2006-12-17 15:05:44 · 13 answers · asked by Jenny 4 in Environment
We need something and we need more people like you asking these questions until it becomes a reality. Buying foreign oil sucks especially from people that are evil and hate us.
2006-12-17 15:08:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because solar power cant provide anywhere near the amount of power needed for "normal" car driving. Even if we exclude the demands of driving at night or on overcast days, even driving in clear bright sunny days is not practical with solar cars.
Solar cars as they so far have been made are extremely lightweight, and also not able to drive at normal road speeds. City driving with many starts and stops will probably never be practical with only solar power. The energy demands are too great even if solar panel efficiency nears 100% and we have a long way to go to reach that.
The examples of solar cars also do not have many of the safety or comfort features that we have come to expect as part of a car, and due to the weight of these features, probably cant ever really be added to them.
2006-12-18 02:28:16 · answer #2 · answered by Dr Fred 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Running your typical car, even a small one, using only the solar energy available to an area the size of the car itself may not work with today's technology as has been described already. But indirectly cars and trucks can be powered by solar energy when you charge the batteries of an electric vehicle using solar panels. This is being done right now. That technology is available today.
The limiting factor for most electric vehicles is the range, how far you can go before you must recharge the batteries. The average is somewhere in the 40 to 75 mile range, depending on many factors including type of batteries, design and weight of the vehicle, how well the batteries are maintained, etc.
GM had a beautiful little electric car they sold in CA at one time when the state law required a percentage of all new cars sold be zero emissions vehicles. They pressured the state to rescind the law and when that happened, GM promptly rounded up all the electrics (they were all leased) and crushed them. Check out the documentary 'Who Killed The Electric Car'.
When battery technology catches up with the rest of the solar side of it, then we'll start to see major adoption of solar/electric powered vehicles.
BTW if you're into solar, you may be interested in learning how you can have solar panels for your house without investing anything. Give me buzz at bullshoalsblues@yahoo.com
2006-12-17 21:39:38 · answer #3 · answered by bullshoalsblues 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Solar alone will not be able to do it. However, By putting two electrodes in water you can make hydrogen an a car will run on hydrogen. This is something that can be made at home and put in a tank and taken with you. Fuel cells are where it is going to go. The big boys can make their money from selling you fuel and it turns in to water after it is burnt.
They just don't have it setup to where you can't make your own fuel so they are holding back. As long as the public can make their own fuel the water car will never be. It would mean they sold you a car and you would have no more use for them outside of repairs.
So it all comes down to they make millions more money then they can ever spend and all of our great grand kids die for a buck today. No more plants or birds. No more people either. Sounds worth it to make an extra buck for the man and the man can't even take it with him when he dies and his grand kids will die for what he did ..
Too funny huh..
2006-12-19 07:21:51 · answer #4 · answered by Itsme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because solar power is way too weak. Sunlight delivers a maximum of 1,366 watts per square meter, ignoring losses in the atmosphere. That is less than 2 horse power (one horse power is 735 watts) per square meter. A typical car might be 2 by 5 meters, or 10 square meters, for a total theoretical solar power of 18 horse power. That is with 100% efficient solar cells in outer space. With real solar cells on the ground you get WAY less than 18 HP. Assume 50% efficient solar cells and 50% of sunlight available on the ground, that is less that 5 horse power. Even if it was dirt cheap, would you drive such a car?
2006-12-17 15:07:12 · answer #5 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Solar powered cars is still in developing stage.
2006-12-17 22:35:52 · answer #6 · answered by kawailum91 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Solar power isn't as powerful as we'd like it to be...See above...but there are other alternatives like hydrogen fuel cells, which only produce steam. We have buses here in Australia that run like that, and they're not slow and have enough power to chug 40 odd people uphill :)
2006-12-17 16:30:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because SOLAR POWER hasn't progressed to where that's practical.
2006-12-17 15:07:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
solar powered cars are impractical for everday.
http://www.pluginamerica.com/
take a look at this site. its for plug in elecrtic cars. its pretty good.
Possum
2006-12-17 15:10:44 · answer #9 · answered by hillbilly named Possum 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
GM, Ford and Chrysler and their oil-based partners would have a monetary hissy-fit.
That and they're not as energy efficient as you would like for generating great rates of speed.
2006-12-17 15:12:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