by Johnson
Automotive Engineer Josef Memmel is not only an expat and businessman but above all he is a visionary who is passionate about Electric Vehicles and the environment. He has designed quite a few electric bikes, some of which have solar roof. The vehicles with Solar roof do not need to be manually plugged in to be charged. His own bike has never been manually charged till date.
Having previously lived and worked in India and China, and he finally moved to Phuket in December 2012 where he formed the company Conasiam Co Ltd, under which he operates Phuket Green Bike, an importer and seller of electric bicycles, scooters and three-wheelers with a small showroom located on Sai Yuan Rd in Rawai. He started business as a dealer of electric bikes, after that going solar was the natural next step.
His initial, fully functional prototype is a three-wheel electric scooter that’s already been proven roadworthy; Josef’s already driven it between Rawai and Phuket Town on a number of occasions.
His initial, fully functional prototype is a three-wheel electric scooter that’s already been proven roadworthy; Josef’s already driven it between Rawai and Phuket Town on a number of occasions.
Automotive Engineer Josef Memmel at his Phuket Green Bike Dealership
Josef explains that a solar vehicle is simply an electric bike that doesn’t need to be plugged in – though has the option to do so, on a cloudy day for instance. Unlike a normal electric vehicle, which needs to be plugged into the grid to charge, a solar vehicle gets it charge from a photovoltaic (PV) panel. Josef’s primary prototype uses a 180 Watt (24 volts) monocrystaline panel to charge a 20 Ah (48V) lead acid battery back, which supplies power for the vehicle’s 500W (48V) motor.
He didn't have to plug her in yet, it gets enough charge just from driving around and parking it in the sun.
He drove to the golf course one day, and after a few hours of golf, it was fully charged again to come home!
He didn't have to plug her in yet, it gets enough charge just from driving around and parking it in the sun.
He drove to the golf course one day, and after a few hours of golf, it was fully charged again to come home!
This bike has not only backrest but armrest and also carrier to carry stuff.
No Need to Register Slow Vehicles with Transport Office
The bike has a range of up to 40 kilometers per full charge and a top speed of about 30 kilometers per hour, which technically means it doesn’t need to be registered with the Land Transport office.
This is true in most countries where vehicles with low speed (speed similar to cycles) do not need to be registered with the Transport Office. Such vehicles are very useful for carrying heavy load that are difficult for cycles and travelling longer easily. There is no expense of travelling. The bike combines the cost advantages of using a cycle and the advantages of using a bike.
The bike has a range of up to 40 kilometers per full charge and a top speed of about 30 kilometers per hour, which technically means it doesn’t need to be registered with the Land Transport office.
This is true in most countries where vehicles with low speed (speed similar to cycles) do not need to be registered with the Transport Office. Such vehicles are very useful for carrying heavy load that are difficult for cycles and travelling longer easily. There is no expense of travelling. The bike combines the cost advantages of using a cycle and the advantages of using a bike.
Continuously charging Trike... no need to plug in to charge... just leave it in the sun to charge... the solar panels provide shade not only for the rider but also for the vehicle when parked... good for battery life too!!!
He used lead-acid batteries with the prototypes, and plans to design future models with lithium batteries. As generally lithium batteries are half the weight of lead acid, but can last twice as long. They also cost about twice as much.
As for his other prototypes, one is a two-wheel dual pedal and motor powered bike, and the other is a pedal and motor trike. As they are much smaller, it is only practical to use smaller panels – 40 and 55W, respectively. Their battery packs are also smaller – about 12Ah.
As for his other prototypes, one is a two-wheel dual pedal and motor powered bike, and the other is a pedal and motor trike. As they are much smaller, it is only practical to use smaller panels – 40 and 55W, respectively. Their battery packs are also smaller – about 12Ah.
Closeup view of the solar panels!
The [smaller solar prototype] bikes normally have a range of about 35 to 40km, but the solar panels can increase the range by about 50 per cent.
While Josef did not design his prototypes with the immediate aim of sale, he can and will tailor design and convert a solar bike or scooter for anyone that is interested – just drop by his shop or give him a call. He even has a website www.phuketgreenbike.com
While Josef did not design his prototypes with the immediate aim of sale, he can and will tailor design and convert a solar bike or scooter for anyone that is interested – just drop by his shop or give him a call. He even has a website www.phuketgreenbike.com
Josef Memmel demonstrating one of the tikes
With Electric Bikes the only maintenance you need is tyres, brakes and lights. There is no gear box, no motor and no chain drive. The life of the batteries is finite but they do come with a warranty; details of which are outlined on the Phuket Green Bike website.
For those interested in a more conventional size and design like a gasoline scooter, Phuket Green Bike will soon have one in stock. Looking very much like a Honda PCX and sharing a similar price tag, Memmel reports that, “It has the ability to go 100km per hour and you can go 100 to 120km before recharging... It will take five to six hours to recharge.”
For those interested in a more conventional size and design like a gasoline scooter, Phuket Green Bike will soon have one in stock. Looking very much like a Honda PCX and sharing a similar price tag, Memmel reports that, “It has the ability to go 100km per hour and you can go 100 to 120km before recharging... It will take five to six hours to recharge.”
The Honda PCX Bike!
Josef has a vision to collaborate with like-minded individuals in the public and private sector to build solar powered charging stations across the island – at shopping centers, bars, restaurants, golf courses and at the beaches, but of course, “It will take time.”
He says the Thai market is still in its infancy. In China, electric bikes and solar power are everywhere now... it is rare to see a gas-powered scooter there. And he is confident that Thailand will change soon, as people become more aware of the existing technology and as the technology continues to improve.
He says the Thai market is still in its infancy. In China, electric bikes and solar power are everywhere now... it is rare to see a gas-powered scooter there. And he is confident that Thailand will change soon, as people become more aware of the existing technology and as the technology continues to improve.
People like Josef – who have the knowledge, experience and above all the vision and passion (the vision and passion are most important as there are millions who pass out of engineering colleges with knowledge but opt to settle down in mundane jobs… and go through life without engineering a single product in their lifetime…. but it’s the VISION and PASSION that counts)!
It's people like Josef who will help make the world a better place!
This proves my previous blogs about Trikes with Solar Roof make great vehicles.
It's people like Josef who will help make the world a better place!
This proves my previous blogs about Trikes with Solar Roof make great vehicles.
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