How Effective Are Solar Powered Cars?
First, of course is, "What is a solar power car?" In the simplest of terms, it's an electrical car, but instead of plugging in, the electricity is derived for solar energy panels that are attached directly to the top of the car.
The photovoltaic (PV) solar energy panels capture the energy and convert it into electricity.
Right now, solar powered cars aren't created for long distances, and they do require a lot of direct sunlight to operate correctly.
The solar energy panels that capture the sun's rays transfer any additional energy not needed for immediate operation into batteries in the vehicle.
There, the electrical power is stored for later use.
With our current technology, the batteries can only store a small amount of additional electricity, and simply aren't powerful enough to run a vehicle for anything other than a short distance.
So...
the short answer to "How effective are solar powered cars?"...
right now is "Not effective enough.
" As technology evolves, however, solar powered cars hold one of the best answers to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, as well as the size of our environmental footprint.
Vehicles are the second largest source of greenhouse gas, falling just behind coal-burning power plants.
The biggest contributor, in both arenas, is the United States.
The United States contributes 1.
5 billion tons of CO2 annually through automobile engines, and 2.
5 billion tons through coal-burning power plants.
The United States, being the biggest offender, with only 4% of the world's population, isn't viewed as the environment's strong defender.
Despite having the technology to make significant change, and to make a real contribution to the solution, there has been little forward progress.
Automobile and energy industries have lobbied long and hard to resist further legislation or incentives that would really produce tangible results.
As a result, gas-hogging SUV's and other large vehicles still maintain a strong hold on the American market.
Solar power cars in the United States are currently developed nearly exclusively for race cars.
The cockpits are deliberately kept small, and the vehicles light.
The solar energy panels that are used on these cars costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Their technology, however, clearly shows their capability...
they can run fast and produce absolutely no pollution.
This includes no noise pollution as the panels work silently in collecting and storing energy.
Globally, in the last few years, there have been a few solar power cars built that are for use by the general public.
These cars are generally what's called a SPEV, or solar powered electrical vehicle.
Most are small, one person vehicles suitable for short commutes - back and forth to work or to the grocery store.
One notable advance, however, is in the solar powered five-door Blue Car hatchback, which is a fully electric vehicle with solar panels being produced in Europe.
The ad in inhabitat.
com states: "The solar panels on the vehicle's roof provides some power to the vehicle's systems.
It comes with regenerative brakes and a Lithium Metal Polymer batteries, and has a range of 155 miles per charge.
According to the manufacturer, all the materials in the construction have been sourced to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
" Similarly, the Toyota Prius, an electric hybrid car, has added an optional solar roof that can add power for a vehicle for approximately 20 miles.
While this may seem a very small contribution, every additional solar "mile" operated makes a larger contribution to our carbon footprint.
Since solar powered cars work without burning fossil fuels, they create a very viable solution to the energy crisis.
Not to mention...
no oil changes, no tune-ups.
And...
you don't have to take them in for an emissions check...
ever.
As a country, when we decide to invest through our purchases and our voice...
and to insist that our representatives in the House and Senate invest with us...
in solar power, we diminish our carbon footprint.
Solar power cars can...
and will become...
more effective and more economical as we support the technology, and insist on research and development to further their development.
The photovoltaic (PV) solar energy panels capture the energy and convert it into electricity.
Right now, solar powered cars aren't created for long distances, and they do require a lot of direct sunlight to operate correctly.
The solar energy panels that capture the sun's rays transfer any additional energy not needed for immediate operation into batteries in the vehicle.
There, the electrical power is stored for later use.
With our current technology, the batteries can only store a small amount of additional electricity, and simply aren't powerful enough to run a vehicle for anything other than a short distance.
So...
the short answer to "How effective are solar powered cars?"...
right now is "Not effective enough.
" As technology evolves, however, solar powered cars hold one of the best answers to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, as well as the size of our environmental footprint.
Vehicles are the second largest source of greenhouse gas, falling just behind coal-burning power plants.
The biggest contributor, in both arenas, is the United States.
The United States contributes 1.
5 billion tons of CO2 annually through automobile engines, and 2.
5 billion tons through coal-burning power plants.
The United States, being the biggest offender, with only 4% of the world's population, isn't viewed as the environment's strong defender.
Despite having the technology to make significant change, and to make a real contribution to the solution, there has been little forward progress.
Automobile and energy industries have lobbied long and hard to resist further legislation or incentives that would really produce tangible results.
As a result, gas-hogging SUV's and other large vehicles still maintain a strong hold on the American market.
Solar power cars in the United States are currently developed nearly exclusively for race cars.
The cockpits are deliberately kept small, and the vehicles light.
The solar energy panels that are used on these cars costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Their technology, however, clearly shows their capability...
they can run fast and produce absolutely no pollution.
This includes no noise pollution as the panels work silently in collecting and storing energy.
Globally, in the last few years, there have been a few solar power cars built that are for use by the general public.
These cars are generally what's called a SPEV, or solar powered electrical vehicle.
Most are small, one person vehicles suitable for short commutes - back and forth to work or to the grocery store.
One notable advance, however, is in the solar powered five-door Blue Car hatchback, which is a fully electric vehicle with solar panels being produced in Europe.
The ad in inhabitat.
com states: "The solar panels on the vehicle's roof provides some power to the vehicle's systems.
It comes with regenerative brakes and a Lithium Metal Polymer batteries, and has a range of 155 miles per charge.
According to the manufacturer, all the materials in the construction have been sourced to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
" Similarly, the Toyota Prius, an electric hybrid car, has added an optional solar roof that can add power for a vehicle for approximately 20 miles.
While this may seem a very small contribution, every additional solar "mile" operated makes a larger contribution to our carbon footprint.
Since solar powered cars work without burning fossil fuels, they create a very viable solution to the energy crisis.
Not to mention...
no oil changes, no tune-ups.
And...
you don't have to take them in for an emissions check...
ever.
As a country, when we decide to invest through our purchases and our voice...
and to insist that our representatives in the House and Senate invest with us...
in solar power, we diminish our carbon footprint.
Solar power cars can...
and will become...
more effective and more economical as we support the technology, and insist on research and development to further their development.
Source...