The Greener Gadgets Design Competition brought tons of great green ideas into the limelight, from composters and Twittering electric metering devices to cardboard computers and public bicycle service systems. One of my personal favorites was the entry by Eco Pioneer, a DIY solar bike trailer. It's a modern day covered wagon, ready to power your next adventure.
The objective of their design was to help further the educational development of the US population through the creation of a working micro-solar system which can be easily transported to and from grassroots festival events. The frame is a repurposed kid-carrier bike trailer, and the power comes from a 25 watt solar panel on top. Included is an 8 amp battery and a 175 watt power inverter, enabling both an AC and a DC power supply.
The design is meant to be a DIY project, not a production model, although the potential is there to market some version of these to bicycle campers and tourers. The trailer could serve as a dive support center as seen above, or perhaps a mobile presentation module. Can you imagine rolling one of these into the conference room? "Hey guys, ready for my PowerPoint presentation?"
The guys over at Eco Pioneer are truly innovative, designing and building the "Alpha Tent", the world's first solar and wind powered mobile shelter, which looks to be quite the hit at events. If you haven't been to the Eco Pioneer site, please head over there and give them some props!
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awesome idea. this would be great to have at a music festival. what i like the most is the design, the pioneering wagon meets the future, would be a fun project to build
I also think this is a great concept, but why don’t thy also put out the design or info on how to build?
I’ve had fun building solar panels out of broken cells which then power my tv and fridge, but this is a totally new and innovative application on solar power. Kudos!
That is such an awesome DIY project, there would be a huge market for this kind of thing… nice work
I LOVE THE IDEA. I ride all the time and build bikes but this would be great for friends without bikes and when on vacation and you don’t bring your bike….
yea love the little trailer . I am trying to add electric motor’s as an addition to my gas engine on a one ton work truck with a 20′ x6′ ladder rack that will be covered with solar panels .(looking for inexpensive panels ) in addition i have a large converted four horse trailer that i plane to cover also with panels to maintain battery charging as well as run tools on job site .also looking in to gas afier power to generate power. love the tent to wont to see more.
Like the idea and the design. But how heavy is that thing actually. Looks like those planks are not the most lightweight accessory.