Chinese Company Unveils Solar-Powered Car for $5,560

[n2doc]

Written by Alex Felsinger
Published on October 16th, 2008

The Zhejiang 001 Group has produced a tiny car powered entirely by the solar panels on its roof.
The panels can charge the battery enough for a 3-mile trip in just one hour. After a full charge of 30 hours in the sun, the car can travel up to 90 miles.



The vehicle was debuted at the 29th Zhejiang International Bicycles and Electric-powered Cars Exhibition last week. The panels are not integrated into the car’s design, but rather stand above the car much like a typical roof-rack attachment.

According to the company, the panels can absorb up to 95 percent of solar energy, but can only transform 14 to 17 percent to electricity.

Roof panels aside, the car is nearly identical to China’s popular economy vehicle, the Cherry QQ, which is pictured above. Only ten of the solar cars have been manufactured so far, but more production is planned. Unfortunately, you won’t have much luck finding one outside of China.

http://gas2.org/2008/10/16/chinese-company-unveils-solar-powered-car-for-5560/

[Greyskye]

1. Good luck charging it up under the sun over there...

At least in the major cities. :eyes: This is Shanghai, on a 'sunny' day.

[aquart]

2. Too much for us to think of?

Too difficult a concept?

[JuniperLea]

3. What? And lose out on the tax cred for a Hummer?

What are you thinking?

Just because you and I and the Chinese have thought ahead is no reason to think the American auto companies can! Sheesh!

[annunakigohome]

4. Of course not! There has to be another reason for our "lapse"

See, you can't grab the sun and hog it from another country. You can't trademark it, start a war over it...So you pretend that oil is more important a commodity. Distract, distract, distract.

Drill, baby, drill, my ass...

[aquart]

5. Hanging oilmen is illegal, right?

I'm sick and I don't want to suffer alone.

[annunakigohome]

7. No need for that; just sit back and wait for these Chinese cars...maybe order them thru Canada?

It shouldn't be illegal to sell Chinese cars in America if they won't create a viable, inexpensive version here ASAP!

[One_Life_To_Give]

6. With 6 Airbags and 45MPH offset Impact tests, Yes

Delivering a solar powered car that can meet all the unlisted expectations US consumers have for a car is not possible for $6000 per car, nor likely at $60,000 per car.

30hrs of Sunshine on a a micro-compacts roof is going to net about 10KWHr. About enough energy to propel the Carbon Fibre Volkeswagon 1L for 90 miles. Given that this vehical doesn't appeare to have the very expensive Carbon Fibre Unibody nor it's exceptional Airodynamics. It's not only going to be very light like a childs toy but have a top speed that is way below 45MPH (20-30 tops IMO).

Now if thatws what you want for a a car there arre plenty of Custom Car shops out there that will try to make something to that specification. Wether or not the States allow it to be placed upon the roadways could stioll be a problem though.