Solar Powered Cars On Sale...In China

Autobloggreen:

Believe it or not, a solar powered car is on sale in China. Shown at the 29th (!) Zhejiang International Bicycles and Electric-powered Cars Exhibition in Hangzhou, eastern China, the vehicle is a cheap and dirty clean way to get around. According to an engineer, the solar cells can absorb 95 percent of the solar energy coming in, although they can only convert 14 to 17 percent into electricity to recharge the batteries. Recharging time? About 30 hours to get the maximum 150 km (90 mi) range. However, if you're in a hurry, you can always get energy for 5 km in just one hour. Around 10 units have been produced thus far by Zhejiang 001 Group. The sticker price is quite a bargain for a solar NEV: 38,000 yuan (US$5,560). If you think this car is familiar, that's because it looks like a Chery QQ (which is itself a Daewoo Matiz clone) that was made into an electric model by DianZi.

Read the whole story: Autobloggreen

Comments

[GarryGolden]

Sadly I think this is just another confusing gimmick story for the auto industry..­.

If we are going to make this transition from liquid fueled combustion engines, to electric cars powered by batteries, fuel cells and capacitors-- we are going to need a more informed public. The key is energy density via storage, not hacking up some solar panels on your car roof.

I just wrote a post on why this story is more gimmick than a revolution

http://www.theenergyroadmap.com/futureblogger/show/1054-this-solar-powered-chinese-car-is-more-of-a-gimmick-than-a-revolution

Garry G
Editor
The Energy Roadmap.com http://www.theenergyroadmap.comm)

[hypnotoad72]

Under $6000 for a solar car? Bloody 'ell, can it be shipped overseas or is there something in the free market that prevents it coming over here, just like for, you know, Canadian drugs?

[KillTheMessenger]

I doubt it will pass the safety regulations.

:-)

[ArcEnCiel]

Who want a laugh? There you go:
http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00061/Wednesday_-_US_61473_61496a.jpg

[hypnotoad72]

OMG. Was that photoshopped?!