The SMA Sunny Island 5048 US is frequently specified for AC Coupled and Off Grid projects, but most installers don’t realize just how flexible it is as the center of a battery-based system. With more that 20 years of deployment, starting in rural Africa, the SI 5048 US recently appeared again when Lightning Motorcycles successfully attempted to establish an electric land speed record recently in the Mojave desert.
©SMA and Lightning Motorcycles
Not only did the Lightning crew push the record beyond the mark of 189 mph, but they did it with solar power, using a custom version of the DC Solar Solutions Eclipse mobile power trailer outfitted with two of the SMA battery based inverters.
©SMA and Lightning Motorcycles
Matt Marx, of SMA noted, “The gas powered vehicles’ deafening blasts down the track were contrasted by the Lightning Motorcycles SuperBike, which made a profound statement with its sheer lack of sound. Blink and you might miss it."
The 48 kilowatt-hour battery bank on the DC Solar Solutions trailer is based on their SC 20 Model Trailer. The SMA 5048 US Inverters can process 14 kilowatts of solar power from Sunny Boy inverters and can produce 8 kilowatts of uninterrupted power from their battery bank, even in 113 degree desert heat.
Explaining the decision to power the record attempt with PV, Lightning CEO Richard Hatfield said, "Solar is a viable source of sustainable energy that allows us to power our superbikes for the race without a carbon footprint. The primary goal of the electric superbike is to win races, but we are certainly aware of the need to make fundamental changes within the transportation industry. Utilizing solar power is an opportunity for us to demonstrate the viability of clean power generation and to show how the technology can be applied to the transportation industry."
Comments
I found a great video of this motorcycle in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr9Z6iJLO68&list=UULpKdGd_bgr2s5cwexaNHQw&index=6