Thread: Solar powered cars

I don't think cars powered by solar cells will be anytime in the near future. There are some other areas where solar cells could be of great benifit. For example, think of a solar cell powered ventilation system for a car that would exhaust the heat buildup while the vehicle is parked in the hot sunlight. That would make the air conditioner work a lot less which would save energy and make for a more comfortable car for the driver without battery drain.

I can think of other uses for solar cells in cars as well, but using them to power the car is just too ambitious, imo.

Originally Posted by knight

When I was visiting Japan a few automobile class students were test driving a solar powered car which according is more or like a conventional car except with the fact that it has to be charged for around 6 hours which is a disadvantage and I think solar powered cells would be an important component in cars in the near future.

The time allotted for recharging can be cut by having a small gas powered motor that charges as the car is driven, and by recapturing the energy used through braking.

This is an example of engineering ignoring the obvious.

Originally Posted by DianaR

The time allotted for recharging can be cut by having a small gas powered motor that charges as the car is driven, and by recapturing the energy used through braking.

This is an example of engineering ignoring the obvious.

Not really, that is basically how hybrids work.

Solar cells are not efficient. They need to constantly be kept clean. They are very fragile. The cost of placing solar panels on your car would be worth more than most cars. Typical solar panels to cover a car would cost on the order of about $15K. They would be stolen off your car before your car got stolen.