DIY Solar Conversion Kits

DIY Solar Conversion Kits Forget high-priced fuel and noisy engines. Brett Belan and his wife, Kira, can set you up with solar power. As co-founders of Solarrolla, they’ve converted every type of vehicle to run on solar power, from golf carts and lawn mowers to scooters, tractors and vans. Today, the company offers conversion kits for golf carts and multi-panel solar roofs for vans. They also consult with those who prefer to do it themselves. “I converted my first golf cart to solar 17 years ago,” says Balan. “At that time, I didn’t realize its potential utility for things like powering electric tools or recharging battery-powered tools. Add an inverter, and they’re so useful.” With the solar-powered golf cart under his belt, Balan and his wife moved on to converting a VW bus to electric and powering it with solar energy. Soon, he and Kira were converting vans to electric and solar power. They started Solarrolla in Oregon in 2018. Later, they moved to northern Wisconsin to be closer to Balan’s father and brought the business with them. “We custom-engineer solar tops to fit any vehicle you can imagine,” says Balan. “Our awning systems can deliver up to 100 miles of EV range per day or serve as silent, mobile power stations.” Converting older golf carts into solar utility vehicles is a major part of the business. They handle custom projects and also convert some for sale.  They’ve also developed DIY solar top kits for common older Club Car golf carts, which Balan appreciates for their simplicity. He carries that simplicity into his tops. “We make a dedicated, semi-flexible solar panel for the golf carts,” says Balan. “It’s precisely engineered to weigh around 30 lbs.” A 300-watt solar kit starts at $1,750. Balan notes that with 5 to 6 hr. of sunlight, it can produce 1,800 watts per day. The aluminum frame supports a slightly curved solar panel designed to shed water. The kit includes a waterproof MPPT charge controller to maximize solar output, with a power-in and power-out display. A lithium battery is an option. “There are so many different types of golf carts. We’re developing adapter packages and having our own battery made so we can offer different accessories,” says Balan. “We’ll offer the top, the battery and controllers, plus inverters or other extras.” While he can’t yet claim IKEA’s ease of assembly, he believes they’re getting close to it. “We want to put control in the buyer’s hands,” says Balan. While Solarrolla continues to take on custom projects, it’s moving toward more standardized solar top systems that can be adapted to the vehicle. Balan is currently focusing on a solar top for BrightDrop 600 electric delivery vehicles. He believes the BrightDrop 600, recently discontinued by General Motors, will make an ideal solar-powered camper. “They have a 275-mile range, which is great for campers,” he says. “We’re hot and heavy into a design for them with panels that automatically pull out when you arrive at a campsite. We can put a three-panel solar top on for about $30,000.” Whether for a BrightDrop 600, a golf cart or some other vehicle, Balan is eager to discuss the project. He encourages face-to-face meetings. “People come to us and want us to do a conversion, but they don’t really know what they want,” he says. “Meeting with them is the ideal way to find out what they want and what they need. Then we can give them a quote and move forward.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Solarrolla (ph 541-603-3559; belan@solarrolla.com; www.solarrolla.com).

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