Electric cars with Solar panel roofs

[glennmid101]

One thing I have always wondered with electric cars, is that,as a good idea, would be sensible, to have solar panels on the roof, of the car.

if you think about it, most cars, are left idle for hours on end, so in that time, it would be good for the solar panels to recharge the battery.

Most car roofs, are of a good size, but i also appreciate, to recharge a battery, we are talking a long time.

Another thought also, is that once a car battery has been recharged, a device could be created to transfer any excess electricity back into the national grid. I appreciate one car by itself isnt any good, but if you have hundreds of thousands of cars, generating electricity, at any one time, it could make a difference.

Yes, it may not be ideal for us in the UK, but im sure in the iberian peninsula, africa or southern parts of the americas, it is more feasible.

[Indizine]

Moved to timeout - not a business topic.

The Toyota Prius Spirit range does have a solar power roof that generates an internal fan to cool the car on hot days.

The battery in this car is powered within minutes so that the car runs on the battery not on fuel for a small amount of time.

I had the Prius for a test drive for 3 days this week - highly recommended!

[AccountingBasics]

We own a G-Wiz electric car and also run the G-Wiz owners club.

One thing that we are trying to arrange at the moment is getting solar panels fixed to the car. Solar panels will have 2 advantages the first is to recharge the car and the second is to keep the batteries warm especially in the UK in winter. The main problem with the project is the cost to instal them. We are trying to get a few people interested to make the project worth while.

There are projects for car-to-grid technology. At the moment electric cars here in the UK are a fairly new thing and installing the technology would cost more than you would get back. One of the first new electric cars which is going to be introduced is going to be from Reva who build the G-Wiz. The car is much improved and larger.

The government will be running a higher feed in tariff to the national grid from next year and with the cash incentives to buy an electric car in 2011 this may be a thing of the future.

Angela

[Paul Norman]

I am not convinced that solar power could ever power a car alone. However, the idea is worth getting the engineers to do some sums on!

I suspect electricity as such is not the future of the car, but love the idea of hydrogen power, as being researched by Honda.

That is a potentially practical solution, giving big ranges on the car, which are essential.

Or, alternatively, make the use of public transport viable, because ultimately that is a major benefit not only environmentally, but also in terms of decluttering the roads and city centres.

[AccountingBasics]

The solar panel on the car is for extending the range just by a few miles or warming the batteries which will also extend the range and extend the life of the batteries especially in the winter months.

There are some solar cars, but these are designed as solar cars, which are very light.

Where we live we have no choice for public transport, if it was viable then we may use it, but for a lot of people if public transport is improved and a reasonable cost it would get used by more people. I think the problem is we have got used to the convience of jumping in our cars and driving to where we want.

[Paul Norman]

I love convenience of my car. I am a total petrol head. However, were there to be a public transport service available I would use that to, for example, get into town where parking is scarce and pricey. I would think that a bigger convenience than the car.

But....public transport is infrequent. And it is expensive. And it is unreliable.

[BITS]

I think the cost is too high and the return miniscule, I agree the future is probably hydrogen cars and don't get me started on the prius!

[HuggyBear]

Why? What's wrong with the Prius?

[Alvin]

Moved to timeout - not a business topic.

The Toyota Prius Spirit range does have a solar power roof that generates an internal fan to cool the car on hot days.

The battery in this car is powered within minutes so that the car runs on the battery not on fuel for a small amount of time.

I had the Prius for a test drive for 3 days this week - highly recommended!

Like to hear more as have heard the fuel consumption is nowhere near the claimed figures.

In fact I saw a think on top gear where the fuel consumption was worse than a BMW at high speed.?

There is also quite a premium to pay along with the cost of replacement batteries.

I believe you may need a solar panel as big as a tennis court to power a car.


Alvin

[BITS]

It's expensive
Not particularly economical
not environmentally friendly due to the batteries
it's just a gimmick
if you want to save on fuel buy a smaller economical car.