Solarpunk technology

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Technology for a Solar-Punk future.

Airships and hydroponic farms...

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Ziga's van runs on solar panels, three lawn mower motors and 8,000 laptop and power tool batteries (www.abc.net.au)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Thought of you fine folks when I came across this article on aussie.zone

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

lawnmower engines??

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It seems like he used the engines of electric "raiders" (ride-on lawnmowers, that is - small tractors). I cannot fathom why and how he used 3, but the tools in his shed suggest he can build anything. That's one impressive shed.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It sounds to me like he swapped out the original engine for those three lawnmower engines on a lark, perhaps to charge batteries that run an electric motor (kind of like diesel-electric locomotives do, although I don't believe those have batteries). Then the solar panels were added, negating the need for the lawnmower engines, which haven't been removed from the system.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

What I see on his photos are at least 2 (third one likely in reverse, where his finger is pointing) reasonably powerful electric motors on a ~~single toothed belt~~ pair of toothed belts.

image

I think there's no combustion engine left in that car. I suspect he combined them because the van wouldn't ride well with only 10 KW.