Solar-powered vehicles on road are still more of an oddity than a reality. But going by recent news, the sun may yet take wings in air and sails at sea!
Toyota’s 60,000-ton, seven story cargo ship can carry more than 6,200 cars at a time and regularly does so, transporting Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles from Toyota Motor Co. factories in Japan to Toyota’s 144-acre spread at this port in Los Angeles.
Toyota installed a test array, comprising 328 solar panels, on the top deck as an experiment to see if such a system would work effectively aboard a car carrier. There has been no problem since the panels were installed last December. No leakage, no wiring issues.
Electrical engineers at Toyota’s headquarters in Japan have found solar modules that are three times more efficient than the ones, in terms of using less space and generating same power.
Meanwhile, Solar Impulse, the solar powered test flight will take off by end of the year. With a 63 metres wingspan and 12,000 solar PV cells, it is armed with 400 kg of batteries to store the energy for night flying. The plane will not attain great speed but if it works, it could mean a lot for the aviation industry.
If land availability is what bogs down solar energy, why not lay out solar panels out there in our seas? Yes, we will still need cables to transport the energy, and water proofing of the panels. But can it not be studied? Do share your thoughts.
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