Cars on solar energy?

Question

Take a bunch of solar cells, put them on top of the roof of the car, link them with the car battery. Leave the fuel-system as a backup/secondary energy source. And you've yourself a fuel-saving environment-friendly car.

Sound easy enough to do, right? Then why don't we see those on the road?

Answer 1

energy storage is the main problem on any electric powered vehicle. there arent any batteries that advanced. too heavy and they degrade, remanents of batteries are highly toxic.

Solar panels arent nearly enough to charge a battery so the car could move.

We dont need a solar car, what we need is electric cars with batteries efficient enough to hold plenty of power without the excesive weight. Then you can have solar power plants in the deserts and tropical areas were we can take the full advantage or the panels.

Answer 2

to get enough energy you'd need 400 SQ ft of panels, so the car would be 50 long.

Oil companies don't control energy, WE CONTROL IT!!!

Answer 3

Solar cells as big as the top of your car would provide enough power to trickle charge your car battery. It is actually no power at all.  

Answer 4

I wish that would be so easy. As of now we don't have these kind of cars and the solar batteries that could get as much energy from sun to let you drive a car. I mean you can have batteries like that but it would be really big and you car would look like triangle and so big at the top. I don't think it will work, at least now. I hope they will made something like solar cars soon :). The sooner the better!

Answer 5

They have cars that are battery-powered; maybe they haven't figured out how to make a solar-powered one yet.

Answer 6

There are electric cars with solar panels on the roof - for example, the ZAP Xebra Xero.

http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicle...

However, they're only partially charged by the solar panels.  They still get most of their energy from plugging into a power outlet.  Solar panels aren't efficient enough to generate enough energy to power a car.

The next generation Toyota Prius is going to have some solar panels.  They're going to generate enough energy to partially power the A/C system.  That's all they can do.

http://greenhome.huddler.com/products/20...

Answer 7

fail

Answer 8

Because the oil companies and all their oil reliant industries would literally go out of business.  When new and emerging technologies come around the corner, the oil and automotive industries see to it that this technology is stifled so they can continue to sell you oil and gas.  What a brilliant idea they have.....You buy a car that runs on gas and they have a direct avenue into your wallet every time you fill-up or get an oil change.

Your solar cell car sounds great.  Just think of it, free energy from our sun!  Now who would argue with that??

Answer 9

Because car manufacturers are stupid. Love your idea, you could become famous if you make this car. Then send me one so I can become eco-friendly.

It would work if you lived in a place where you get lots of sunny weather. What happens when it rains, you can't get to work.

Good Luck on making the car.