Solar Panels on Cars?

[AlboOfBorg]

With the rising cost of gas, why haven't we seen more solar panels on cars? Perhaps instead of being "on" cars they could replace a section of the painted metal on the roof, trunk door or hood of the car? Granted solar panels are expensive, but wouldn't parking your car outside on a warm sunny day eventually make up for the expense of the panels?

 

[anti-matter]

Solar panels will shorty crater in price due to a big improvement in the manufacturing process. I bet you see them on cars here in the USA within the next 4 years...and all across roofs too. I've seen them on cars down in Australia...but none here.

 

[JustAFriend]

This was just discussed:
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=54812

Basically, the maximum amount of power falling on each square yard of the Earth's surface is a bit over 1/2hp.

There is just NOT enough power there (no matter how much techno-dollars you throw at the problem) unless you want to run around in cars like the Solar Challenge vehicles (http://www.americansolarchallenge.org/) that are totally impractical for real-world day-to-day transportation....

 

[Saturn0660]

And once again.... it's not about replacing batts.. It's about "topping" off your batts in your car while you're parked. every little bit helps.

 

[Chaos Descending]

And once again.... it's not about replacing batts.. It's about "topping" off your batts in your car while you're parked. every little bit helps.

QFT.

Imagine all that Arizona sun energy wasted by falling onto my car's roof while it's parked out in front of work for 11.5+ hours each work day.