Solar Powered Cars

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Will worldwide developments lead to serial productions of solar cars?

Now that the Cash For Clunkers program has been sunset, industry analysts are focusing on the next big thing that will be bringing consumers back into the showrooms. Many are placing their bets on hybrid vehicles, electric cars, and the possibilities of solar cars.

The solar powered car is something that has long existed as a consumer item in science fiction and speculative fantasy novels. However, consumer prototypes have been almost non-existent. Those wondering when the solar powered electric car would hit the market haven't been given many rays of hope.

First interesting test runs of solar powered electric car

That's something that may be going to change. With its 2010 edition of the Prius, Toyota hopes to take the solar powered car off the development table and put it out on the road. Whether the launch will really happen is anyone's guess, but test runs have looked satisfactory.

Previously, though the solar powered electric car was in development all over the world, there was no chance of it getting to the consumer market. The solar cars just didn't have the features that consumers want. Many had flat, wide designs geared toward exposing the most surface area possible to the sun but not for day to day driving.

Racing solar cars had developed as a sideline adventure for wealthy experimenters and government development teams. Looking not unlike swooping paper airplanes, the cars could get up to impressive speed on straight tracks, but they weren't supporting multiple passengers, sound systems, airbags, or heating and cool units. It made them fun to look at but decidedly a fringe option.

However, the ongoing green initiatives and interested consumers willing to pay the hefty markups for development cars have encouraged more and more automakers to look at electric solar options. When the Trabant goes back into production in East Germany, the manufacturers are hoping to make it an all-electric vehicle supplemented by solar cells on the roof. A snap survey at the Frankfurt Autoshow in the fall of 2008 showed strong dealer and consumer support for such a model.

Yet both the Trabant and the Prius are limited edition models. They are not mass produced serial models of cars for the middle class car buyer. Instead, though they lack the visual appeal, it might be better to think of them in the same rare car class as the Ferrari or the Lamborghini.

The only way to bring price points down and really encourage car makers to design for the regular market is to support green design with not just vocal initiatives but with funding. Solar cars are expensive to produce, and though they can potentially outlast a traditional gasoline powered engine, the high initial sticker price for production equipment and consumer sales is a turn off. If the governments of the world are truly serious about helping to provide consumers with more options for green transportation, credits or tax deferrals for solar powered cars would be a worthwhile use of public monies.