Why aren’t we all driving on sunlight?
By SolarCars on April 25, 2009
This video is so wrong. Sir, people who are serious about solar powered cars know one thing: a driving range of 40 miles is NOT sufficient for anyone. We need REAL solar powered cars, and we need them soon if we REALLY want to make a difference.
Topics: Solar, Solar Cars, Video | No Comments »
Basic Info on Vehicle Aerodynamics
By SolarCars on March 27, 2009
Aerodynamics are hugely important on solar powered cars, because they can seriously change the energy effiency of a vehicle. Here’s a great article on vehicle aerodynamics:
One need not be a hardcore Physics geek to understand the basic concepts of vehicle aerodynamics. In fact some of these basic concepts may even help you understand better how your car works and how you increase your fuel economy. Drag, lift, air density, drag coefficient – these are just some of the things you need to know if you want to get a better understanding of how vehicles are affected by aerodynamic forces.
Drag and lift are the the two aerodynamic forces that act on bodies traveling through the air – whether it be a truck, car, jet, or plane. For vehicles, drag is more important than lift, unless you like to drive fast in a race or exotic cars. Vehicles should avoid lift, which is why you have spoilers, wings, and air dams which all function to provide downward force and keep your car pressed down on the pavement.
Drag is the force that has the most impact on fuel economy and usage because this is the force that opposes the vehicle’s forward movement. It requires a lot of power to overcome drag. Sometimes, it even requires more power than engine and powertrain friction, rolling resistance, and other power consumers. As mentioned, if you want to lessen drag (and thus decrease fuel usage and consumption), don’t drive at speeds that are faster than necessary.
If you want to improve your car’s aerodynamics, you should avoid using wider wheels because these increase drag. Also, roll your windows up when speeding down the highway. Most of the vehicles today are designed for aerodynamic efficiency when the windows are rolled up.
Topics: Aerodynamics | No Comments »
Universal Studios Turns to Green Carts
By SolarCars on December 30, 2008
The Universal Studios in Hollywood joins the move to be more earth friendly by planning to trade their 300 petrol powered vehicles for carts that run on solar power.
The carts will collect the energy from the sun’s rays via photovoltaic panels attached to its roof. The solar power will charge the battery that will run the cart. The collected energy from the panels will add around 4 to 7 miles to the range of the cart.
When the battery is fully charged, the golf cart will be able to take people 40 to 60 miles on average.
The manufacturers of the carts explained that the carts can be made legal in most parts of the United States where the speed limit is less than 35 mph or lower.
The Universal Studios are considering the Solar Electric Hybrid carts from Cruise Car Inc. for use in their 415 acre lot. The manufacturer produces around 50 variants of the carts.
Environmentalists and media experts commended the Universal Studios for its commitment and prompt action to be more earth friendly.
No deals have been signed yet but soon top caliber actresses and actors, executives, and staff will be roaming around the big sets using the solar charged and plug in vehicle. This will phase out the gasoline powered golf carts that have been on the service for several years.
This is not the first time Universal Studios took a step to be lighter on the carbon foot print. They were recently rewarded the Environmental Media Associations Green Seal Award as one of the most earth friendly amusement parks in the US.
Topics: Celebrities, Solar Cars | No Comments »