Posted on 05/14/2021 3:21:30 AM PDT by sodpoodle
Every year, more people in the United States purchase electric vehicles. While electric vehicles can be charged at home or at many charging locations, many people wonder why these electric cars don’t have solar panels. The following guide explores some of the main reasons that electric vehicles don’t have solar panels on the roof.
Solar panels work by converting energy from the sun into electric power. Modern solar panels are very efficient, with many capable of turning more than 60 percent of the sun’s power into electricity. However, they still have some significant limitations.
On average, a 10 square foot solar panel can generate approximately 50 watts with direct sunlight. This is the equivalent of a single lightbulb. Since most cars only have 10 to 25 square feet of space on their roof, the maximum amount of power they can generate is 50 to 150 watts.
(Excerpt) Read more at solyndra.com ...
Because they don’t generate enough power. You would have to leave your car out in the sun for a day in order to drive 10 miles.
Toyota did it on a few Prius models...ran a ventilation fan in hot weather to keep the inside of the car cooler.
https://www.techradar.com/news/hyundais-new-electric-car-has-a-solar-panel-roof-and-the-ability-to-charge-other-evs#:~:text=Car%20Tech-,Hyundai‘s%20new%20electric%20car%20has%20a%20solar,and%20can%20charge%20other%20EVs&text=The%20Hyundai%20Ioniq%205%20has,solar%20panels%20on%20its%20roof.
Why doesn’t Jao Biden wear a beanie cap with a spinner on it to get around instead of AF1?
There is one application where they do work, and I’ve seen them.
Golf “cars” used on military bases and industrial properties where maintenance people need to drive out a few miles at most, then park for a few hours while working on something.
The golf “car” is big enough to carry the tools, and the entire top is covered with a “surry” kind of roof from front to back that’s covered in panels.
It’s still probably cheaper just to run a gas engine, or return the golf “car” to a 12V charger, but I have seen these panel covered carts around.
“...ran a ventilation fan in hot weather to keep the inside of the car cooler.”
Going back to the past B4 AC...hand crank all the windows down and go 60 mph...and the hand choke inside...you know...the thing.
Solar panels on riding mowers might be a good idea though. Most people cut the grass when it’s warm and sunny.
Yup...that would work. But they are not nearly as heavy as a car. The weight of the car is the issue.
Consider the panels that power the space station—and they get pure sunshine most of the day. Some day when we can build stronger batteries, more efficient panels, and lighter materials we will have solar cars. But functional systems for the average person are probably decades away..
How about a Mr. Fusion power unit as used on the DeLorean in “Back to the Future II”? Should supply enough power to propel the vehicle up to 88 miles per hour....
“...‘Thank You’ note from Al Gore.”
Since he invented the internet, it might be an email.
Why don’t they have solar panels under the car?
Flux capacitor
Two batteries. A generator charges one while the other is being used. Just a thought.
And hey... What about a wind generator on the hood?
Hmmm...
Most commercial solar panels deliver less than 20% efficiency.
In fact, because of basic laws of physics, almost all current solar panels have a maximum efficiency that is less than 30%.
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