by john.d.mcdonald

Article by Timothy Peters

The first question you may have is “What exactly is a solar powered car, anyway?” A solar powered car is essentially, an electric car. Instead of getting a charge or recharge from being plugged into an electrical outlet, the electricity needed to run the motor comes directly from solar energy panels that are attached to the car.

Solar powered cars currently use photovoltaic (PV) solar energy panels that capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity.

Mostly, right now, solar powered cars are concept cars. You’ll see them in showrooms at automobile design shows where manufacturers are presenting automobiles they plan to manufacture…later. There are some, of course, that are operational. But they’re not created to run long distances, and they take a lot of sunlight to operate.

The photovoltaic panels that are used to operate these cars capture the sun’s ray and convert it into enough electricity to run the electric motor that powers the car. Any additional electrical power is directed to a battery for storage. Most of the solar powered cars built today are used for racing. They are very lightweight and have small cockpits with just enough room for the driver. The solar energy panels that are built for these cars cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And…they can only run for very short distances.

So…in answer to the question “Is a solar powered car effective?”…I think you would have to say, “In very limited application for now.”

As the technology evolves, however, solar powered cars hold a promise of helping us reduce or eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels, together with carbon dioxide discharge that is leaving such an adverse environmental imprint. There are actually new technologies that allow solar energy cells to be placed in paint. Soon…that could mean the paint on your automobile can generate and collect enough energy to run your car.

Coal burning power plants in the United States emit 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. Vehicles in the United States contribute 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide. If we are to truly have an impact on reducing global warming, we need to take a long, hard look at all of our energy consumption, including our vehicles. With only 4% of the world’s population, we’re the world’s biggest polluter. Does that stink… or what?

To resist further legislation or incentives that would really produce tangible results, automobile and fossil fuel energy industries have lobbied long and hard. This has resulted in a continuing strong market for SUV’s and other large vehicles that burn twice as much fuel and double the carbon emission. It’s also slowed the progress to create strong, solid legislation for automobile emission reduction.

The technology in the solar powered automobile holds great promise. Solar powered cars can run fast…and produce no pollution. No carbon dioxide…and no noise, as the solar panels work silently to collect and store energy.

While there are no full solar vehicles currently on the market for the average driver, SPEV, or solar powered electrical vehicles are starting to hit the market for use by the general public. Built like the concept cars and racing prototypes, they are nearly always a one person vehicle capable of short commutes or short distance driving before they need to be plugged in for recharging. One SPEV, however, that’s showing promise is the solar-powered five-door Blue Car hatchback. Being produced in Europe, the ad for this vehicle 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.”

Toyota is edging into the market as well, although it is still in the hybrid market. It’s 2010 Toyota Prius, however, has an optional solar roof that can add power for a vehicle for approximately 20 miles. Maybe not a gigantic leap for mankind…but at least one small step.

Solar powered vehicles offer a multitude of advantages. Among them:

* No oil changes

* No tune-ups

* No emission checks

* NO fossil fuels

Solar powered vehicles create a very real potential for the world to significantly diminish their carbon footprint. Many countries are providing incentives and financial support to help automobile manufacturers move to a more sustainable, non-pollutant transportation system.

It is up to each one of us, through our purchases and our voice to our Congressional representatives, to invest in solar power. We can make a difference…one vehicle at a time.

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