Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Patrick Vanderwyden’s electric Franken'bike' is a street legal beast


Harvesting solar power to use it as an alternative source of energy isn’t something that we all don’t know about. However, there are few who actually do that and take the responsibility to solve the energy problems than leaving it to the...

patrick vanderwydens electric frankenbike


Harvesting solar power to use it as an alternative source of energy isn’t something that we all don’t know about. However, there are few who actually do that and take the responsibility to solve the energy problems than leaving it to the generations to come. One such man is Patrick Vanderwyden, 49, from US who uses solar power to run his heater, hot tub, air conditioner, fans, and his refrigerator at his home.



Most of Vanderwyden’s means of transportation has the same story to tell. The conservationist can often be spotted driving something with pedals or with electric motors either. His collection includes recycled bikes, an electric cycle and last but not the least is a strange looking bike created from spare parts he named as Frankenbike.


Frankenbike gets power from a treadmill motor connected to roof-mounted solar panels and is street legal as it easily exceeds the top legal speed of 18mph allowed for the electric bikes. Well, Vanderwyden’s efforts are ideal in a time when the energy demands are increasing and sources of energy, other than solar, are drying up. And lot more remains to be done by every individual before the dire necessity knocks.


patrick vanderwydens electric frankenbike 2patrick vanderwydens electric frankenbike 1


Via: CNN





No comments:

Post a Comment