Solar-powered cars are still difficult to achieve at the mass production level, but one creator has shown a more realistic path by shrinking the car body and reusing electric bicycle technology. Although the price and efficiency of solar panels have improved significantly compared with the past, it is still difficult to generate enough energy in real time to support long-distance driving in the limited body area of standard-size cars, and energy density is still the core bottleneck. In this context, a miniature two-seater solar car built by itself using electric bicycle components provides a compromise solution.
Earlier this year, YouTuber Simon Sörensen used parts from two e-bikes to build a compact two-seater solar-powered car. Rather than developing an entire automotive platform from scratch, he chose to directly reuse the off-the-shelf electric bicycle transmission system and build a lightweight body around these components, thereby significantly reducing cost and structural complexity. This approach is also more conducive to improving the energy utilization efficiency of the vehicle under the premise of limited solar energy input.
The drivetrain of this car is the most eye-catching part of the vehicle. Each wheel is equipped with an independent wheel hub motor, forming a four-wheel independent drive structure. Power is directly output to the wheels, eliminating the need for a central motor and complex transmission mechanism in the traditional sense. “The cool thing about this setup is that I’m using a 1000W hub motor on each wheel,” Sörensen told SupercarBlondie. Thanks to this layout, the vehicle can switch between front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive modes according to the control strategy.
The frame is welded from steel pipes, with a simple structure and sufficient rigidity, and can bear the weight of batteries and solar panels. The steering system adopts Ackermann steering geometry design to ensure that each wheel maintains a reasonable angle relationship when the vehicle turns. This is especially critical in a configuration where each wheel is driven by an independent motor, because the difference in torque output from different wheels will directly affect the vehicle's handling stability.
The power of the entire vehicle is provided by a combination of solar input and battery energy storage. Three lightweight solar panels are arranged on the roof, which can provide a maximum power generation capacity of approximately 300 watts under ideal lighting conditions. This power is fed into a 48-volt battery, which takes over when solar output is insufficient. When there is sufficient light, the vehicle can cruise at a lower speed and minimize the consumption of battery power.
In terms of range, Sörensen estimates that the car can travel nearly 20 miles on solar power alone, before relying more on battery energy storage. Specific cruising range will vary depending on weather, road conditions and usage. “The car has a range of around 50 kilometers (about 31 miles), but on a sunny day it might go up to 100 kilometers (about 62 miles),” he added. These numbers more accurately reflect the assistive role of solar panels in extending battery life, rather than completely replacing external charging.
The vehicle's top speed is approximately 30 miles per hour, which is significantly higher than the speed of an ordinary electric bicycle, but lower than that of a traditional road vehicle, putting it closer to the "community electric vehicle" category. Lower vehicle speed means smaller energy consumption per unit time, and also makes the contribution of the solar system in the vehicle energy structure more visible.
This homemade solar car does not fundamentally solve the physical limitations of solar cars in large-scale transportation applications, but it clearly demonstrates the adaptability of technology on a "small and light" platform. By combining off-the-shelf electrical components with modest-scale solar power, the project provides a real-world example of extending the range of electric vehicles without relying entirely on grid charging.