third assignment
Cargo bike project
The cargo bike has an electric-assist feature: a battery that provides additional power to move the bike. The electric-assist does not make the bike like an electric scooter. The assist can't make the bike move by itself, it can only add some extra oomph when the rider is peddling.
One of the original goals of the cargo bike project was to use solar power to charge the battery for the electric assist function of the bike.
The components of the charging system for the battery are:
- Solar panel
- here's a 180 watt panel
- here's a 100 watt option
- Ben: I think if we can, we should go for the most wattage available. Having said that, if cost is a major factor, the 100-watt option would be doable. It's not like we're charging a car, here. We don't need much power, but it would be nice.
- Charger
For reference, here's the
battery used in the e-assist system.
- 36 V
- 9 Amp•hr
- 500-750 watts, peak
After selecting the components of the charging system, the next steps are to decide:
- Location of the panel and charger
test test test
- Kitchen/dining hall roof?
Spencer: I emailed Ben to begin a dialogue of where we should locate the panel and/or bicycle.
-My feeling is that this is not a great location and could serve more functions by being mounted on the roof of the OP. I could see, in the future, the OP converting some of it's equipment (trail grooming machines, mowers, snowblower, etc) to electric.
People to contact for discussion
- Randy Knaggs (solar panel on roof, charger in OP building?)
- Ben Newcomb (charger in loading bay?)
- KP (installing & wiring of panel & charger)
- Dan M
- We will need an inverter, a charger, and a mounting system,. Due to there being different types of inverters the one we get will have to be an inverter for charging batteries rather than for linking into building's general electricity (unless the college was willing to pay more money and was also willing and able to link put more electricity back into the grid). The company that cells the bike most likely also sells chargers. We will need an asphalt shingle mount system that could range from $15-$40 (maybe more or less depending on the size of the panel etc.,) and it might be helpful to put the panel near the edge of a roof so to make grounding it easier.
- William E./Standing Building Committee (SBC) - (need SBC approval to install panel?)
- Dan Cotter (heads-up that the above conversations are taking place)
- Hailey
- Dan Cotter offered to come in and talk through the benefits/hindrances of our possible locations if that would be helpful.
- My own two-cents about location: I'd say the OP roof seems to get the most sun and would be a safe space to store the charger. In addition, and in theory, the OP could use any excess energy to power some other small device in the building. This not only helps to tangibly show the multifunctional benefits of solar power, but is practical. All these points may also be true of the dining hall, making it another good location, but placement in the building and a safe place for the charger might be harder to find.
