PV Gap

Nancy Said:

if you put solar panels on cars, you'll be able to drive without gas in the summer and part of winter?

We Answered:

Yes.

But you won't be able to go very fast.

If you fill up the roof, hood and trunk lid of for example, a Toyota corolla, with the most efficient solar panels you can buy, you might get 2 hp in the mid day sun. That could push the car maybe 12 mph on a flat, and wouldn't get it up a hill unless it had super low gearing.

In order to go fast enough on solar power to make it worth while, you need a large area of solar panels and a super light car. Like an aluminum tube frame with a foam and fiberglass composite body, skinny, high pressure tires and a solar array 6 ft wide by 21 feet long. A car like that, with good aerodynamics and a 6 hp motor could get up to 45 mph eventually, just slowly. But it's impractical because it's not safe to drive it with other cars around.

But who says the panels have to be on the car? If you have a solar array that feeds as much power into the grid as you take out, that is essentially equal to being solar powered in all practical ways.

Even if your car can't be entirely solar powered, that don't mean you shouldn't use solar panels. You could use solar panels in any car, to supplement battery charging, taking load off the alternator, and you would see an increase in fuel economy.

There is a system on some cars that uses solar power to circulate air through the cabin when the car is sitting in the sun. This keeps the car up to 30 degrees cooler, taking a huge load off the air conditioner, so instead of pumping all that heat out, you simply vent it into the air, and there is an increase in fuel economy for a few minutes.

Every little bit counts.

Elaine Said:

y dont the goverment (or whoever) put friggin solar panels on cars and stuff to sacve energy??

We Answered:

I totally agree with you. I'd put up several questions about the government supplying and enforcing "green laws" and have gotten shot down and and razzed for my suggestions on here. The fact is, if you look around your city or town, (whatever) many people just waste, don't recycle, etc. There should be laws regarding conserving energy. Many governmets have piles of money, I think that all new homes should be built with alternative energy and anyone wanting to convert their home, car, whatever to a renewable sourse of energy should get a substantial rebate of cash. It's simple. The government seems to have other "priorities" unfortunatly, the enviroment seems to always be at the bottom of the list. Maybe they will chnge their minds when we are walking around in gas masks.