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A hybrid car has two engines: one runs on gasoline, the other runs on electricity.
Solar energy can be captured to produce electricity, and this can be used to charge up the batteries of a hybrid car.
This saves gasoline which is running short all over the world.
The idea of solar panels helping hybrids is fun and cute, but extremely not workable under present technology. A 75 watt solar panel could produce about 1/2 horsepower over a two minute period IF the batteries could be charged under full sun for ten hours. A smart car has a 71 horsepower engine in it (for reference purposes) The average area inside the USA gets less then four hours of full sunlight per day. The level of help a solar panel would provide is nothing compared to the cost of the panel. Solar is completely useless in terms of energy for a automobile.
Answer:
Current hybrid cars are not capable of being charged from an outside source. All charging comes from power that is generated by the gas engine. You don't plug in a hybrid car for recharging. Electric solar cars are still a possibility for the future. The biggest problem with a solar operated car is the placement of the solar collectors. With future technology, the ability to capture solar energy with less surface area could make a solar vehicle more viable. The other part of the equation is having a storage battery pack that is efficient. Again, with newer technology, both of these objectives could be met.
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∙ 12y ago
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Are there solar hybrid cars that are fuel saving and environment friendly in California?
Solar hybrid cars seem to be something that would be beneficial when living in a sunny state. Here is a resource on solar hybrid cars in California: http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/contact-us.shtml
How do solar cars refuel?
Solar cars refuel just by regaining energy from the sun. They use all of that energy to create fuel in order to run. Some solar cars refuel by using wind energy! Solar cars gain energy from the sun or from the wind to store the energy in their fuel tanks and they use up the energy to make fuel that allows them to travel for long distances! Solar cars have no limits on how many times they can regain energy from the sun or from the wind!
What are all of the hybrid electric cars?
Hybrid cars are not the same as an electric car. Electric cars run on electric power exclusively, while hybrid cars use a combination of electric energy and another fuel to run.
Do solar cars need fuel?
No because they are powered by solar energy! Hence the name 'Solar Car'
Why are hybrid cars better than electric cars?
If electric cars are charged using renewable energy then they are better than hybrid cars, because hybrids still burn some fossil fuels. However, electric cars charged with fossil fuel energy would not be better than hybrid cars.
How have engineers helped society 'go green'?
By developing more energy-efficient, fuel-conserving machines. By developing hybrid cars. By inventing gadgets that use non-conventional sources of energy like wind, hydro and solar energy
Do hybrid cars emit co2?
Yes, they are still using fossil fuel as the energy supply
Types of fuel efficient cars?
Hybrid cars like Civic hybrid and cars with DICOR like Indigo DICOR
What is one problem with fuel cell cars?
one problem with fuel cell cars is that if they run on solar energy then if theres no sun that day it won't have the power to reverse it into energy and run the car with the sun energy needed!
How do solar cars work during the day?
Solar cars gain energy from the sun or wind to make fuel or power that have been stored in their batteries or fuel tanks. They use the power in their batteries or fuel tanks to run during the day!
Are fuel efficient and energy efficient cars the same thing?
In a basic way, but fuel efficient cars usually refers to gasoline or diesel cars that get great mileage per gallon, energy efficient refers to any vehicle including hydrogen, electric, and hybrid.
How do solar cars work during the day and night?
Solar cars gain the energy from the sun or from the wind to store it in their batteries or fuel tanks. They use the power to make fuel that allows them to travel during the day and night!
