Elon Is Green With Envy! Here's How To Build Your Own DIY Solar-Powered "Cyber Truck"

Folks, the sun is one of the most readily available sources of energy on our planet, so it's no wonder we've made great strides toward manipulating the residue it gives off. That said, this next project, found on Drew Builds Stuff, is one that focuses on harnessing the sun's power to move a garage-built "car," more like a go-kart, around town at speeds of upwards of 45 kph (28 mph). Grab your toolbox and helmet for this one, folks, as it's going to be an interesting one, to say the least.

Now, the idea behind the project is rather simple: build a wheeled vehicle that works on nothing but the power of the sun. While this isn't the first time such a feat has been attempted, the way Drew handles it is rather interesting, fun, and, above all, quite educational; if you're seeking a career as an electrician or welder, that is.

I say this because the project first starts off with Drew building a makeshift frame out of steel piping. All that's then cut and welded to give us that rather square machine we have before us. Hey, it doesn't need to be complicated; it just needs to work. Oh, and don't worry; you'll see the "cyber truck" by the end, too.

Funny enough, as Drew brings this EV to life, I realized that it's more like a four-wheeling e-bike than it may be a car. First off, bits and pieces of old bicycle frames are used not only to bring the cockpit to life but also the braking mechanism. The leftover frames are then repurposed into what will eventually become the forward steering mechanism. Since there are two wheels at the front of this Frankensteinian machine, two such frames are needed.

Speaking of wheels, Drew designed this puppy to run on fat e-bike tires, and it's one of the reasons why you can hear this otherwise silent vehicle in nearly every scene of the test ride; check out the video below for a very detailed look at the whole adventure. Be sure to check out the steering mechanism at the front.

Those wheels, however, more specifically, the two at the rear, will also be housing two massive 48 V, 1,500 W motors for a total of 3,000 W of power. As mentioned, they're only good for helping this electric dune buggy-like machine reach a top speed of around 45 kph, which is more than enough for your average urban escapade, if you ask me.

As the project moves forward, things start to get a tad complicated once the electrical setup starts taking shape. I say 'complicated' simply because I'm not an electrician, and I see a whole lot of wires, cutting, and soldering going on.

What I can make a mention of is the result of Drew's design. With two 100 Ah batteries, a charge controller, and three 175 W solar panels, this project is basically complete, and with this setup, those motors receive all the power they need and will do so for 100 km (62 mi) on a full charge.

Yet, the beauty of this unit is the fact that once you've drained those two batteries, you can pull over, point your panels at the sun, and kick back for a bit. How long? Drew states that this setup takes up to ten hours for a full charge. Quite a bit of time to be sitting around, meaning that most of the driving will be done either late in the evening or the day after a recharge. Call me crazy, but you could always have another pair of batteries standing by and swap them out with the drained ones.

The question is, just how many real-world applications does this thing have? Well, as we can see, it's one very strange vehicle - Drew even goes as far as to call it a "cyber truck" in the video description, based on the framework that supports the solar panels - and to be seen rolling around busy city streets is sure to get you pulled over by the local 5-0. Yet, on closed, private, or very low-traffic roads, this puppy seems like a legitimate solution to leaving your car at home every once in a while.

The ride footage in the video also reveals that this mad machine isn't the most comfortable around, mainly because it lacks any actual suspension, all but those fat tires. Still, it looks like a very fun ride, especially on a gravel road.

Now, what I've always loved about Drew's projects is the fact that they're simple and in-depth enough to have you following along and creating your own DIY machines, the solar-powered car included. If you've been looking for one hell of a project to work on this year, this just might be it. You will, however, need around $5,000 Canadian ($3,600 American at current exchange rates) to make this puppy a real deal. Have fun out there!