Why Not a Practical Solar Powered Car?
Ah, the dream! A car covered with solar panels, sitting in the parking lot all day while you are at work, silently charging the batteries by sunlight so you can drive home this evening using only an electric motor – the same way you got to work. Complete independence from the corner gas station! Completely free energy! But we don’t see any such vehicles. Why not? With gasoline at record high prices nationwide in 2008, this dream is becoming more and more prevalent. (As a note of interest, Americans are unhappy and whining about $4.29 a gallon gasoline, while in Europe it has already been selling for [after appropriate conversion from Euros and Liters] over $10.00 (US) per gallon as of this writing [Jul, 2008]. So, really, Americans – What do you have to whine about?) Sorry, world, but you are power hungry and you don’t even know it! The bottom line why there’s no solar powered car for you to drive to and from work is this: your insatiable demand for power, speed, and comfort. I won’t e
