# Boxy Solar Bikes The +Alpha Concept Bike Folds Up into a Set of Solar Panels By Michael Hines | Published 2011-03-25 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alpha-concept-bike References: [ecofriend](http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/alpha-unusual-concept-bike-counts-on-solar-power-for-a-green-commute/) Just when you thought you had seen it all in the world of [bicycle design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bicycle-technology), a team of Korean designers goes and creates the +Alpha concept bike. Designers Ki Seung Lee, Ho Jun Shin and Doo Youl have designed a bike that harnesses the sun's energy by folding up into a box covered in photovoltaic panels. The +Alpha concept bike is covered in photovoltaic panels on one side, which absorbs solar power during the day to help give you that extra push when biking up hills or racing down straightaways. The solar power gathered by the +Alpha concept bike can also be used to charge gadgets -- a feature which today's [eco-friendly geeks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ethunder) should find especially useful. The +Alpha concept bike is ideal for those who love to ride their bikes, but wish that the two-wheelers did a little bit more than take up space when not in use. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.3/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Solar-powered Bicycles:** The +Alpha concept bike demonstrates the potential for incorporating solar panels into bike design, creating opportunities for eco-friendly transportation. - **Eco-friendly Gadgets:** The ability of the +Alpha concept bike to charge gadgets using solar power highlights the demand for sustainable and convenient electronic devices. - **Multi-functional Bike Design:** The +Alpha concept bike's ability to fold up into a box covered in solar panels opens doors for innovative and space-saving bicycle designs. ### Who This Affects Most - **Bicycle Manufacturing:** The incorporation of solar panels into bicycles presents opportunities for bicycle manufacturers to create more sustainable and energy-efficient products. - **Renewable Energy:** The integration of solar power in the +Alpha concept bike emphasizes the potential for renewable energy sources in various industries, including transportation. - **Consumer Electronics:** The +Alpha concept bike's ability to charge gadgets using solar power highlights the growing demand for eco-friendly charging solutions in the consumer electronics industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Angular Enclosed Cargo Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-cargo-bike.md) - [Futuristic Solar-Powered E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stellar-landcraft.md) - [Solar-Powered Cargo Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solarpowered-cargo-bike.md) - [Shapeshifting Trunk-Friendly Electric Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pxid-a1.md) - [Solar-Powered Electric Motorbikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/e-clipse-2.md) - [Convertible Electric Bike Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gravity-electric-bicycle.md) - [Solar-Powered eBike Chargers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beambike.md) - [Self-Charging E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vello-bike-design.md) - [High-Performance Lightweight E-Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alpha-ii.md)