Solar-powered Cars?

July 18, 2008

Based on the response to last week’s blog, I have to say that I’m impressed by the enduring popularity of early-1980s lite metal rockers. Lately, however, whenever I’m faced with the painful prospect of refilling the gas tank of the old Saturn sedan, I find myself thinking of “A Gallon of Gas," a bluesy late-1970s ditty by the Kinks:   

It's got power-assisted overdrive and carpets on the floor,
but it's parked out front just like a dead dinosaur.
And I'll be paying off the bank for 45 years or more.
It should go 100 miles an hour,
but it's never moved away from my door.

Ever-escalating gas prices, of course, are only one part of the pain. As I’ve confessed before, according to this carbon footprint calculator, my Saturn is pumping 2.1 metric tons of C02 emissions into the atmosphere annually, making me at least somewhat responsible for the shrinking of the northern polar ice cap and other nasty impacts of global warming.

So how do we solve my — or should I say, our — problem? In a previous blog, I raised the possibility of reducing both our fuel costs and carbon emissions by switching from gasoline to cellulosic ethanol to power our vehicles. However, as a skeptical reader estimated, to meet our present fuel consumption needs, the U.S. would have to grow 584 million acres of switchgrass, which is about 150 million acres more than the total amount of cultivatable land in the nation. Oh well. Switching to gasoline-electric hybrid cars or, better yet, plug-in electric vehicles is another idea. But even that solution has a big potential pitfall. How do we generate the electricity to power the cars? According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than half our national supply comes from coal-burning plants, which have become the nation’s  biggest source of greenhouse gases.

So here’s a better idea. How about switching to solar-powered automobiles?

I’m not just talking about Toyota’s reported plan to put solar panels on the Prius hybrid to power the car’s air conditioning and electrical systems. (This isn’t a completely new idea; back in the early 1990s, another Japanese automaker, Mazda, offered an optional sunroof with imbedded solar cells , which powered fans to keep the interior cool when the car was parked.) What I mean is a true solar-powered vehicle that would cruise down the highways with  zero expenditure of fossil fuels.   

It may sound wacky, but it is possible. For decades, researchers have been tinkering with experimental solar-powered vehicles, and even racing them in events such as the American Solar Challenge. Some of the experimental vehicles look more like flying saucers than cars, but one private-sector start-up, southern California-based Solar Electrical Vehicles, actually has created a customized car, the PV Prius,  that is capable of driving on 100 percent solar power. (Granted, its solar-only range is just eight miles, but it’s a start.) Here’s a YouTube video of the car:

You may be thinking: OK, but covering your car with solar panels isn’t exactly your idea of pimping one’s ride. Not to worry. Billionaire British industrial designer-mogul Sir James Dyson, best known as the inventor of the world’s first bagless vacuum cleaner, is on the case. According to a recent article in the Independent, a U.K. newspaper, he raised the idea of using the Dyson Digital Motor, a super lightweight power plant capable of spinning faster than a Formula 1 race car engine, to power a future generation of suped-up electric cars that would be recharged from solar panels mounted on the roofs of garages.

The 61-year-old inventor also expressed his belief that the cars could overcome their current drawbacks — their short range and slow speed. "An electric car doesn't go far enough. It could do. Electric motors can do that," he said, adding that there were "fantastic opportunities" to make electric vehicles lighter.

"At the moment, electric cars are seen as city cars and to go 30 mph is quite enough, but in the future that will change. An electric motor can go to very high speeds." At present, electric cars are powered by a motor charged from a normal socket connected to the national grid. "Most of the time a car isn't being used," said Sir James, "so a photo voltaic [solar] charge over a long period of time is an absolutely suitable way of charging a car."

To be sure, some scoff at Dyson’s notion of harnessing an innovation initially developed to create a more hygienic hand dryer for restrooms and wedding it with solar power to revolutionize transportation. (One waggish blogger suggested instead using Dyson’s vacuum sweeper technology to create a more efficient sucker car.)  But I think it sounds really promising, as does the PV Prius.

So, what do you think? Should automakers try to develop solar-powered cars? Express your opinion below.

Photo: AP

Comments

[Astroboy]

How fast can those solar power cars go? I dont want one unless their really FAST.

[Solar Racer]

(AP) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Even as U.S. oil refiners scramble to increase the flow of Canadian crude from Alberta to Texas, a caravan of futuristic solar cars is racing that 2,400-mile route in reverse to show what transportation could look without a drop of oil or gas.

The sleek solar-powered sports cars competing in the North American Solar Challenge always turn heads, but with price tags that can climb well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, don't expect to see them parked in your local car dealer lot anytime soon.

"I don't think so," said Daniel Uhlord, a member of the SolarWorld 1 team from Hochschule Bochum University in Germany. "They're not quite up for the challenge of everyday life."

But solar could still play a significant role in a future transportation society less dependent on oil.

Uhlord and others envision an electric "solar assisted" car with cell-phone-like batteries that charge in the morning sun while you sip your coffee, then recharge in a parking lot while you toil away at work.

The cars racing to Canada this week are essentially electric cars — albeit super-efficient versions that tap into the power of the sun, said race director Dan Eberle.

The state-of-the-art technology found in their motors, batteries, control systems and electronics could one-day find their way into a hybrid or fully electric commuter vehicle.

