Thread: Solar panels?

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

OK, I know im going to get flammed, but I thought id throw my 2 cents in. I saw on a video on comcast, people actually driving cars based on 100% solar power. The roof had this big ugly panel on top of it, but it seemed cool. I was actually thinking of converting my gaint gas guzzler to solar since I live in florida. Just wonder if they have a manufactuer that can make a solar panel that looks like the cars roof and conforms to it.

Not serious right?

Yes there are solar RC cars, the whole thing is a panel, and it is lightweight built for it. Doesnt run off of a 2"x3" panel like this kid wanted. And are fragile.

Also a gas guzzler is a guzzler because it is heavy or want lots of power. You saw the calculation above for the area you need of solar panels to panel his wimpy RC car. You would need to be towing a huge solar array with you basically but the support work for this would become so heavy you would need even more, and it is just not practical. And there are all solar vehicles but they again are built to be lightweight and the whole thing is a panel.

If you have finally wised up and dont want a huge truck anymore convert it to something like an all electric with solar supplement or full hydrogen fuel cell. be creative like the Indians and make it air powered (compressed air), or like the swedes I think with their huge rotating disk under the busses. Bus pulls up to the station, takes green energy harvested and stored from solar or wind and spins this very very heavy disk under the bus. The momentum stored in that can be harnessed through a clutch and power the bus for a few routes before needing to be re-spun.

But solar alone on a heavy vehicle just isnt happening.

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

Not serious right?

Yes there are solar RC cars, the whole thing is a panel, and it is lightweight built for it. Doesnt run off of a 2"x3" panel like this kid wanted. And are fragile.

Also a gas guzzler is a guzzler because it is heavy or want lots of power. You saw the calculation above for the area you need of solar panels to panel his wimpy RC car. You would need to be towing a huge solar array with you basically but the support work for this would become so heavy you would need even more, and it is just not practical. And there are all solar vehicles but they again are built to be lightweight and the whole thing is a panel.

If you have finally wised up and dont want a huge truck anymore convert it to something like an all electric with solar supplement or full hydrogen fuel cell. be creative like the Indians and make it air powered (compressed air), or like the swedes I think with their huge rotating disk under the busses. Bus pulls up to the station, takes green energy harvested and stored from solar or wind and spins this very very heavy disk under the bus. The momentum stored in that can be harnessed through a clutch and power the bus for a few routes before needing to be re-spun.

But solar alone on a heavy vehicle just isnt happening.

Most of the guys that did the conversions did it on small cars (One was a Geo Prizm hatchback (electric), the other an older Geo I think(solar)). I think Maybe I should buy one of those and go from there. I'll leave the truck alone, use it as a show car / race truck. Here is the video. http://www.comcast.net/data/fan/html...an/default.xml. I think the solar is the best route, because you would never have to plug it into anything at all.

Check this out
Pretty Interesting

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

I think the solar is the best route, because you would never have to plug it into anything at all.

Let us know how it goes. You'll need some bananas, some epoxy, a very large oven, a puppy, a hamster, an uncle, some martial arts classes, some Trojans, some Astroglide, a mortar and pestle, and some broken solar panels. The good bit is that because the car is bigger you have more body to smear the panels over.

Don't forget to video it and read up about Boyes.

Originally Posted by Rob Withey

You'll need some bananas, some epoxy, a very large oven, a puppy, a hamster, an uncle, some martial arts classes, some Trojans, some Astroglide, a mortar and pestle, and some broken solar panels. The good bit is that because the car is bigger you have more body to smear the panels over.

and when you got all that, try to beat this car
http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.js...6c11a3&lang=en
Funny thing is, the solar challenges (race) takes place in Australia

+ 1 more year to add a CarPC

this is the funniest thread ive seen on this forum, and a very strange signature advertising it