On Reducing Zero Emission Vehicles in California, What’s Up With This?

According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, “The Venturi AstroLab in 2006 was hailed as the world's first commercial electro-solar hybrid car.” It had a January 2008 expected release date according to the Wikipedia entry. But as indicated on the Gadgetell website, the Venturi AstroLab is currently priced at $115,811. Ouch!

On the other hand, Raymond A. Mardo III in “The Future Of The Solar Powered Car – Solar Powered Cars: An Alternative" writes: “As technology steadily advances daily, scientists and companies throughout the world continue developing the solar panel collectors in a size and cost needed to energize the solar cars and automibles [sic]. Solar vehicles could show themselves to the public in mass quantity sooner than later.” So, according to Mardo III, it’s simply a matter of time.

On photovoltaic (PV) or solar power technology, what makes this attractive is its power or energy supply emanating from one source and one source only: the sun. Using sunlight to produce energy and create electricity has allowed the photovoltaic cell to be used in numerous applications, transportation included. Unlike fossil fuel-produced energy, solar power generation puts absolutely zero pollutants into the air and water or on the ground, making it a tremendously eco-friendly technology. Besides, the supply of sunlight is virtually limitless.

Meanwhile, in 2007 a consortium of Canadian companies lead by Hymotion modified a Toyota Prius by incorporating the use of solar cells, whereby the altered car was able to generate up to 240 watts of electrical power provided there was full sun.

Thomas Heckel, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo mechanical engineering student and member of the school’s “Super Mileage Club,” commented on the Club’s “eco-car” which received national recognition due to the car getting an incredible 1,902.7 miles per gallon (of gasoline). He says that concern for the environment and fuel efficiency will drive interest in environmentally friendly designs. “High mileage cars are a definite possibility in the near future -- it’s just a matter of the public wanting them,” ("Driven to Extremes," by Scott Roark, Cal Poly Magazine, Summer 2007).

Not So Fast

With the current available technology, the energy required to power a conventional car such as an SUV just isn’t there. Also, given that sunlight isn’t available around the clock, the car would need an energy storage system of some sort, mainly batteries and, that “adds significant weight to a car, reducing its speed and acceleration,” says Indiana University’s Michele Ross. Power requirements are too demanding for the output photovoltaic cells are capable of producing. That’s probably the single biggest hurdle to overcome, adds Ross.

Over long driving distances, energy storage is imperative to sustainability. In order to keep on truck’n, stored energy would result in reductions in both acceleration and speed, according to Ross. However, when parked, solar-powered cars are actually able to build energy supplies, which would be sufficient to powering vehicles once in motion. All things considered, this doesn’t necessarily mean that widespread solar powered vehicle use isn’t coming.

Ross knows all too well the underlying reasons behind car manufacturers not already marketing solar cars. She says it’s due in part to solar cell technology presenting obstacles in propelling automobiles that typically are not found in other photovoltaic applications. “It has nothing to do with the technology to produce solar powered cars not being there,” she emphasizes. It’s the application of the technology that’s lacking.

Down the road

Today, the electro-solar hybrid is but one viable “eco-friendly” automobile alternative. Tomorrow, . . . who knows.

Large-scale corporations like Dell Computers, which sponsored the Winston Solar Car Challenge in 2002, are stepping up to the plate in their efforts to “advance the research necessary to make solar powered automobiles a reality,” Mardo III stresses.

“For the past twenty years, Panasonic has offered the Panasonic World Solar Challenge; and more than three hundred international teams have brought their cars to the event,” Mardo III writes.

Never say never

A photovoltaic cell-related breakthrough, where double-digit amperes of current and kilo-watts of power are produced at standard voltage level requirements (currently 12 volts DC) and all output from a relatively small solar array needs to happen. Then and only then will these vehicles be ready for commercial purchase. Is that time just around the corner? If so, meeting the state 2014 requirement of 25,000, 75,000 or even 100,000 ZEVs, might not be out of the question (unreasonable). However, at the same time there also needs to be significant incentive for doing so.

Alan Kandel is a concerned California resident advocating for pollution reduction and new, improved and expanded freight (and passenger) rail service. He is a retired railroad signalman previously employed by the Union Pacific Railroad in Fremont, California.