SAMPLE STRUCTURAL SOLUTION FOR A CITY TRICYCLE WITH AN ADDITIONAL SOLAR DRIVE

The everyday use of the bicycle is becoming increasingly common. People noticed the need to take care of both their health and the environment. The geographical location of Poland encourages cycling, which is the reason new kilometres of cycling routes are being built every year. This is associated with the rising interest in buying a bicycle. A conceptual tricycle with an additional electric drive powered by solar panels is presented in this article. The photovoltaic panel is installed on the basket roof. The electric motor may be used during an uphill ride and when the driver has run out of energy for pedalling. In the crank mechanism, there is a sensor which starts the motor when a small foot pressing force on the pedal is detected. The tricycle has an all-purpose structure, owing to which the seat mounted in the basket can be easily replaced with a double seat, a shopping bin or a child's safety seat. The tricycle may be used by both private persons and companies involved in tourist transport. The cost of the structural details of the tricycle suggested in this article does vary considerably from standard electric bikes, however, that solution has several important advantages, which may be decisive in the purchase of this solution.