PV Gap

Annette Said:

why are manucturer not putting solar energy in the all transportation so we don't rely on gasoline?

We Answered:

Two clear reasons (for cars).

1. It is not commercially viable.
2. It is not and probably never well be technically viable.

1) Commerce.

As those posting before me rightly explain, solar cells are very expensive, and the prototype cars built by Honda to carry just one person with no luggage at speeds of upto 50mph cost over a million dollars to build.

2) Technical Limits.

A family car today uses about 30 Kilowatts of energy (the same as 15 hairdryers) and needs this much to haul you and your luggage about.

As a poster above has pointed out, solar cells only convert about 20% of sunlight to electricity, but on top of that, only about 1Kw of sunlight falls on every square metre....

What this means is, with present technology, a family car would need a 150 Square Metre solar sail to supply it enough power to move, in full sunlight on a clear day. Which isnt really very practical as the roof size of a typical car is only 4-5 square metres.

The situation for boats and trains is no better.

Solar power is a good solution for things like heating water or supplying electricity to your home, but for powering cars and the like, there just isn't enough energy in the sun to make it work for the types of cars most of us drive (i.e. that carry several people and luggage). And a prototype vehicle that can do 50mph carrying one (slim) person and no luggage can only reach 40-50mph on the flat, and costs over $1,000,000 to build.

Ella Said:

construction training question?

We Answered:

Hi,
Might I suggest that you look in a copy of the Yellow Pages under Solar Panels and that should provide you with a list or pages of contractors who engage in solar panel services.

You might also look on the Internet by typing - Solar Panel Contractors in LA.

Hope this helps you.

Stella Said:

Where can I find out about "Green Energy" Jobs? Mostly in Michigan! Hiring and or training or just companies

We Answered:

There is a very good book in the library with the listings of all kinds of 'green' jobs including the energy ones you are looking for....

Title : Green at work : finding a business career that works for the environment

... Environmental protection Vocational guidance ... Green at work : finding a business career that works for the ...

Author : Cohn, Susan, 1959-
Publisher, Date : Washington, D.C. : Island Press, c1995. - Edition : Rev. and expanded ed.
ISBN : 1559633336 (recycled, acid-free paper) - Description : xvii, 427 p. ; 24 cm.
Call Number : 650.14 COH

good luck!

Helen Said:

Is the invention of a solar powered train possible?

We Answered:

Any thing that has an electric motor requires a large amount of electricity to operate.The size of the panels required to create the amount of power necessary to propel the train ,would dwarf the train . The only solution ,at this time, is a conventional electric railway , with solar ,and wind turbines feeding the grid.. In the 50's scientists were proposing a nuclear powered locomotive . Does that idea warrant a second look?