Comments on Soultek.com: The Synergy of Hybrid Cars and Solar Power

I had a similar Idea, wondering why you couldn't p...

2008-04-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

I had a similar Idea, wondering why you couldn't plug your car in at night, drive to work, and collect solar all day while your car is parked at work in the sun? This would give you enough power to drive home and plug in again to your home system, preferably powered by solar.

Why a Hybrid Solar Vehicle? In these web pages (ht...

2007-01-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

Why a Hybrid Solar Vehicle?
In these web pages (http://www.dimec.unisa.it/Leonardo) the reasons for studying and developing a Hybrid Solar Vehicle are presented, and the related topics discussed:

fossil fuels, largely used for car propulsion, are doomed to depletion;
the CO2 generated by the combustion processes occurring in conventional thermal engines contribute to the greenhouse effects, with dangerous and maybe dramatic effects on global warming and climatic changes;
energy consumption and CO2 emissions related to car and transportation are increasing;
solar energy is renewable, free and largely diffused;
Photovoltaic Panels are subject to continuous technological advances and cost reductions...
...but solar cars do not represent a practical alternative to conventional cars, due to limitations on maximum power, range, dimensions and costs...
...while Hybrid Electric Vehicles represent an effective mid-term solution to the reduction of fuel consumption and of the related emissions;
Therefore, in principle, Hybrid Solar Vehicles could sum up the advantages of HEV and solar power, by the integration of Photovoltaic Panels in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
One may of course observe that the power obtained by conventional photovoltaic panels on the roof of a normal car is about two orders of magnitude less than the car maximum power: is it worth it?
On the other hand, recent statistics show that a significant percent of users drive their car mostly in urban areas, less than one hour per day and with only the driver on board;
and, in these conditions, the energy obtained by photovoltaic panels during driving and, mainly, the energy accumulated into the battery during parking mode, may represent a significant fraction of the energy required to propulsion.
In order to maximize the benefits of solar energy, a substantial re-design of the vehicle is needed, assisted by suitable methodologies and mathematical models.
New and advanced control systems and strategies are also required to optimize energy flows between vehicle components.

The rest of the story at the pages:
http://www.dimec.unisa.it/Leonardo

http://www.dimec.unisa.it/leonardo_new/en/prototype.php

I'm all for it. It sure makes a lot of sense to cr...

2005-11-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

I'm all for it. It sure makes a lot of sense to create a self-feeding energy loop between auto and home. Unfortunately, it probably doesn't help big energy much.

Why can we not plug our hybrids in when we get hom...

2005-11-08T22:04:00.000-08:00

Why can we not plug our hybrids in when we get home to cook our dinner and heat our homes? At least capture the energy saved in your drive home.

Diesel/hybrids work best in this scenario, as the car is your generator, running only when batteries need to be charged. What else is your car doing parked in your driveway? Take the heat from the engine as well through a rad in your furnace heat exchanger.

Let your car work for you; after all it is an asset with a terrible roa.

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