Welcome to Solar Power Guide
Home Solar Power Systems Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Solar Power Cars Offer Potential
from: As gas prices skyrocket, attention is focusing on alternative sources of energy to power vehicles. One option that many are exploring involves solar power cars. Although they have their share of problems, this mode of transportation is already feasible and improvements are likely to only make the prospect more appealing to drivers.Unfortunately at the present time, solar power cars do have their share of problems. When the pros and cons of current vehicles are looked at, it is clear why they haven’t yet gone into mass production. With further research, however, it is hoped solar power cars might provide the solution to fossil fuel driven vehicles.
The Cons Of Solar Cars
Solar power cars operate using a combination of solar power and regular electricity to charge batteries. Hybrids involve both battery power and some fuel source, such as ethanol or plain gasoline. The current limitations of this type of vehicle include:
• Limited charge capacity – The solar power collection system on many solar models today lacks the capacity that drivers demand. In some cases, these vehicles can only go a few miles before their charges wear out. Hybrids do, of course, offer more mileage due to their gas burning ability, but they sacrifice the full environmental benefits that a 100 percent solar driven vehicle would bring to the table.
• Reliance on electric charging – Since the sun’s power isn’t always available for charging batteries, there is still a need to rely on regular electric to augment solar battery charging.
• Speed – There are some issues with current models of solar cars in relation to maximum speeds. These cars, although street legal in most designs, cannot generally reach speeds of over 40 miles per hour. This does tend to hamper the desirability of the design.
The Advantages Of Solar Cars
While few people deny a need for further research and major improvements in regard to solar power cars, the concept is not without its merits. If a faster, longer-traveling model were created, the pros of this kind of car would include:
• Lowered environmental impacts – Unlike fossil-fuel driven vehicles, solar cars do not produce the greenhouse gases that combustion engines create.
• Economic advantage – If a solar model were created that provided enough efficiency, the cost savings in gasoline alone could be quite impressive.
Solar power cars are not on every street corner at the moment for a reason. Despite some flaws, however, this concept is gaining much attention. Research and development could very well prove to make this type of car the vehicle of the future.
Home Solar Power Systems Specific links
Home Solar Power Systems News
Has blazing a trail in solar energy cost California too much? - Los Angeles Times
 Los Angeles Times | Has blazing a trail in solar energy cost California too much? Los Angeles Times California's solar industry has created 26000 jobs, or 1 in 4 solar jobs nationwide, according to a recent study by the UC Berkeley law school. Above, Hank Henss installs a solar energy system on a prefabricated model home in Palm Springs. More Solar, Not Less Colorado PUC voted Thursday to cut solar subsidies nearly in half PUC to rule on solar credits |
Plug-in solar panels: Worth the cost? - Christian Science Monitor
 Christian Science Monitor | Plug-in solar panels: Worth the cost? Christian Science Monitor Solar panels now a plug-in appliance," suggests that you can buy from Amazon.com a 1000 watt solar panel system that plugs into your wall outlet for only $1099. I thought they were really on to something until I read the comments: Our mission is to ... |
Solar Savings — Is Your Home Eligible? - Sponsored Post - Chronicle-Telegram
Solar Savings — Is Your Home Eligible? - Sponsored Post Chronicle-Telegram Once your system is installed, you can get free and clean energy from the sun. However, you may first want to make sure that a solar energy system will work on your house. There are several aspects to this question that you'll need to address before ... |
Conn. subsidies seen spurring home solar power - BusinessWeek
 Press Herald | Conn. subsidies seen spurring home solar power BusinessWeek By STEPHEN SINGER Dmitri Donskoy figures he'll save only $20 a month on his electricity bill after solar panels are installed on the roof of his home under a state-subsidized program. But he shrugs it off because the green energy appeals to his ... Connecticut subsidies seen spurring home solar power |
Lake James Cellars adds solar power to old mill - Morganton News Herald
Lake James Cellars adds solar power to old mill Morganton News Herald “After the dam was built, they had hydroelectric power,” said Michael Fowler who co-owns Lake James Cellars, the business currently calling the building home. Times have since changed and so has energy technology. Now, the mill turned winery is running ... |