Awesome: Solar Powered Bicycle Boat Design Posted by ecoble under Design and Architecture, Energy and Power, Transport Technologies

Imagine a boat that coasts along almost silently and works completely on free energy. OK, well, almost free: when it is cloudy out you may have to pedal a bit to get it going. Still, you get to toss out the pricey gas costs associated with most water cruisers and relax in the sun when the weather is nice and pedal your way to shore when it isn’t.

The idea of using solar and human power to drive vehicles is nothing new but each new design that applies these principles is at least a step in the right direction - away from fossil fuels. The real key to success in these cases though is the reliability and ease of energy. Sufficient power storage is a must so that pedaling is kept to a minimum and done only in emergencies.

Perhaps the best part about these designs is that they push the boundaries of current thinking and appropriate green technologies for seemingly everyday uses. One could envision a small fleet of these replacing rent-a-boats at various tourist destinations around the world. Also, since all fuel generation is done on-board less physical infrastructure and/or fuel transportation is needed which also makes the entire concept ultimately more sustainable.