Get Ready for Solar-Powered Electric Cars

Get Ready for Solar-Powered Electric Cars

Tesla put electric cars on the map in a big way, and after acquiring one of the U.S.’s largest solar energy companies, the company is looking to fuel up its cars with 100% clean energy from the Sun. But Chinese company Hanergy is looking to do it one better by skipping the power plant and putting solar panels right on the vehicle itself.

For those who might not have heard of Hanergy, the company claims to be the largest thin-film solar power company in the world. And this summer, Hanergy launched a quartet of solar panel-equipped cars, ranging from Solar R sports cars to more practical vehicles including a light truck and a futuristic looking people carrier.

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The cars are covered from bumper to bumper with as many solar panels as Hanergy could fit, and should generate between 8 and 10 kilowatt-hours of energy from 5 to 6 hours of sunlight. According to Hanergy, that will be good a 50 mile range, which should be plenty for most considering a recent study by AAA the claims the average American only drives about 30 miles a day. Hanergy says this should allow for a car that would never need to be hooked up to a grid.

Hanergy says its solar panels feature a conversion rate of 31.6 percent, although that could reach as high as 42 percent over the next 10 years. However, if you’re going on an extended trip, or have been suffering from a lack of sunlight, the cars can still be charged using traditional electric charging posts.

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