Comment Re:What next ? (Score 1) 107
Amount of solar energy striking a car, sunny day, noon: 1000 W/m2.
Area of solar panel of typical solar car: 8 m2.
Do the math: 8000 W light incident on solar car.
Amount of energy consumed by typical solar car (not great, not terrible) at 35mph typical hwy driving, including periodic stops: 1600W.
Why this doesn't work in real life:
(1) Clouds come out, sun goes down, 1000 W becomes less (but that's not really a problem with battery backups)
(2) Cells aren't 100% efficient but more like 15%. Your 1000 W/m2 are now 150 W/m2, and your 8000 W array is now 1200 W.
I guarantee you once you get 40% efficient cells the solar cars will start to become practical in an engineering sense. Pooey on your argument!
Area of solar panel of typical solar car: 8 m2.
Do the math: 8000 W light incident on solar car.
Amount of energy consumed by typical solar car (not great, not terrible) at 35mph typical hwy driving, including periodic stops: 1600W.
Why this doesn't work in real life:
(1) Clouds come out, sun goes down, 1000 W becomes less (but that's not really a problem with battery backups)
(2) Cells aren't 100% efficient but more like 15%. Your 1000 W/m2 are now 150 W/m2, and your 8000 W array is now 1200 W.
I guarantee you once you get 40% efficient cells the solar cars will start to become practical in an engineering sense. Pooey on your argument!
