Several years ago, Art Haines had a bright idea! Why not design a car that can be powered by the sun? Haines, a mechanical designer, along with eight study-hall students from Skowhegan Area High School, developed, designed and built the two-seater prototype vehicle from scratch.
The SUNN EV, Sun Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, is a street-legal car with a large solar panel that is mounted on the hood area. The original two-speed transmission prototype measured 60 x 84 inches and was capable of reaching speeds of 25 MPH.
Once the Humer-like prototype was complete, Haines kicked his idea up a notch and designed an affordable, do-it-yourself (DIY) solar car kit that anyone from any location can purchase and build.
- Hood-mounted 85-watt solar panel
- Powered by a 10 HP DC motor
- Front and rear suspension with two shocks
- Includes large diameter wheels for lowest rolling resistance
- Fully charged batteries give range of 20 to 30 miles
- Can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour
- The kit does not include batteries
- Charge from the sun or via wall outlet
- Comes fully loaded with windshield wipers, turn signals, lights, review mirrors, horn, seat belts, parking brake and disc brakes
- Includes safety glass windshield
- All parts are pre-welded – no special tools are required
- The new design is longer and can accommodate passengers over six feet tall
- Includes manual with step-by-step instructions
The DIY car is customizable - owners are able to select the vehicle color and configuration. Models include the solar truck or the one-passenger SPIRIT 3-wheeler. It takes approximately 80 to 120 hours to assemble the vehicle and the approximate cost of the DIY kit is $5,000.
Original Article on EnergyBoom
