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Solar Car


Why don't we use solar to power our electric cars?

For years, we've been watching as solar-powered race cars travel at relatively high rates of speed for hours on end – as long as the sun happens to be shining, of course. In fact, the World Solar Challenge has been taking place in Australia every few years since 1987, and the actual vehicles competing in the event got so fast that race organizers eventually had to alter the rules in the name of safety back in 2005. Since these solar-powered racers had gotten so fast and capable that in 2007 the World Solar Challenge altered its ... Read more →

Seat Brisa and Duna concepts point the way to solar power Jeremy Korzeniewski

At this point, vehicles covered in solar panels aren't yet able to offer a viable alternative to the fossil fuel-powered cars and trucks that we currently rely on. There's hope that this fact ...

Xof1 solar car team victims of theft in New Orleans Jeremy Korzeniewski

Marcelo da Luz and his team, world record holders for the furthest distance traveled in a solar-powered car, have had their share of ups and downs on their journey across North America in the Xof1 ...

Toyota developing solar-powered car for the road Sam Abuelsamid

Don't get too excited yet, but reports are coming out of Japan that say Toyota is developing a solar-powered car. First of all an electric car that draws electricity solely from the sun is still quite ...

Phylla EV officially unveiled and driven in Turin Jeremy Korzeniewski

We first took a look at the Phylla 2+2 electric vehicle back in May. Back then, it was nothing but a series of ideas, plans and renderings. Now, though, it's been realized in the metal (and ...

SolarWorld offers to purchase Opel, kind of 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Well, it's not exactly a solar car, but it's a start, right? By now, everyone is aware that General Motors is in a bit of financial trouble at the moment, and those U.S. problems will definitely have an impact on the European automakers also owned by GM, including its Opel subsidiary. A German power ...

Wonder what it takes to build a competitive solar racer? 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Lest you think that it's easy to make a competitive solar racer, take a look at the videos of the University of Texas' Samsung Solorean (the name is a reference to the DeLorean from the Back 2 The Future movies), which are pasted after the break. In a nod towards that movie car, the portal to enter ...

Sunmotor Group to introduce solar car this year 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

We just got tipped that Sunmotor, an electric vehicle hopeful based in Boston, plans to release its first product in America. It's solar and electric powered car ain't pretty, that's for sure. In side profile from wheel-to-wheel, you'll notice that Sunmotor's car is a clear smart fortwo knock-off. ...

Buchanan calls for bipartisan effort to convert nation to "green" energy 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Vern Buchanan (R), the Congressman representing the Sarasota, FL area, is one politician who sees the "green" light. While visiting with solar and electric car maker, Cruise Car Inc, whose manufacturing and sales operation is in his district, the lawmaker made a plea for a national bipartisan ...

VIDEO: Fiat Phylla powered by sunshine 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Ah, those Italians and their penchant for rolling art. While the Fiat Phylla solar car concept may not yet exist in drivable form, it's asymmetrical styling sure is an attention getter. Presented a few days ago in Turin, Italy during "Uniamo le energie," this city car is designed to use solar ...

Another DIY solar electric car built in California 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

digg_url = 'http://green.autoblog.com/2008/04/30/another-diy-solar-electric-car-built-in-california/'; All right, so maybe some of the homebuilt solar-powered cars that we've shown here in the past aren't the best-looking contraptions. Give then this, though: they certainly are useful. The latest ...

Nelson Kruschandl shows how to make a solar car on the cheap 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Wanna build a solar car? Good new for you, then! Nelson Kruschandl has set up a website where he gives you the ins and outs of solar car construction. Sure, there's plenty of power available from the sun, the tricky part is harnessing enough of it to get anywhere. Therefore, lightweight parts and ...

SUNN EV: order a solar electric NEV kit car 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Remember last year when we posted the video Infinity Miles per Gallon? In that video, Art Haines of Applied Robotics Company set out to build a solar powered electric car ... and succeeded. At the time, we lauded the independent thinking that Haines clearly showed in the project. The story was far ...

Solar electric car comes from Costa del Sol 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

I was surprised to be pointed by a friend of mine to this video, which comes from the Spanish version of Breakfast TV, so it's perfect if you want to practice your Spanish. An Iranian engineer named Foroohar Aghili living in Costa del Sol (SE of Spain), designed this car, able to run up to 60 km/h ...

Waikato University works on improving the electric car 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

When it really comes down to it, what is the "holy grail" of electric cars? Battery power? That is extremely important to be sure, but an equally convincing argument could be made that light weight is the most important factor. Whatever your aim is when it comes to improving the design of the ...

