Solar Powered Cars

How practical are solar powered cars? Solar energy is a renewable resource even though we only have a window of time when we can collect it. Also, this energy doesn’t pollute the air, and it’s a versatile way to heat water, dry clothes and power different technologies. Below are some facts on solar powered cars that might surprise you. Solar cars use photovoltaic cells (PVC), which are in solar panels. PVC enables the panels to convert the sun’s energy into electricity that we can use. However, solar technology is expensive, and some solar panels can cost up to $400 each. The reason why some panels are more expensive than others is because the price is dependent on how fast the panel can capture and convert the energy. Solar powered cars that are used for racing can go faster than 60 miles per hour, but their panels cover the car’s body and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 2006, the Venturi Eclectic was presented at the Paris Auto Show. This car uses solar and wind energy, but it can only travel up to 30 miles per hour. Prototypes such as this are not practical for the common driver, because they cannot travel on the highway.

The 'Prius' is Latin for '(to go...) before'. Quite fittingly it heralds a new era of hip cars which have moved away from Henry Ford's vision. Today, they are petrol powered environmental ogres. Necessary 'evils', for cars have been the harbingers of human advancement by taking the wheel much forward. They may be Hollywood's latest fad...Leonardo DiCaprio owns one, but they also are truly one of the most practical environmentally cars on the roads today. The 2008 Prius was tagged as the best fuel efficient car in The United States by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Prius is what is called an electric hybrid. More technically looked at as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle). It is powered by an internal combustion engine (1.5L) as all gasoline driven cars are. In synergy with this engine are various other technologies based around an electric motor running on NiMH batteries. The computer program used in the Prius monitors and controls fuel consumption by using the engine, electric motor, or both to power the car and recharge the battery. The working together of two disparate units leads to greater fuel efficiency. The 2008 Prius gives 48 miles per US gallon in city driving, 45 miles per US gallon on highways. With over one million units sold by mid 2008, Toyota says that the Prius owners have stopped 4.5 million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. That’s 535,500,000 gallons of fuel or at current prices $2.01 Billion Dollars saved. Even without Leo's endorsement, the Prius should be on every green minded guy's Christmas list.

With the school year winding down, parents look ahead to plenty of hot summer days out on the road with the kids in the car. Just how hot those days can be may not hit you until you open the door of a car that's been baking for hours in a parking lot. The fun really starts when the little ones have to get in. Here is where your new solar powered car gadet comes into play. In these fuel-conscious times, when consumers may think twice before cranking the AC, one alternative is a solar powered car ventilator. Susita makes a model called the TO-230. It's basically a small fan weighing 1-1/2 pounds that goes on top of a car window, with a solar panel facing outward. The solar panel, which is 5 inches by 4.5 inches, powers the fan, which exchanges hot air inside the car for the presumably cooler air outside. If you park in the shade and want to use the fan, there's a plug-in adapter for the car. One retail Web site says the fan can reduce your parked car's interior temperature by 25 degrees, though that's not much solace considering another Web site cited 160 to 180 degree temps inside a parked car on a sunny day. Pricing varies online. Digital Kitchen lists the fan for $34.95 in its "Dads & Grads" sale, down from $49.95. Carol Wright gifts carries solar fans for $29.99. AmeriMark listed them for $14.99. Or try your luck bidding on eBay.

The car companies are taking their sweet time to come up with alternative fuel vehicles that are affordable for the general public. We've covered this previously - DIY - Convert Your car to use Hydrogen Today , and now we bring you the story of Art Haines, who has taken it upon himself with his students to build the solar powered car for the average Joe. He's now offering the solar powered car kit that gives everyone a chance to live the dream of driving for free, causing no pollution. The movie below shows the solar Neighborhood Electric Vehicle prototype. You can build your own car that can be driven on roads with a speed limit of less than 35 MPH (in states that have a low speed vehicle law). The car is recharged from the sun or can be plugged in. It has a top speed of 25 MPH and a range of 12 miles. It is street legal: windshield wiper, disc brakes, seat belts, turn signals and lights. It can also be use to get around campgrounds and gated communities. This solar powered car kit will enable you to build your own street legal Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (Low Speed Vehicle). No special tools are required. The manual has exploded view drawings and step by step instructions. Telephone and email support is available during business hours. They are now taking orders for these cars to be delivered in the spring. A small deposit will reserve your kit. The car was built using surplus and new parts, aluminum extrusions, styrofoam, wood and ABS plastic. It is very lightweight, can be 100 percent charged by the sun and suitable for the Maine climate. Mr. Haines states "We have taken trips into town (8 miles round trip) many times, and it has proven to be a practical neighborhood electric vehicle. We are now planning to build a second-generation car with many improvements such as quieter transmission, lighter weight, less wind drag and less rolling resistance. In the spring we will offer plans and kits for purchase." It's a great idea... not an idea for the big city - or at least not the highway. Hopefully I'll see one of these on the roads someday soon. You can find more information on the project at www.sunnev.com Be sure to take a look at our Top Solar Gadgets List and our review of Solar Powered Car Device keeps you Cool