Pros and cons of solar power cars today
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Xantrex XPower 1500 W/60 AH BATTERY
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Lately, solar power cars have started awakening a lot of interest since the price of gas seems
to be rising with no end in sight. Many drivers and car enthusiasts are thus researching the
technology behind solar power cars. This technology of solar powered vehicles is still in the first
stages, but it is already working, and it goes forward rapidly, which makes it more exciting for
drivers.
Casting a quick glance at the pros and disadvantages of solar power cars being manufactured
today already explains why they did not reach the mass-production stage yet. With further research,
however, it is hoped solar power cars might provide the solution to fossil fuel driven
vehicles.
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Flaws of solar powered cars
We could say that solar power cars are self-contained solar power systems that combine the use of solar energy and normal
electric power for charging the batteries. Hybrid cars are generally driven by the power of a battery and also
some kind of fuel like conventional fossil fuel gas or ethanol.
These first solar powered cars have some limitations:
- Restricted charge capacity - The solar power system of most solar power model cars fails
to meet the demands of drivers because of its unsatisfactory absorbing capacity. In some cases, these vehicles
can only go a few miles before their charges wear out. Hybrid cars can cover more miles because they are built
to burn gas too. But hybrid systems lose many of the environmental advantages associated with a solar powered
car based exclusively on the sun's renewable energy.
- Reliance on electric charging - Due to the fact that you cannot always count on the sun's energy to
charge the batteries, you cannot manage without some conventional electrical power. You need it to increase the
capacity of the solar battery charge.
- Speed of solar powered vehicles - We find some difficulties in the solar power cars manufactured
today that concern the maximum speed. Most solar cars are designed to be street legal; however, they cannot
usually make more than 40 miles (64 km) per hour. This is one of the main reasons why solar cars are not widely
used yet.
Advantages of the solar car
Nobody would deny that solar power cars are still in need of quite a lot of research and development, but the
idea behind them is certainly appealing for the majority of the population. The lucky day when we can drive a solar
powered car that runs faster and can cover more miles than now, we will all be able to enjoy the following
rewards:
- A significant reduction of the negative influence on the environment - Contrary to gasoline
vehicles, solar power cars do not eject the greenhouse gases produced by burning engines.
- Savings on gas - The day we can drive a cost-effective solar car model we will be able to cut down a
noteworthy amount of money on gas expenses.
As we have seen, it is not yet possible that everybody drives a solar power car. Despite some flaws, however,
this concept is gaining much attention. We cannot help but think that solar power cars will be the vehicles
that we will see speeding up on the highways in a not-so-distant future.
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