Could a "Car" be powered completely by Solar energy?

Question

Consider this if a car's outer skin was made of a solar collecting surface and shaped to make the maximum use of solar energy why couldn't it be powered by solar energy.
Also while parked, charging it's solar batterys?
Perhaps an additonal intial source for starting could be used

Answer 1

For the past 20 years, there's been a thing called the "World Solar Challenge" in Australia.

Open to all comers, the Race leaves Darwin in October of each year and travels 3000 km. through the dry heart of Australia, via Alice Springs, to the southern city of Adelaide. This is where vehicle manufacturers, Solar cell technicians and University co-operative research centres come together to really push the limits of the technology. OK, most of them look like they've flown out of the pages of a SF comic, but they work!

It's kinda like if a car manufacturer comes up with a brilliant new idea, they try it out on the Formula One circuit first. If the idea is viable after the harsh proving ground which is the formula one circuit, then the manufacturers of out city cars adopt it into their designs. The same is being tried with the WSC but to a much lesser extent. A possibe viable future vehicle may be there this year...who knows?

Check out the website below. It'll answer all your questions about solar powered vehicles.

Love and Light,

Jarrah

Answer 2

It's been done for demo purposes. I remember seeing a competition of college teams to see who could make the best performing solar car. The bad news is that these are more like bicyles with a shreamlined shell to reduce drag. These are not ready for prime time and even if they were they'd only work where there's very strong sunlight and then only during the day.

Answer 3

Hell YES! they already developed it in the Philippines

click the link
www.unpluggedliving.com/the-philippines-gets-first-solar-powered-car

Answer 4

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