Originally published in the Lower Island News, Victoria BC
September/October 2008, Volume 25, Issue 5.
THE SUN’S IN OUR GRASP
October 14, 2008
By Diane Walsh
(Washington DC and Victoria) Solar energy is viable—not only as an accepted energy option for heating homes, but also as an energy source for charging car batteries.
Louis Palmer—Swiss owner of the first solar-supported car ever to drive around the globe—is rallying for change on the environmental front. Lucky for us, he (with the endorsement of the Swiss embassy) took to the time to speak to us in an interview when he was in DC so Victoria could learn more about this initiative.
Not having spent a penny on fuel, Louis Palmer’s purpose is to demo what he’s calling the Solar Taxi—and in doing so—get North Americans excited and on the bandwagon to mobilize support for increased funding for solar technology. Having driven through several major US and some Canadian cities (including Vancouver) his round-the world historic trip has given impetus to this lofty goal.
Disappointing for the Solar Taxi team—and also rather sad from our country’s perspective—the Harper Government simply refused to send any of ‘his’ actual delegates to greet Mr. Palmer when he passed through.
Albeit there were hundreds of Canadians thrilled to see it.
When it’s a fact—energy absorbed from the sun into solar panels can generate enough power to charge an electric car’s battery system. Palmer’s car, a compact sporty model cruising at speeds of 55 mph* and producing zero emissions—is a strong case in point—in the battle for environmental solutions. It pulls a trailer of solar panels from which it gets its energy. The energy feeds two high-quality batteries which are contained in the actual car.
Now due to how they are readied for use, the solar cell area (with a cell efficiency converting radiation to electrical current) is said to be recorded at 16.6%.
Thanks to the innovation of Swiss company, Q-Cells, the current gives a charge to the battery producing electricity to run a motor—on pure sunshine—for 60 miles.
Side bar: It leads one to wonder if there is a Canadian company currently working on developing the infrastructure to make it possible for solar panels to be produced, on masse, for the specific dual purpose of heating homes—and—powering the batteries of electric cars. To think that this initiative could be happening on Vancouver Island. Any bites, anyone, anyone? Canada, at the very least, should take stock of the innovation of the Swiss. In short, the concept of the car is: it gets to use a significant amount of the sun’s power. Can’t get anymore environmental than that. This project is directly in sync. with the movement toward transferring society toward renewable energies and eliminating the dependence on oil.
Of course since the sun does not shine all the time. The car has to have enough energy (stored in the batteries) to function on cloudy days—and it does. Palmer says, “Because the sun is not shining all the time—with my array [from home]— I can [that is, theoretically have the capacity to be able to] produce enough energy to drive close on 8,000 miles a day in Switzerland”.
Anywhere in sunny parts of North American—say, Southern BC, Southern Ontario, or the Southern states— "it would be more" [as there’s more direct sunshine] he explains.
The trailer behind Palmer's car supports fewer panels needless to say than would be the case, as it were, at his home. The solar taxi concept is a demo of the technology possibilities. When Palmer explains his numbers he is referring to the maximum capacity that could derived in the case of his array set up.
It goes without saying that others could be enjoying the same potential assuming comparable material and geographic advantage, which is why Palmer is emphasizing the usefulness of this innovation particularly in places where it's very sunny for much of the time. Hence the motivation for the round-the-world trip is to illustrate car batteries that are being powered by—yes, solar panels.
Moreover, solar-assist technology offers the opportunity to give back to the grid what we don’t need to use. That’s the added benefit for the environment—the "goodness" of un-used current going back into the grid.
Now you’re probably wondering, why the heck would I want to drive around in a soldered off two-seater sports car dragging a trailer of solar panels behind me everyday. Be a touch cumbersome. Well, you wouldn’t. The Solar Taxi is but a smaller example—an exhibit of how we, as a society, could potentially better utilize the power of energy the sun has to offer us in everyday life.
But you may be asking, in terms of the consumer, what does this would look like? Down the road, when governments get on board and reward solar ‘purchasers’ with tax breaks and incentives you would have the option to buy solar panels for your house roof—and at a reasonable cost.
With this in place, you could not only replace and/or supplement (depending on your wishes) your existing heating system but you could also—charge your vehicle—at home. The charge would give you many miles a day. Sounds good in the sunny states where the vast majority of people do less than 150 miles daily, commuting.
