Sunny day for a drive
Imagine never having to fill your fuel tank again. With the cost of gas these days, that may sound like wishful thinking. But as solar technology becomes more advanced, that dream could soon become a reality.
In fact, vehicles that run entirely on solar power are nothing new; the first solar vehicles were built in the 1950s. Those early models weren't very practical, but modern designs have made impressive progress.
Solar milestones have been made for just about every form of transportation that you can imagine. There are solar cars, of course, but there are also solar buses, trains, boats, and even a solar helicopter. Here's our rundown of seven modern solar-powered vehicles. (Text: Bryan Nelson)
1. Solar cars
Photo: Hideki Kimura, Kouhei Sagawa/Wiki Commons
Solar car design has become something of a competitive sport among engineers. In fact, most solar cars today are built for the purpose of solar car races. The competitive nature of these races has led to a rapid boom in performance, leading to the need for new safety regulations. For instance, one of the largest solar car races, the World Solar Challenge, instituted speed limits for the first time in 2007. Regulations aside, solar cars today can easily surpass the legal speed limit.
The major barrier to solar cars’ availability to the average consumer is that they still require a large surface area for the placement of PV panels. They must also be made extremely lightweight for maximum energy efficiency, which means little room for storage compartments, or often even a passenger seat.
Even so, as PV technology advances, solar cars are creeping ever-closer to feasibility for the average commuter.
Related Links: (1) Solar cars? No way. Solar racers? Way; (2) 6 green things the U.S. military is doing
2. Turanor Planetsolar
Photo: Maxim Massalitin/Wiki Commons
Sailboats, which have been used for millennia, might be the most widely employed form of fuel-free transportation. It is probably no surprise that the solar boat was developed out of that tradition.
Perhaps the most decorated solar boat is the Turanor Planetsolar, which became the first solar electric vehicle to circumnavigate the globe in 2012. PV panels cover a surface area of more than 500 square meters, and the boat can carry a crew of as many as 60. Though its average speed is around 5 knots, it is capable of reaching 14 knots.
Since claiming its title as the first solar vehicle to circumnavigate the globe, the ship has been commissioned as a scientific research vessel. It is currently cruising the Gulf Stream to study the role of atmospheric aerosols and phytoplankton in regulating climate.
3. Solar Impulse
The ground-breaking Solar Impulse became the first solar-powered plane to make a cross-country trip across the United States earlier this year, despite a dramatic early landing due to damage to one of its wings. The five-leg journey from San Francisco to New York was a test run for a far more ambitious journey scheduled for 2015, when the vehicle is set to become the first solar plane to circumnavigate the globe.
Solar Impulse is capable of taking off and landing entirely on its own, and is capable of flying at night. It has a cruising speed of around 40 mph and has a maximum altitude of about 39,000 feet!
4. Vili Solar Train
Europe's first train powered entirely by its own solar panels, the Vili was recently launched in Hungary to carry passengers from Kiralyret and Kismaros, a scenic route not far from Budapest. This solar train is particularly impressive because it carries a cabin full of passengers - a task not required of many lightweight solar vehicles.
The train's maximum speed of around 15 miles per hour means it's not ideal for efficient travel, but it's perfect for sightseeing.
Related Links: (1) Elon Musk's new idea: Crazy-fast trains; (2) A solar-powered plug that sticks to windows
5. Tindo Solar Bus
Photo: Adelaide City Council
The world's first solar-powered electric bus, Tindo was launched in 2007 in Adelaide, Australia. Not only is the bus fuel-free, but passengers can ride it for free! It's also a pretty cool ride - literally. The bus is air-conditioned and can carry as many as 40 passengers. It's also a Wi-Fi hotspot, another free service.
According to the city of Adelaide, the bus has saved the environment over 70,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions annually.
Related Link: Wireless solar chargers keep e-buses rolling
6. Solarcopter
Photo: Solarcopter/Facebook
Yes, even helicopter design is getting in on the solar power boom. Enter the Solarcopter, the world's first solar-powered quadcopter.
The Solarcopter is also proof that professional-level solar design has entered the realm of DIY; the project has been built entirely by students at Queen Mary University in London. Though it is not designed for passenger flight, its inventors think it could be the future of drone technology.
The prototype can only sustain short flights, but future versions could be used for surveillance, search and rescue, or perhaps for tracking animal migrations. You can follow the progress of the Solarcopter at its Facebook page here.
Related Link: Solar power for less than $500
7. International Space Station
Photo: NASA/Wiki Commons
The most impressive solar-powered vehicle ever constructed is quite literally out of this world. The International Space Station, a monumental feat of engineering, gets all of its electricity from solar power. It is equipped with eight solar array wings, each covered in nearly 33,000 solar cells. The arrays are double-sided so that they can collect energy from the Sun and light reflected off the Earth at the same time.
The primary purpose of this electrical system is to provide a suitable environment for astronauts to live and work in. In other words, they might be described as the world's most expensive heaters. They are responsible for keeping astronauts sheltered from the icy chill of space.
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These are truly good, solar is spreading its wings all over and is helping in saving our resources.
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