Could a car run on solar power?

Question

I asked this in work and they all thought I was hilarious, they said NO, cause it rains too much here (Ireland), but is this idea really that off the wall?

Answer 1

yes it is possible , may be in future, japan is trying to make such type of car

Answer 2

I do wonder if it would be at all possible for cars to be made by the hundreds that would be equipped to run by solar power !?! I've also thought.. But what about cloudy days or when the day's a hazy one!?! That's when I thought about a battery system that can be switched on that would shine some light on some very sensitive solar panels that would hold/re`act to light that would be sorta enclosed to power it... Not very easy to explain here!! but the lights would be placed in about 3 sections of the car to activate the solar panels!?!  `'R'`r.r`r'r.r`',.

Answer 3

Yea...They are making a few cars now that run completely on solar power. Im not too sure if they have perfected one, but they are and most probably will be able to make one to perfection.

Answer 4

Its feasible but petrol companies would put a stop to it straight away...As would the government....It would be free so they would lose trillions in taxes..

Like they dont already make enough from us..

As a matter of interest there actually is a water powered car, developed in the 60's...And banished as being impractical..

Answer 5

i was thinking the same thing..howeva crime rates mite increase bcoz ppl r leaving their car out in the open or sumthing and nt in their garage n so they cud get stolen.

Answer 6

Yes, it has been done but if you do not have much sun then the next best thing is "The World's Cleanest Car" that runs on compressed air.

Answer 7

Yes i believe so.

Answer 8

well of course it could, but I don't think solar cars would go very well.

Answer 9

A practical solar car with today's technology would have to be small and light - Google "Aptera" for an example.  The electric version gets about 100 miles on a 10kWH battery pack.

A solar array capable of generating 10 kWH/day costs about $10,000 US, and it is likely one would not need to drive 100 miles/day.  This could not be carried with the car - recharging during the day would have to come from another array.

A self-fueling solar car will not be practical until they get solar cells with near 100% efficiency.  

DK

Answer 10

yes i think you need to ask a more sensible question :)

Answer 11

Actually, yes.  Recently in the UK, a solar powered car was developed.  the only problem is, it can only fit one person.  It looks awful.  The battery are a bit too dangerous to use.  Eventually, it will happen.  Let's give it a couple years.  We may have hydrogen cars coming in the near future.

Answer 12

Yes, in the daytime. You'd probably need lunar power at night.

Answer 13

Yes Hun, it is possible.

But anyway you Dublin girls Invented an Electric car, but in only went 2 yards and then the flex ran out ! ! !

XX

Answer 14

Cars can, and do, run on solar power, though the ones that currently do so are quite impractical. At the moment the technology we use is quite inefficient, but advances are happening all the time. There will never be a commercially viable solar powered car whilst we still have oil left though, the oil companies are just too powerful and would not allow it.

You can tell your colleagues that rain doesn't affect solar panels, they work on light from the sun, not sunny weather. Even on the dullest, rainiest day you've ever seen, solar panels will generate electricity (albeit less than normal), as there is clearly still some sunlight getting through (this is evidenced by the fact that you can see).

Answer 15

In the US, we have a competition race on solar cars once a year. http://www.americansolarchallenge.org/

It's not practical for regular consumer with current technology but definately possible in the future.  

I'm sure that new technology will be much more efficient than the solar cell we are currently use which probably make them useable even in poor weather condition.   The question is when would that be. :o

Btw, regarding Dale's comment about hydrogen car, Honda is releasing a pilot program with limited number of hydrogen cars lease for general population.   $600/mo lease and cost about $25 to fill up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/automo...

Answer 16

it probably could but how would you get home at night.

Answer 17

My husband was talking about having an electric car, with solar cells on top to help subsidize the electricity.