The kit, designed and sold by Perth biochemist Matthew Timmins, comes with a 36-volt lithium ion battery, a custom wheel with a built-in 200 to 500 watt motor, as well as twist and thumb throttles, a battery rack, torque bar and controller. All you need is a standard bicycle. 

“If you can change a punctured tyre on a bicycle, then you can probably install a kit with no problems”, says Timmins.

The battery can be charged through a regular power point, or, if you want to minimise your footprint even less, through a solar panel.One charge will get you around 40km on a standard 200-watt motor, at a top speed of 28km/h.

“The pedals go to the back wheel and the motor on the front. So it’s really the combination of man and machine that make it work best,” says Timmins, who practices what he preaches.

“I use it everyday, and all my friends use it. [The response] has been excellent. I’d say 95 per cent of the people are really, really happy with it and the other five per cent generally come back and want more power.”

Australian law, however, states than an electric bicycle motor must not generate more than 200 watts of power - proving problematic for Timmins’ buyers with a need for speed.“I think the laws need quite a bit of revision, really, but these things take a while to change.

“I see that people are responsible for the damage we’re doing to the Earth, and if you sort of say, ‘right, I’m not going to ride something that goes 25km an hour but I will if it’s 35’, then I think you’re actually doing a good thing.”

Solar power electric bikes aren’t the only passion of this Western Australian molecular biologist; he is also developing ways to use algae as a biofuel, and to one day power his bikes.

“I’ve got the bike solar powered and then the next step’s to get it solar hydrogen powered. And then the final physical step is to get it an algae hydrogen electric bicycle…it’s just a matter of grants, research, and finding time to put towards it.”

Conversion kit packages start at around $950, and can be purchased online at solarbike.com.au, or from a range of dealers nationwide.And, says Timmins, you won’t be disappointed.

“Everyone loves it, basically, everyone has just been telling me it’s great. It’s a good way to lose fat and it’s a good step for the planet.”

This story originally appeared in the February issue of Australian Popular Science. To subscribe to the magazine, click here. Or check out a sneak peek of our newest issue, on sale now!