Comment Re: no free lunches (Score 1) 222
Let's investigate this math a little further.
According to http://firstlook.3tiergroup.com/solar, Los Angeles averages 5.11 kWh/m^2/day in horizontal insolation.
So, at a within-reach 20% efficiency, you get 6 * 5.11 * 20% = 6.1 kWh/day.
The GM EV1 had either 18.7 or 26.4 kWh of storage, depending on configuration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1), with a range of about 150 km for the low-capacity batteries. Which makes for at least 8 km/kWh, in a car that could go 0-60 in 6.2s.
So our all-solar commuter car could go 48.8 km/day. Enough for short commutes in sunny climates?
- Engine: 2.4L 166-hp inline-4
- Outside dimensions: 172" x 72" (4.4m x 1.8m)
So that's 122 kW (not half a megawatt) and 7.92 m^2 roof area. (It's probably more like 6 m^2 unless you can put panels on the windows)- Outside dimensions: 172" x 72" (4.4m x 1.8m)
According to http://firstlook.3tiergroup.com/solar, Los Angeles averages 5.11 kWh/m^2/day in horizontal insolation.
So, at a within-reach 20% efficiency, you get 6 * 5.11 * 20% = 6.1 kWh/day.
The GM EV1 had either 18.7 or 26.4 kWh of storage, depending on configuration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1), with a range of about 150 km for the low-capacity batteries. Which makes for at least 8 km/kWh, in a car that could go 0-60 in 6.2s.
So our all-solar commuter car could go 48.8 km/day. Enough for short commutes in sunny climates?
