Solaris Claimed to be the World’s First Self-Charging Solar Motorcycle

Photo credit: MASK Architects
Motorcycles have a long history of transporting riders to the edge of the road and deep into the heart of nature. The Solaris takes this idea to the next level. Built by the talented team at MASK Architects, this electric bike not only carries you to off-grid destinations, but also powers up when parked – it harnesses the sun to charge the battery, converting every idle moment into an opportunity to fill up. Öznur Pınar Cer and Danilo Petta, both designers with backgrounds in architecture and engineering, created this revolutionary bike.

Give the handlebars a shove, and the Solaris will lean forward like a leopard ready to attack. MASK drew inspiration from animal forms while designing the frame, stretching the front end out long and low and using carbon fiber to keep it rigid in the back. The entire thing is kept together with a blend of aluminum and carbon composites, allowing you the agility to whip the bike around turns while still providing stability for extended distances. The swingarm is built of solid aluminum and moves smoothly even when loaded. You’ll see a digital display up top that indicates your speed, how much energy is left in the battery, and how much sun you’re getting, as well as a link to the Solaris app, which you can use to stay in touch while on the go. And at night, the LED lights running along the body make the bike stand out by contrast with the darkness.

A high-torque electric motor is hidden under the hood (or rather, within the frame) and activates when you twist the throttle. There are no gears here, only quick torque and go. Instead of releasing the energy as heat, the brakes cleverly harness it to recharge the battery. The battery is a lovely small integrated unit that is compact and sealed, and it feels a lot less clunky than you’d expect from a standard battery. As long as the sun is shining brightly, your range is effectively unlimited; however, in the real world, clouds and short days will reduce your actual distance slightly. Acceleration is swift and controlled, and it’s designed for twisting courses rather than simple fast straight shots.

Sunlight hits the bike’s secret weapon, the wings that emerge from the sides; they fold in neatly and tightly until you need them. Simply pull over, flip a switch, and they unroll in a full circle above you, like your very own personal sun cover on wheels. The panels they build are far more efficient at capturing the sun’s rays than a flat configuration, producing around half as much power. The onboard computer monitors the flow of electricity, determining what is kept for later and what the dashboard and lights require right now. When you park the Solaris under a clear sky, it automatically recharges without the need for a plug.

While you’re traveling, it just drains the battery, and all you can hear is the wind and the tires buzzing. On a lonely valley road or dusty dirt track, this allows you to ride as long as you like, not until the tank runs empty. Every component of the bike serves a purpose, and there isn’t a single useless piece of kit. The frame has been stripped down to its core essentials to minimize weight, which helps keep the entire bike stable even on tough terrain. The materials chosen are as robust as nails; they can withstand being splashed around in the rain and will not wear out in all that sunshine.

The brakes are another innovative feature; they connect to the flywheel to recapture some of the energy you’d otherwise waste, allowing you to ride for much longer without needing to stop for a juice-up. The cockpit is all about getting the basics right: how much power you’re bringing in, how much you’re consuming, and how far you can go with what you’ve got left. If you connect Solaris to an app, it can even tell you where to stop for a break depending on the weather prediction and other information.
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