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.
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..
Yeah, but it’s sunny in Florida, sonny.