Taiwan University Building Cheap, Slow Solar Car
Researchers at Taiwan's National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences are working on a cheap and light THREE-SEAT SOLAR-POWERED CAR optimistically predicted to go on sale to consumers next year for $25,000 each. Sadly, the commercial version of the car will top out at just 43 miles per hour, and run for three hours after being charged by "a few hours" of sunlight. So it will be a lousy car but a super golf cart.
5:40 PM * PERMALINK * 7 comments
Comments:
That's a good car as it can do 60km/h.
Don't underestimate the importance of this, No Way!
I can see this being ideal for people who commute a moderate distance to work. That is, too long for a bike ride, but so short that using a car seems wasteful.
This car is a great beginning. Also, just think of all the seated-lawnmowers out there that run on gas. This would be perfect for those, plus tractors and other farm vehicles that don't have to run fast, but do run outside in the sun all the time and use up gas. I hope this thing catches on. It will get better and better!
This car is just the beginning with the quiet slow speed... we are waiting see the next innovation of this car...
I personally really like this great tech..
"plus tractors and other farm vehicles that don't have to run fast,"
These vehicles require considerably more energy/time unit than a car going 60MPH. Pulling a modern 24 ft wide (or more) plow, mower, disk, etc. requires a lot of HP. Speed alone is a poor indicator of the WORK required.
kitcarman, I wasn't aware of the workload on a tractor. But I am sure that there has to be smaller vehicles/machinery on farms (and factories too) that could benefit now from this technology. What say you?
I "spose" an electric vehicle might replace the 4 wheelers some use to herd cattle and get around the farm. Most low energy requirement devices like electric fencing and emergency lighting is already solar powered. I can't think of anything else that has such a low energy requirement. For example, milking machines run several times a day for long periods - perhaps air circulation fans? Any operation small enough to use solar power like the solar car is just a hobby and probably uses human power. Farmers have big vehicles because they need them.
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