Comments on: Solar Powered Car

By: Dab11082

Dab11082 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:57:51 +0000

Very cool little bug!
I drive a ‘75 as well.
I’m not extremely all concerned about the environment and so forth, however, I’ve always loved the thought of electric powered cars and solar energy.
Thanks for the video.

By: morph995

morph995 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:58:38 +0000

@Zamboro
I just finished using some Gel batteries…did you know you find some lithium batteries on the internet for about $100 more than Gel Batteries…lithium is here and you can find it for cheap if you look hard enough…I just bought a 48v20AH lithium pack for about $470…but you can buy that same pack for about $430 now whereas an SLA pack of the same size would be about $250 - $300…so lithium is only about $100 - $150 more

By: shannden

shannden — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:53:03 +0000

Dear Jay
You might try Zamboro’s approach and have a set of batteries on charge half way to school and back. It seems to work well for him
Richard

By: JayOhEnEnWhyEx

JayOhEnEnWhyEx — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:11:26 +0000

I’d love to drive on sunlight but I need more than just 40 miles to get to school and back. Help and suggestions please

By: shannden

shannden — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:45:48 +0000

Dear Zamboro
Thank you–it’s nice to hear from a fellow electron addict (it gets a bit lonely here).
Lithium has a BIG problem: 95% of it is found in just one place—Bolivia (and they don’t like us any more than the Arabs). We could end up just changing drug pushers.
That’s why I advocate an alternative energy DC grid to run along our major freeways. You would draw your car’s power from it like a bumper car at the fair. And it would charge up your lead acids for off-grid driving.
Richard

By: Zamboro

Zamboro — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:39:19 +0000

I don’t have to wait. I just swap batteries, and keep going. I realize you can’t do that with pricier li-ion battery packs, but I’ve got mine running on slide-out gel batteries. I keep one set charging at home while I’m using the other. When I’m running low I swing by the apartment, swap the depleted set for the charged set, then keep on driving. By the time I’m out of juice again, the other batteries are fully charged.

By: Zamboro

Zamboro — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:36:58 +0000

To be honest, while I accept the theory of global warming, that isn’t why I drive electric.

It’s because I love how they sound, and how they handle. They make a tense humming noise like a large power station during accel, and a “beeooo” as the brakes kick in, like a spaceship landing. And they’re peppy as hell. They take off instantly when you tap the pedal, as electric motors deliver peak torque from a standstill. It’s a great feeling, and it’s the real reason why people get hooked on EVs.

By: Zamboro

Zamboro — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:32:15 +0000

Climatologists agree with you. It is a natural cycle. They already knew all about that, being climatologists. What they’re claiming is that we’re currently seeing unprecedented warming IN ADDITION to the natural trend, because of industrial air pollution. It’s important to fully understand what a theory entails before you decide to accept it or reject it.

By: Zamboro

Zamboro — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:30:47 +0000

Just wanted to add that while what you say is true of NiMH and Lead Acid batteries, it is not true of lithium based batteries. Lithium is a non-toxic mineral salt, not a heavy metal, so no smelting is required in the production of lithium batteries.

In addition, all batteries are eagerly recycled because they contain valuable elements that can be extracted and reused. Nobody’s going to throw away the contents of a ten thousand dollar battery pack when most of it can be reclaimed.

By: shannden

shannden — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:24:50 +0000

Dear Starbucks
The point I am trying to make is that we can drive our vehicles on sunlight instead of carbon. Carbon is destroying the planet.
As for the 40 mile range, in these early days of transition to solar driving, we need to start somewhere. There are millions of cars that drive less than 40 miles a day. Convert them first, and let technology catch up.
As for the 5 hour charge time, a DC/DC recharge takes approx 7 minutes—so charge up while you’re buying your Starbucks
Richard