The Solar Taxi ‘experiment’ shows us it’s possible to depend on the sun, exclusively. Highlighting the environmental benefits of marrying solar and electric power use, Palmer says, “I can demonstrate just how dire the global climate situation has become and how many sophisticated solutions to lower greenhouse gas emissions already exist.”
Therefore if at one time or another you’ve considered installing devices on the roof of your house to make better use of the power the sun has to offer consumers, but didn’t do so, because of the out-of-reach cost of solar panels, you just might be given a second chance to go green.
Barack Obama’s recent speech suggested that he is serious about funding solar technology. Should he become the next US president, new initiatives at a federal governmental level may entail tax breaks for people willing to seek energy alternatives.
The Solar Taxi was named the official taxi at the last Climate Change Conference in Bali. And the Swiss ambassador to the U.S., Urs Ziswiler explains, “Solar energy already plays a large role in Switzerland, and through our ThinkSwiss program we hope to share technological solutions such as the Solar Taxi to address the issue of climate change”.
In the same vein, David Goldstein, president of The Electric Vehicle Association of Washington D.C., which is co-sponsoring Palmer’s visit to Washington with the Swiss Embassy, also highlights the critical need “to educate people about the benefits of electric/solar transportation. Electric vehicles are much more efficient than internal combustion engines.”
Exorbitant fuel prices make even the die-hard SUVer consider other energy possibilities. Despite evidence of a slight fall in the price of oil [announced September 9th 2008] costs remain at an irrational level for any forward-thinking economy.
Things have to change—and they are. Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. met with Louis Palmer on September 2, 2008. He’s called upon government to introduce incentives for industry to boost production of products, which will make electric cars more available, and with added credits for those choosing the solar-assisted options.
Many people, in fact, would like to make new choices for energy alternatives—if only they could locate them. But options don’t exist to the extent they should. Many, quite logically, are still asking the question: Who killed the electric car anyway? Why is it that charge stations were left dormant, in California, as a case in point? And, why is it so, that only the hybrids are promoted with any intensity in the market place, when this vehicle still depends on gasoline?
The cost of electric cars is still too pricey. It’s hard to be green these days. It takes money to eat organic and drive electric. It’s fair to say that being green is, expensive. A better environmental future aside, drivers are desperate to find a way not to have to buy gas at today’s prices.
Consumers will be driven by what’s a bargain. Bringing down the costs to buy into solar technology is, key.
The hybrid is one of the most touted options in the car industry. The hybrid vehicle provides a gasoline engine and fuel tank plus electric motor and rechargeable battery. When the gas engine is running, it also charges the battery.
However, as Palmer clarifies, “the charging energy amount from the gas engine when driving downhill is very, very little. A hybrid vehicle is still consuming more gas than a small car. In city traffic, it has an advantage, but on highways, it is using more gas than a VW Golf Diesel”.
He goes on to say, “A hybrid car has a higher motor efficiency because the motor is always running with the ideal RPM (rotation per minute) of (if I’m not mistaken) 3000 RPM. No matter if you drive slow or medium speed or if the car stands still, with this RPM the motor may be (I am guessing) 35 % efficiency. On a highway this RPM must be increased, so the hybrid uses much more petrol and has less efficiency—25% maybe”.
Thus, rightly defending the advantages of the Solar Taxi, Palmer adds, “it consumes 8 KWH per 60 miles. 3 times less than a conventional car because of its aerodynamic and weight benefits, and 3 times less because of its motor efficiency. Therefore, all in all, it consumes 1/9 of the energy compared to a conventional car. 8 KWH is an equivalent of 0.25 of a gallon (0.8 litre) of petrol for 60 miles”.
It’s hard to argue with the numbers. Constructed over three years with the help of four Swiss universities, the displaying of the Solar Taxi demonstrates to the average person on the street the innovation that is here.
The potential exists. Now we just have to take the innovation seriously. Governments from many countries must mobilize and support electric, supported by solar energy, vehicles.
What a wonderful world it could be.
Makes you want to join the solar movement—change the way we do, driving!
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*Note: measurements are US usage. For conversion purposes, 60 miles = 100 km
More info on Louis Palmer and his team at: www.solartaxi.com
Diane Walsh can be reached at mediageode@gmail.com