - I'll see where I'll traveling in real.
ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterDec 6, 2017
Update December 2017: I was travelling now from Kyrgyzstan through Kazakhstan to China, crossed China from West to East and went to South Korea. Here I cycled from North to South and ended in Busan. First I wanted to go to Japan, but the Ferry didn't want to take my vehicle and then I was trying to ship it to South East Asia, but everywhere was another reason why it's not possible. After two month of searching I found the last solution and now it will be shipped to Hong Kong. Since the start I've done 22'000km so far and I hope to go on more. So to say: the system works - not forever, but until now it is.
ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterOct 5, 2018
Update October 2018: There was a bit of troubles and I couldn't go back to China and further on to South East Asia. So I shipped my solar powered Trike to Australia and rebuilt the trailer again. In about less than 3 month I travelled from Darwin to Perth, about 5000km. From here I will continue to Adelaide and Melbourne - I hope to be there for the WNBR. I'm still on the road!!!
ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterMar 14, 2019
Update March 2019: Arrived in Melbourne just in time to take part in the WNBR. That will be fun!! I have to sort out things, as my vehicle is now about 4 years old and have some serious issues with the electronics. I will travel to Tasmania and then cycle to Canberra and Sydney.
ReactReply - BABareskibumOriginal PosterJan 22, 2020Update January 2020. Oh, I have seen, that I didn't update for a long time. So I was at WNBR in Melbourne. That was big fun!! A coverage of that on YouTube: [url][link]/link/792235dd91455a45/aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9rbHJyd21aZnhrMA%3D%3D[/link]WNBR Melbourne[/url] Well, my vehicle had to have new Solar panels, which I mounted in Melbourne. Then the ride to Canberra and Sydney was a kind of frosty in the winter. From Sydney I shipped my trike to Auckland, New Zealand, where I did the Northland loop and had to replace my Mid-Drive Motor. Then it was certainly better over the many hills. :-) Criss-crossing over the North Island to Taupo and New Plymouth brought me down to Wellington. On the South Island I went to Golden Bay and stayed in Takaka at Gazebo Backpackers, a clothing optional Backpackers with a genious host. He has a lot of information and that's why I was stuck in Takaka, by doing a lot of his tips. One was a very exhausting hike over three days - all nude! Afterwards I did some other hikes (clothed) and went along the east coast down to Christchurch. To be continued...ReactReply
- BABareskibumOriginal PosterJun 16, 2020
Update June 2020
Well, my trip went from Christchurch down to Bluff and back. Due to Covid and all the travel restrictions I was locked down in Christchurch. How and when this trip can be continued is uncertain.ReactReply