There certainly is no point in having solar panels on cars while one can collect more energy from a rooftop. I am no expert in this subject but from what I gather, apart from solar panel efficiency issues, there is also the problem of efficient storage. If we had better storage systems for energy harnessed from renewable sources, then may be half the challenge is solved and we could start recharging our hybrid cars at night ready for the next day. I believe that the CSIRO's UltraBattery is heading the right way in terms of energy storage. The Ultrabattery has been tested on a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in the UK and has been very successful (over 100,000 miles - without one recharge I believe). So they are looking at developing this technology for use with renewable energy like wind and solar. For more info on the Ultrabattery -- http://www.csiro.au/science/Ultra-Battery.html. Anyway, I think it won't be long before the technology for recharged vehicles is available. The question is whether it would be available to households or would a multinational take it up and run with it..... and in such case we may see gas stations with electric mains. The scary thing about this is, are we going to end up paying tax on sunlight? We're already going to pay tax on carbon emission. But then it could the other way round... in Australia they already have government subsidised solar panels for households. So for the future for Aussie folks, perhaps a little early right now, buy an ultrabattery installed HEV, recharge from ultrabattery bank that collects and store energy from roof solar panels... and lets hope sunlight will still be free!
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There certainly is no point in having solar panels on cars while one can collect more energy from a rooftop. I am no expert in this subject but from what I gather, apart from solar panel efficiency issues, there is also the problem of efficient storage. If we had better storage systems for energy harnessed from renewable sources, then may be half the challenge is solved and we could start recharging our hybrid cars at night ready for the next day. I believe that the CSIRO's UltraBattery is heading the right way in terms of energy storage. The Ultrabattery has been tested on a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in the UK and has been very successful (over 100,000 miles - without one recharge I believe). So they are looking at developing this technology for use with renewable energy like wind and solar. For more info on the Ultrabattery -- http://www.csiro.au/science/Ultra-Battery.html.
Anyway, I think it won't be long before the technology for recharged vehicles is available. The question is whether it would be available to households or would a multinational take it up and run with it..... and in such case we may see gas stations with electric mains.
The scary thing about this is, are we going to end up paying tax on sunlight? We're already going to pay tax on carbon emission. But then it could the other way round... in Australia they already have government subsidised solar panels for households. So for the future for Aussie folks, perhaps a little early right now, buy an ultrabattery installed HEV, recharge from ultrabattery bank that collects and store energy from roof solar panels... and lets hope sunlight will still be free!