Solar Electric Car

MojoJeff · 03-04-09, 09:38 AM

Koenigsegg Quant Revealed: Solar-Powered Supercar Sedan : Auto News

512hp and 527 ft-lbs of torque
62 mph in 5.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 171 mph

Got to get me one of these. It's a shame that Car manufacturers have not focused research and development for these types of Solar-powered electric cars. Judging by this car it definitely seems to be a real alternative to the gas-guzzling oil-burning cars of today!!

Later,

Jeff

cheeseman0777 · 03-04-09, 09:42 AM

wow. that is freaking awesome. i love the stylining too.

for a great find.

1stgen5spd · 03-04-09, 10:16 AM

that thing is ugly as hell!!! but i love the thought behind it! its nice to see koeniggsegegggsgeegeeegngegngneieengggeigneggg doing something so productive

cheeseman0777 · 03-04-09, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stgen5spd

koeniggsegegggsgeegeeegngegngneieengggeigneggg

:lmao: man...

sap · 03-04-09, 11:56 AM

Calling that solar powered seems like a bit of a stretch, it's described as an electric car that has some solar charging capability.

I haven't paid that much attention to solar panels in the last couple of years, but last I checked solar cars had to be super light and aerodynamic. I'm not saying it's not possible, but this sounds fairly exaggerated

antik · 03-04-09, 12:11 PM

Huge output numbers...

And a range of approximately 2"

Here's to hoping somebody knows a few things about solar generation and battery capacity technologies up and coming that I don't...

MojoJeff · 03-04-09, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antik

Huge output numbers...

And a range of approximately 2"

Here's to hoping somebody knows a few things about solar generation and battery capacity technologies up and coming that I don't...

The main power for the vehicle, however, comes from two electric motors that can be recharged in just 15 to 20 minutes. The electric motors give the car a range of 500km (311 miles), which is extended by the solar generated film.

A little farther than 2"

cheeseman0777 · 03-04-09, 05:54 PM

^lol.

ACK N UP · 03-04-09, 06:01 PM

I'm an engineer for a solar company and there is no way in hell that a car powered by solar can put out that much power. It ain't happening.

sap · 03-04-09, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MojoJeff

The main power for the vehicle, however, comes from two electric motors that can be recharged in just 15 to 20 minutes. The electric motors give the car a range of 500km (311 miles), which is extended by the solar generated film.

A little farther than 2"

a) You don't recharge motors. I know you're just quoting the article, but it's probably illustrative of how much the author actually understands.

b) Range will almost certainly depend on usage. Don't expect 500 kms if you actually try to use all that power.

Similar to my last comment about solar panels, I'm not sure how quickly battery capacity has improved. It takes a crazy amount of energy to move a 4000 lb car around. Having only a 15-20 minute charge time for all that capacity, starts to smell like BS to me

MojoJeff · 03-04-09, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACK N UP

I'm an engineer for a solar company and there is no way in hell that a car powered by solar can put out that much power. It ain't happening.

It's not solar powered. It runs on electric motors "enhanced" by the solar "skin".

MojoJeff · 03-04-09, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sap

a) You don't recharge motors. I know you're just quoting the article, but it's probably illustrative of how much the author actually understands.

b) Range will almost certainly depend on usage. Don't expect 500 kms if you actually try to use all that power.

Similar to my last comment about solar panels, I'm not sure how quickly battery capacity has improved. It takes a crazy amount of energy to move a 4000 lb car around. Having only a 15-20 minute charge time for all that capacity, starts to smell like BS to me

Well it still looks pretty cool and seems like a good start in regards to a more powerful "electric" (with a touch of solar) powered vehicle.

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sap · 03-04-09, 07:40 PM

Power's never a problem with electric motors, the weight of them and the batteries to run them are the big issues.

A group in the senior design class here did an electric lambo one year. I forget what kind of range they figured they could get, but I think the 0-60 time was esimated to be sub 4-seconds. It's definitely cool stuff, I've just got a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to extraordinary claims

reboticon · 03-04-09, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACK N UP

I'm an engineer for a solar company and there is no way in hell that a car powered by solar can put out that much power. It ain't happening.

A solar stirling could if you made the entire car mirror finished

antik · 03-04-09, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MojoJeff

The main power for the vehicle, however, comes from two electric motors that can be recharged in just 15 to 20 minutes. The electric motors give the car a range of 500km (311 miles), which is extended by the solar generated film.

A little farther than 2"

The point I was trying to make was better delivered by these folks:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACK N UP

I'm an engineer for a solar company and there is no way in hell that a car powered by solar can put out that much power. It ain't happening.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sap

Similar to my last comment about solar panels, I'm not sure how quickly battery capacity has improved. It takes a crazy amount of energy to move a 4000 lb car around. Having only a 15-20 minute charge time for all that capacity, starts to smell like BS to me

Solar generation technology has been improving at a rate of tenths of a percent improvement in output per unit surface area since its invention. Battery technology hasn't exactly been making huge leaps and bounds either though it's doing better than solar cells. Both technologies would need to improve at a rate an order of magnitude or two faster than they are currently in order to satisfy the claims made of this vehicle's performance. Granted, the luxury of a prototype or concept is that you can wait for exactly that, but it's going to take a hell of a break through in order to make it happen.