Toyota to test solar panels for electric cars

Tech.Xplore.com ^ | July 6, 2019 | Nancy Cohen

[norwaypinesavage]

This article was clearly written by someone who just doesn't have a clue. The available area for placement of solar cells is trivial in comparison for the amount needed to be significant. For starters, note that solar panels that actually produce significant power, all are pointed toward the sun, the ones placed on cars are not. On cars, the solar cells don't even produce enough energy to air condition the car to make up for the 80% of the solar energy that turns to heat, not electricity. (Solar cells can only capture around 20% of the radiating solar energy. This is limited by physics, not ingenuity.)

If you really wanted to capture solar energy to power your car, you would put them on the roof of your garage, not your car. There is far more area of capture there, but you can also make it point the right direction. It also doesn't have the susceptibility to rocks, birds, and the dirt often found covering cars.

[moovova]

"You don't understand! I coulda had class! I coulda been a contender! I coulda been somebody.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Why not wind-up cars ,LOL"

PLEASE...don't give'em ideas.

[lowbridge]

You’re supposed to be the expert on those things. Why do you think we keep you around? ;-)

[central_va]

Cars are getting ridiculously complex.