Solar Powered Cars Have A Few Problems To Address Before You Will be Driving One

Solar power comes from the energy of our Sun 93 million miles from the Earth. Solar powered cars are electric vehicles powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface of the car. Sunlight is an excellent energy source and the future of using solar power is very exciting.

The Sun's energy can be used to heat and cool buildings, generate electricity, operate communication and navigation systems and even power solar cars. People heat their swimming pools and the water they use for cooking and bathing with solar energy.

Solar cars are next if they can address a few major problems.

Photovoltaic cells capture and convert the sun's energy directly into electrical energy. Solar powered cars have photovoltaic cells located on the surface of the car. The cells capture the light from the sun and convert it into electricity. The electricity runs a special kind of motor which powers the car.

The average speed right now for a solar car is about 37 miles per hour. This is one problem that has to be overcome for solar cars to be put into full time use.

Therefore at this time solar cars are not used on the road. They are used for solar golf carts. A solar golf cart that is used for a few rounds of golf a week is self sufficient because it gets sunlight while parked from dawn to dusk. Another problem at this time for a solar powered car to be used is how fragile the cells are. They could not withstand higher speeds and the bumps of a highway or country road.

Another factor is most of the engineering has concentrated on making the car energy efficient and little concern has been pointed at the comfort of the car. Most solar cars can only hold one to two people and not a family of four.

Many other problems have to be addressed before solar powered cars become the normal mode of transportation. The incentives to solve these obstacles are many though. With the ever increasing costs of fossil fuels and the dependency on foreign oil the need is here right now. The sun also can help us solve problems like pollution that comes from the exhaust current cars put out.

Someday in the near future solar powered cars will replace gas models and help solve all of these problems for us. You will be driving your solar car and so will your fiends and neighbors.