Student engineers from Mines Paris – PSL conquer solar mobility with the Vhélio

Ecological transition Education Brief

Published on 4 December 2024

As part of the MIG Solaire program, 17 students from Mines Paris – PSL set themselves an ambitious challenge: to build a Vhéliotech, an open-source electrically-assisted solar vehicle, in just two days. Take a timelapse look at their adventure, and immerse yourself in an innovative project at the heart of the energy transition.

A collaborative workshop on sustainable mobility

On November 20 and 21, engineering students in the civil engineering program at Mines Paris – PSL not only honed their technical skills in the workshop, but also tested and strengthened their team spirit through an innovative project: the assembly of a Vhéliotech, a low-tech, open-source electrically-assisted vehicle. The workshop took place as part of the MIG Solaire, an educational project combining engineering, renewable energy and reflection on the decarbonization of mobility in the Sophia Antipolis technology park.

Supervised by workshop leader Francis Fournier and teacher Philippe Blanc, the students worked together in three parallel sub-workshops (structure, cycle, electrical). Together, they took up the challenge of building an operational vehicle in record time. The result: a Vhéliotech ready to take on the hilly roads of Sophia Antipolis for full-scale testing.

Vhéliotech: a low-tech, eco-friendly vehicle

The Vhéliotech is more than just an electric vehicle: it’s an innovative and accessible mobility solution. Designed to be self-built from freely available plans, this solar-powered bicycle is a perfect example of low-tech. Ergonomic, durable and economical, it represents an alternative to conventional means of transport, suitable for everyday travel, with an impressive load capacity of up to 200 kg.

Thanks to its electric assistance powered by photovoltaic panels, the Vhéliotech fits perfectly into an energy transition approach, particularly in sunny areas like the Côte d’Azur.

Practical, multidisciplinary learning

In addition to building the vehicle, the students will model the Vhéliotech’s energy performance. They will analyze incoming solar power and mechanical consumption, while exploring the impact of such an innovation within the framework of the CASA 2040 project, an initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions from mobility in the Sophia Antipolis conurbation. The students are also investigating the role of solar energy in the CASA mobility transition. These include the identification and sizing of photovoltaic shading systems associated with charging stations, with or without storage capacity. Students are also working on setting up an online tool for optimizing electric (and potentially solar) mobility routes, taking into account needs (gradient) and energy input (solar) along possible routes.

The Vhéliotech project demonstrates that with simple tools, rigorous organization and a sustainable vision, it is possible to design concrete solutions for more environmentally-friendly mobility. It’s a great success that testifies to Mines Paris – PSL’s commitment to engineering for the ecological transition.

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