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Comment by morganw | Hacker News Reader

For a bike with a more reasonable solar area (with tilt functionality) for a significant contribution to motive power, check out https://ebikes.ca/suntrip.html

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The Lightyear One [1] is supposed to be a solar powered car but I think it misses an important distinction. Cars spend a lot of time parked and during this time they can unfold a large capacity of solar panels like petals of a flower (similar to how spacecraft deploy once they leave the fairing). You can cover the windshield and all the other windows, for example.

Instead, the Lightyear One has focused on streamlining the solar panels in an aerodynamic way that doesn't take advantage of extra power when parked.

[1] https://lightyear.one/lightyear-0

Putting a roof with solar over parking lot seems like entirely better solution.

> they can unfold a large capacity of solar panels like petals of a flower

Feels like vandalism or just accidental collisions would be real problems

This is cool; I got such a kick out of the rowing machine!

That's clever. They get it.

That is a great design configuration. I've seen a few models like this at Burning Man. Great mix of cargo, charging, balance, speed, etc. I was so inspired by seeing them I wrote a paper designing an entire town based around vehicles like this :)

I mean except for the 2nd passenger with rowing & leg press interface, that's......forward thinking!

Did you ever share that paper publicly? I'd be interested in reading it

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