Prometheus Demonstrates Solar-Powered Electric Motorcycle

September 30th, 2008 by Ariel Schwartz

This past weekend, Prometheus Solar founder Jim Corning demonstrated his proof-of-concept electric motorcycle at the Santa Monica AltCar Expo. The motorcycle is a reconstructed Ninja 250 that uses four solar panels which provide 800 watts of power.

The panels aren’t actually attached to the bike. Instead, they are left out in the sun and connected to the bike’s 4.6 kW Thundersky lithium-ion phosphate batteries for power storage. The front wheel cover and extended back keep the motorcycle upright and aerodynamic.

And the bike isn’t exactly slow— Corning’s motorcycle can go up to 70 MPH and has a range of 50 miles.

Corning currently has no plans to sell the bike, but perhaps interest in the prototype will persuade him to look into mass production.









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