The Sinag solar car is unveiled in the Philippines 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Using a body of carbon fiber, Kevlar and epoxy swathed over a honeycomb core, the Sinag solar car, a first for the Philippines, is set to enter the 20th World Solar Challenge in Australia in October. The three-wheeled vehicle converts energy from the sun into electricity using 400 solar cells, ...

Video: 12th annual Dell-Winston school solar car challenge 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

While looking for good stories to feature on our site, I ran across this video from KTLV on CNN. The event highlighted is the Dell-Winston Solar Car Challenge, a solar race starting from Dell Headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, and finishing in New York eight days later. To see if they will be ...

Have some fun in the sun with solar powered toys 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Do you remember the hydrogen fuel cell powered toy cars that we have shown you in the past? If you do, you might also remember the fact that they are extremely expensive, which is the problem with hydrogen powered products of any kind. If you like the idea of alternative power for you kids, but ...

Starting kids off on the right foot by having them build solar cars 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

I think it's a good idea to get kids, even as young as 9-to-11 like these ones, thinking of alternative sources of power for their future transportation choices. When I was young, I was really interested in cars and trucks of all sorts, but the green trend had not yet started. Now, as kids are ...

An early look at some of the Shell Eco-Marathon competition vehicles 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Do you remember when we ran an article about the Shell Eco-marathon? Does the sound of 6,792 miles per gallon jog your memory? Think that's high? That can't hold a candle to the all-time record of 10,705 miles per gallon set in 2003! That kind of mileage is impressive, even if the vehicles used to ...

"Infinity Miles per Gallon": Art Haines builds a solar car - watch the video 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Have you ever dreamed of designing and building your own automobile? If you are anything like me, then the answer is a definite yes. Again, if you are anything like me (and you might be if you're reading this site), you also dream of cleaner transportation. So, what's holding you back? For me, ...

Inventor in the U.A.E creates a 2 passenger solar vehicle 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

We are getting pretty used to seeing DIY electric cars on these pages, but not too many DIY solar electric cars. But, that is exactly what one man in the United Arab Emirates did. Saqr Bin Saif's creation seats two people in a reclined position and tops out at about 50 kilometers per hour, which is ...

A ZAP solar car or truck for the street? Sort of... check it out below! 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

ZAP, which stands for Zero Air Pollution, was at the Chicago Auto Show which we were at, and we took pictures of the three-wheeled cars and trucks that they have to offer. At that time, their website showed that a solar option would be coming soon. Come it did; adding a solar panel to the roof ...

Red Green's solar car video... at least the women find him handy! 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Am I the only person in the world that had never heard of "The Red Green Show"? I was the only person today that I asked that had never heard of it. Did I live a sheltered life? Anyway, after finding out that this is a show about a man who loves duct tape, fixing things, breaking things and the ...

Could the windows of your car charge the battery? 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

This article does not specifically mention what types of glass this will work with, or whether there is any restrictions at all, but it is an interesting thought that the windows of your car could provide electricity to power the battery or batteries of your vehicle. This would help at least one ...

The University Of New South Wales Solar Racing Team attempts to break record 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Currently, the record for traveling from Perth, Australia to Sydney, Australia in a solar vehicle is 8.5 days. The Jaycar Sunswift III team expects to break that record by 1.5 days with their newest solar-electric powered vehicle. According to their site, the vehicle is constructed mainly of ...

Paris Motor Show: Venturi AstroLab electro-solar hybrid 3 years ago on Autoblog Green

Here's more from Autoblogger Eric Bryant at the Paris Motor Show. The third vehicle that Monaco based car-maker Venturi is showing is peculiar looking tandem two seater called the AstroLab. Venturi claims it is the first electro-solar hybrid vehicle. It can charge its batteries either from the sun ...

Paris Motor Show: Venturi Eclectic charges via solar or wind power 3 years ago on Autoblog Green

Autoblogger Eric Bryant at the Paris Motor Show keeps 'em coming. Having transformed themselves from a low-volume sports car manufacturer to a twenty-first century "CarbonNeutral" car-maker, Venturi is showing a pair of very interesting concepts at the Paris Motor Show this week. The first is the ...

High school Solar Car Challenge kicks off Monday 3 years ago on Autoblog Green

Computer giant Dell and the Winston School in Dallas, Texas will fire up a fuel-free race at Texas Motor Speedway next week - the 11th annual Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge. Competing cars have been designed and built by 18 high school race teams from the U.S., India and Puerto Rico. The ...


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