"Instead of having solar panels on the car, you have a solar panel at home or a solar panel at work," Eberle said. "You drive in, plug in, charge it and then drive without carrying the solar panel along."

The North American Solar Challenge, last run in 2005, aims to promote solar and renewable technologies. The 15 race teams took off from Texas this past Sunday and are expected to arrive in Calgary on Tuesday.

SolarWorld 1, weighing in at 450 pounds at a cost of about $750,000, can cruise at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour, but racers are required to obey local traffic laws along the mostly rural route.

Each driver is escorted by a pair of pit-crew vans filled with engineers monitoring a cadre of statistics. Teams constantly work to improve the efficiency of the solar arrays, batteries, power converters and motors, but Uhlord said a solar car's most important aspect is its aerodynamics.

[Charlie]

I think this is a great idea. I'm sure that they'll gradually be able to extend the range of solar powered cars.

[Speed Racer]

The idea of using solar power for cars is great. I think the real question is whether it makes more sense to put the solar panels on the roof of the garage, or actually on the car. I think the garage makes more sense.

[Todd]

I think Dyson's concept makes the most sense. What we really need, though, are advances in battery technology so that plug-in electric cars will have a longer range between charges.

[Natural Man]

If you really want to save fuel, why not just walk?

[lawrence P. Abraham]

Eelectrical cars are definately in the future it has been prooved many times, more power, more efficent,portable batteries are progressing, solar charging with many combinations, when many manufacturers take the gamble, the new Milleneum will see prices drop, walla the Future...

[kushagra]

i have a better idea... this is my dream project and i am still working on it..

how about a car with a Dyson digital motor?? Well you might think that this is already discussed.. but my concept car has few alterations.

imagine a car with a Dyson digital motor which can be charged electrically through the car itself. My car will be provided with a electric battery, which once charged, will help in the ignition of the car and in attaining some momentum. The car will be fitted with tiny wind turbines all over it surface... as the car will gain momentum, the wind will make the turbines move and by simple laws of physics, the wind energy can be converted to the electrical energy which will run the Dyson electric motor as well as charge the battery.....

I know its just a dream but i am working on my dream to make it the future of Tranportation.....

Experts are requested to please drop in some useful tips.

[Dave Lawrence]

Wouldn't the turbines make the car more inefficient aerodynamically, thus resulting in net energy loss?

[Jerry Mathers]

The Dyson approach sounds more practical to me. Plus he has a track record as an industrial designer and inventor, so there's a good chance he'll come up with something that really will work.

[kushagra]

i am not putting the turbines in every surface of the car.... i am just incorporating the turbines on the side surface and under the grill in the front side...
thus maintaining the aerodynamic shape of the car....

i am thankful to you for your interest in my concept....

[Ike Austin]

Actually, Kushagra is onto something, though the idea isn't completely new. Mitsubishi's i MiEV Sport Concept Electric Car has a wind turbine in the grill to generate electricity, in addition to a solar panel on the roof. http://www.fashionfunky.com/2007/09/mitsubishi_i_miev_sport_concep.php

[Mohammad Reslan]

Automakers should absolutely develop solar-powered cars because, solar power may be our only source in the future when all other sources are consumed. Solar-powered cars will be free, just pay money one time, and relax for the rest of your life. And for those who like to pimp their ride, I would like to say that a car is only for transportation and for showing off. Our planet is in distress and it needs your help.
Moreover, I'd like to say that solar energy and other free, harmless sources(wind,water...) should be used in everyday life, for electricity...In other words, we should stop using these harmful fuels(Diesel,Octane...)and start using harmless, ozone and human friendly sources as mentioned above.
Thank you for your offer to post our opinion and say what must be said.

[Hand Dryers]

Nice idea, hope to get those soon to keep our environments clean, so we can break pollution less oxygen :)

[pets carriers]

Solar powered cars?
I have to do a 1 page report on solar powered cars, so I was wondering if someone can give me some quick easy facts about solar powered cars, or a good website to research them.

[Miroslav Miskovic]

Why Would I Choose To Buy Earth4energy's Solar Power Guide?

[Used car prices]

welcome to new Solar electric car technology,Solar electric cars is new concept. Today we have seen many automaker more concentrate on Eco-friendly cars. First Solar Power Car - July 2004 marked the 20th anniversary since Greg Johanson and Joel Davidson set The First Guinness World Record for a 100% solar powered car.

[Used Cars]

Solar cars combine technology typically used in the aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive industries. The design of a solar vehicle is severely limited by the amount of energy input into the car.

[4x4 pickup trucks]

Previously unveiled at last years Geneva Show, the Blue Car is a fully-electric vehicle that comes equipped with solar panels on the rooftop. The vehicle is 3.65 meters long, 1.6 meters high and 1.72 meters wide, and features a 50kW electric motor that provides an acceleration of 0-60mph in around 6 seconds and a top speed of 80mph.

[pv]

Solar powered cars are good enough to save mother earth for its environmental friendly features. I just wish this invention would take over the whole world for the sake of every human being.

[Used Car Dealers]

Solar powered is not a new concept but the thing that does not work out with the solar powered car is that the sun is not available 24*7. A battery is required to store power. Toyota has made its first successful experiment with the Prius and to an extent it is successful.