The Outlook for Solar Powered Cars
Posted on January 24, 2007 in the category
As emissions laws were being enforced throughout the United States, in the 1990s many colleges and universities began looking at the possibility of solar powered cars. The findings were that the solar collectors, for the cars to run, were too large to be put into the vehicles. Improvement progresses on the solar collections to make it achievable. For those unconvinced, don’t be shocked if it doesn’t all come together in the near future. There are many global organizations working on making it possible.
Researchers are aware that using fossil fuels for cars has a negative impact on the environment. They examine the amount of pollution a vehicle creates. Students have the chance to work together with their research and other students to evaluate how to use solar energy for cars. They research the challenges involved and work to find answers.
For the past 20 years, Panasonic has offered the Panasonic World Solar Challenge. More than three hundred teams from around the globe have brought their car to the event. Many find developing solar powered cars to be the challenge of a lifetime. They continue to find ways to get one step closer to being successful. The next Panasonic event takes place in October of 2007.
The Winston Solar Car Team developed an education program in 1993. They provide learning materials, on-site visits, and workshops for high schools across the country. The program is designed to motivate students in the areas of science, engineering, and technology. The program consists of a two year education program. At the end of the program students have the opportunity to display their work.
The first Winston Solar Car Challenge took place in 1995. Ninety schools participated in the program with nine schools building cars to race. The 1997 challenge involved three hundred and fifty schools in five countries. Eight cars qualified to run in a six hundred mile race from Dallas, Texas to San Antonio, Texas. As the participants continue to grow, so does the challenge. The 1999 race was a sixteen hundred mile race. In 2002 Dell Computers became a sponsor of the event.
Solar powered cars still have many bugs to work out including how to keep them operating on a daily basis, day or night. New designs continue to emerge, and the challenge of solving this mystery continues to grow around the world. Regardless of who successfully completes the concept of solar powered cars, it will offer a safe alternative to using fossil fuels, and that will be a benefit to each of us. The environment can be made better by the successful development of an economical solar car.
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