DIY project for your weekends: Your own solar car
I'm wondering if my skills at assembling Ikea furniture will be useful for the SUNN. The SUNN is a solar electric car in a kit that can apparently be assembled in your garage in four or five days. The kit includes everything that you need except the batteries and solar panels which have to be locally sourced to save you a bundle on shipping. Solar panels and batteries are heavy and thus expensive to ship.
Don't expect Tesla-like performance, however. Sunn's maximum speed is rated at 25 mph. If used without solar panels, you will be able to drive for 20 miles. Plug-in the solar panels and you will get extra 3 miles from the hood and 14 from the roof panels. That's 34 miles.
According to the website, this can be classified as a NEV in the U. S., which makes it legal if you register it. The manufacturer supplies you with the Manufacturers Certificates of Origin for all of the major components. Full specs and video after the jump.
- Chassis, welded square tubing
- Front suspension with two shocks.
- Rack and pinion steering with steering wheel
- Rear suspension with two shocks.
- Four wheels, 26' diameter Kevlar belt tires.
- Drive system- 48 DC motor and control with regenitive braking and reverse.
- Inner frame, welded
- Door assembly with latch and handle.
- Frame welded square tubing
- Body parts, floor, pans and outside panels made of fiberglass reinforced plastic.
- Floor, seats and dash board.
- Hydraulic disc brakes on all four wheels.
- Speed control with pedal, PWM control, relays and all cables.
- Headlights, taillights, turn signals, switches and wiring harnesses.
- Solar charge controller with ammeter.Solar panel(s) not included.
- Built in 110 Volt charger.
- Safety glass windshield and polycarbonate side and rear windows.
- Windshield wiper, seat belts, review mirrors, horn and parking brake.
- Detailed assembly manual
- Wiring diagrams
- Certificates of Origin for all major components
[Source: SUNN via The Uber Review]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
john 9:14PM (4/15/2008)
this idea isn't really new. I have seen hybrid cars http://www.activehybrid.com with solar panels on the roof that are capable of going highway speeds but at least this thing will conserve energy.
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Niralisherni 5:46AM (4/16/2008)
I know this has been said before, but bears repeating because not enough people know about the solar assisted car from ZAP. Take a look here: http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/electric-cars/xebra-xero-solar-option
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James Bowe 9:33AM (4/16/2008)
What makes this REALLY old is the fact that ABG already ran this story a few weeks ago. 20+3+14=34? Am I missing something?
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KarenRei 3:43PM (4/16/2008)
Niralishemi: I'm sorry that you got suckered into buying a Zap dealership; I really am.
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polarweasel 12:40AM (4/17/2008)
So where'd the video go? I hate when YouTube does crap like that...
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Xavier Navarro 9:54AM (4/17/2008)
To James:
We didn't have the complete specifications at the time...
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