What Are Your Thoughts On Solar-Powered Cargo Bikes?
May 20, 2024
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Infinite Mobility has begun circulating samples of its solar cargo e-bike to European distributors ahead of launching full production.
Infinite Mobility is a Norwegian startup focusing on a variety of EVs, including cargo e-bikes. They have built what is possibly the world’s first cargo e-bike sporting solar panels. And they haven’t built just one. They’ve sent out prototypes to a number of retailers and distributors in Europe ahead of their plan to put the e-bikes into full production.
The prototypes are for the first model they plan to launch, called Inga. This two-wheel cargo e-bike will have a top speed of 25km/h (15 mph) and will be equipped with either two or three solar panels, depending on configuration—either both sides of the box or both sides, plus a cover on top.
Inga can produce as much as 163Wp, that is, a peak of 163 watts in ideal conditions. Inga comes with a 594Wh battery which Infinite Mobility estimates can be fully recharged by the photovoltaic cells (PV) in just a few hours of bright sunshine. In terms of range, they estimate that the PV cells could offer as much as 50km (31 mi.) of range per day.
Even without the PV, Inga is a very interesting cargo e-bike. It features a motor that produces up to 100Nm of torque. It uses an Enviolo heavy duty gearbox, disc brakes front and rear. It’s built with a steel frame and offers riders a total capacity of 250kg (551 lbs.). On cloudy days, the 594Wh battery should offer riders as much as 60km (40 mi.) of range.
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With Inga, Infinite Mobility introduced a fascinating take on the possibilities afforded with a box-type cargo e-bike. If solar panels can improve an e-bike’s range and/or dependence on being recharged via the electrical grid, who wouldn’t be in favor of that.
The question that can only be answered with real-world testing is how effective the panels can be. PV technology is notoriously sensitive to its orientation to the sun—it’s not enough to put some panels outside. And with panels on either side of Inga’s box, that guarantees that one set of PV cells won’t be getting direct sunlight when the other is.
This isn’t a criticism of Infinite Mobility’s efforts. We applaud anyone aiming at greater efficiency and freedom from the electrical grid. Even though PV technology is sensitive to a variety of conditions, it is certain that PV technology will improve and that will make a use case such as Inga ever-more compelling.
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My point is a bit mundane but I expect most commercial users would prefer a logo on the side of the cargo box and manage the range in other ways rather than the top-up charging of solar panels. For private users probably a great idea, providing the panels are replaceable.