Is there a clear winner in the dispute between solar cars and electric vehicles?

The debate between solar cars and electric vehicles is heating up as the world works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While electric vehicles are steadily gaining popularity, solar powered vehicles are a relatively new concept. So how do they work?
Vehicles are equipped with solar panels that absorb the energy generated by the sun and convert it into electricity. This energy is directed to a battery, usually attached to luggage, where it is stored until needed. But while solar-panel vehicles have some benefits, such as being environmentally friendly and durable, they also come with their own challenges. For example, the amount of space needed to install a solar panel in a car is impractical. Not to mention that these cars are only suitable for certain climatic conditions. At the same time, electric vehicles are environmentally friendly and come in many forms: plug-in hybrids, mileage extenders, and battery-powered vehicles. They are considered by experts to be the best choice due to convenience and better fuel economy. However, solar panels can power other parts of the car, such as the air conditioner. In addition, equipping an electric vehicle with solar panels could allow it to travel a few extra miles on a single charge.
What should OEMs and the ecosystem supporting next-generation vehicles bet on? Swapnil Palve, senior analyst at market research firm Market Research Future, explains why there is only one winner in the debate between solar and electric vehicles.
“These solar electric vehicles use the same energy source as electric vehicles. It is not commercially viable to install solar panels on vehicles. On the other hand, electric vehicles are very advanced vehicles based on a modern electrical propulsion system consisting of power converters, electric motors and a battery as a source of energy.”
Chris Rogge, technical specialist at Black & Veatch, who specializes in environmentally friendly transportation solutions, believes that arguing between the two types of vehicles is the wrong way of thinking. That’s why he advises the industry not to compare one clean-energy vehicle with another.
“Integrating photovoltaic (PV) with electric vehicles presents technical and economic challenges and opportunities that can lead to unique vehicle designs and use cases. Today, it is necessary to balance the form factor limitations of available photovoltaic technologies with vehicle aerodynamics, weight, regulations safety and UV-resistant battery pack is a challenge for automakers, limiting the recent mass production of electric vehicles and photovoltaic applications to HVAC auxiliary loads and continuous charging or maintenance of the vehicle’s 12-volt battery that is integrated with vehicles with large surface area and constant exposure to solar light where normal charging options are limited and daily or weekly low range is required. Typical applications for this application are school cars buses with short city routes, electric assistance, vans and trailers for last mile delivery. We see more trailer electrification coming. Recreational vehicles can benefit from built-in photo tags. A 4×4 SUV that could benefit from battery life in the sun, and has been doing so for years. In the worst case scenario, a 4×4 SUV that might end up in a remote area with no way to recharge could travel several miles on a charge in the sun for a day or two. in electric vehicles. And there are many applications [inaudible] that use the available surface on electric vehicles that can augment or supplement the actual daily use of most vehicles today with more traditional charging capabilities. As my colleague Paul Steiff said, it’s just The other day when we were discussing this issue, he said that solar cars could be part of the overall off-car renewable energy solution, but the discussion is more about electric cars and solar cars, and not against each other. it’s not just one of them, but also in and around electric vehicles Photovoltaic integration What Paul said about power generation really brings up one of the things I’m most excited about the ubiquitous electrification of our transportation industry, which is what it gives us the ability to sustainably power critical human infrastructure, endlessly recycle our materials, and create new opportunities for future generations to work and live in a better future, I love being part of the Black & Veatch transformation.”
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The debate between solar cars and electric vehicles is heating up as the world works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While electric vehicles are steadily gaining popularity, solar powered vehicles are a relatively new concept. So how do they work? The vehicles are equipped with solar panels that absorb the energy generated by the sun, […]
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