This is my first post here. But I really want to discuss Solar cars vs. Electric cars vs. Gasoline cars. Two may come out in stores in the next few years, while one has been out for many years. Which of the new ones do you think will make more of a difference? Or do you think Gasoline will still reign? I think that Solar Cars are going to be best, because for now, the Sun has enough energy for us. I don't think that having to go every few years to get some more electricity will be terribly tedious, but Solar cars never have to be refueled. Gasoline cars have always been debated and most times people have said that they are bad. I think as I said before that Solar cars are the best of the group.
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Solar Cars vs. Electric Cars vs. Gasoline Cars
- Thread starter BlueGroudon
- Start date
Right now it's the hybrids that are the best (the electric-gasoline ones). Fully usable (ie efficient) solar powered cars are a long way off in the future, and even the functional electric cars that are out nowadays are more expensive overall than your standard automobile (from what I've heard). However, they're likely to come out with cheaper, more efficient models in the near future.
Im gonna have to say gasoline cars because they produce the most fire and it puts those bitch ass glaciers in their place.
Working in an electronics engineering division of a major automotive supplier, this comes up alot in casual work discussions.
While I voted electric, the consensus seems to be something that it will be something that hasn't really been theorized yet. It will be along the lines of hydrogen vehicles though. As of now, electric vehicles are inefficient in their travel distance to battery size ratio and take a considerable amount of time for a full charge. With hydrogen, you're basically converting a (hopefully clean) form of electricity into a fuel with an enormous amount of energy stored in it and is quick to replenish.
There still isn't a way to produce hydrogen that takes roughly as much energy as you put in as it yields, however. Hopefully we'll get there with time or it will be something else that has had very little research like I said earlier.
Solar cars are just gimmicks that aren't really practical, electric vehicles still have major flaws, and there is no way we can continue our dependence on gasoline at our current rate of consumption.
While I voted electric, the consensus seems to be something that it will be something that hasn't really been theorized yet. It will be along the lines of hydrogen vehicles though. As of now, electric vehicles are inefficient in their travel distance to battery size ratio and take a considerable amount of time for a full charge. With hydrogen, you're basically converting a (hopefully clean) form of electricity into a fuel with an enormous amount of energy stored in it and is quick to replenish.
There still isn't a way to produce hydrogen that takes roughly as much energy as you put in as it yields, however. Hopefully we'll get there with time or it will be something else that has had very little research like I said earlier.
Solar cars are just gimmicks that aren't really practical, electric vehicles still have major flaws, and there is no way we can continue our dependence on gasoline at our current rate of consumption.
Hydrogen is probably the car of the future. Amusingly, a state Rep for NY (IIRC) drove to DC for the new congressional session in a Hydrogen Car.
Well, actually, it was 2 Hydrogen Cars. And both had to be towed back to their dealer in 2 SUVs because there's no Hydrogen stations between NY and DC.
So his Green Trip didn't work out so well.
Unfortunately he never pegged it when he got there as an infrastructure problem, and instead used it for arrogant holier-than-thou eco-cultism.
Message control, people.
Well, actually, it was 2 Hydrogen Cars. And both had to be towed back to their dealer in 2 SUVs because there's no Hydrogen stations between NY and DC.
So his Green Trip didn't work out so well.
Unfortunately he never pegged it when he got there as an infrastructure problem, and instead used it for arrogant holier-than-thou eco-cultism.
Message control, people.
Reminds me of the Conservative Leader David Cameron here. Cycles to work every morning to play up his green credentials.
Was quite embarassing when he had to admit that actually, someone follows him in a limo with his briefcase in it.
Only two people for Solar including me? What's so bad about Solar?
Hydrogen (that should be extracted from water by solar power) based vehicles are really the ones to have an eye out for, I personally got to ride a hydrogen based motorcycle and I have to tell you, its so quiet that you cant hear it, and has enough power to reach 120 km/h in just a couple of seconds.
No contamination whatsoever (only water comes out), high power, quiet as it gets, seriously my computer is far more noisy.
No contamination whatsoever (only water comes out), high power, quiet as it gets, seriously my computer is far more noisy.
Ummmm.... A lot of people have to drive their cars at night. And while they are not driving the car is left in the garage, when does the car ever get a chance to get sunlight? Anyone that works night shifts is not going to use a Solar car and anyone that does a lot of driving at night away from work still isnt going to get a solar car. And in some locations where it is always cloudy or rainy or snowing (Washington, the mid west in winter) are not going to be as effective when their car is getting little sun. And what about in Alaska where they have no sunlight for close to 6 months.
Solar just wont work very well. Not to mention our technology only lets us get very little energy fromt he sun. It would take far more energy then we could get out of the solar panels to runt he cars for long periods of time.
It will be an indirect transition, and at some point gasoline powered cars and alternative fuel cars numbers will be on par with each other where alternative energy will then surpass it.
I see biodiesel being a just temporary bridge to hydrogen/electric vehicles when we start to run dangerously low on gasoline. It still has the exact same problems as gasoline in terms of emissions and will just increase the demand for vegetable oils.
In the grand scheme of things, our future fuel source will be stored in some sort of chemical that releases enormous amounts of energy when burned, is likely to have no emissions, is easily harvested/created, and has no harmful side effects.
Sorry, thats one word.
Electric cars are essentially less efficient standard cars in most of the US considering we get most of our power in those areas from coal/oil, so you're still using fossil fuels and putting particulates into the air but you're also limited to a short range. Solar power is great and all but honestly in most of the United States it won't work, get serious with yourself. I'd love to see you try to run a solar car in Washington, it might work out ok for two or three months of the year before the endless clouds of fall, winter, and spring roll in.
What we really need is a ductile room temperature superconductive material to replace our shitty copper wire for transmitting electricity. You know why birds love to rest on power lines? Because the majority of power generated is wasted as heat while traveling through lines, a superconductive wire would make our current infrastructure ridiculously powerful, combine it with more research into solar, tidal, wind, and geothermal energy and we could do away with fossil fuels pretty easily in the US.
We could make a ridiculous amount of solar power in Nevada, which is about 90% uninhabited sunny wasteland anyways. Wind energy is readily available all through the midwest, tidal energy can be drawn from most places on the coasts, and we've got the Cascades and the Yellowstone area as two major geothermal hotspots that could potentially be exploited. All of that hinges on a much more effective transportation method though.
I suppose that's not very relevant to cars though, Hydrogen is the next likely technology, it has its kinks but it shows more promise than anything else. Biodiesel cuts into the food supply and still gives off emissions, both of which are bad for us.
What we really need is a ductile room temperature superconductive material to replace our shitty copper wire for transmitting electricity. You know why birds love to rest on power lines? Because the majority of power generated is wasted as heat while traveling through lines, a superconductive wire would make our current infrastructure ridiculously powerful, combine it with more research into solar, tidal, wind, and geothermal energy and we could do away with fossil fuels pretty easily in the US.
We could make a ridiculous amount of solar power in Nevada, which is about 90% uninhabited sunny wasteland anyways. Wind energy is readily available all through the midwest, tidal energy can be drawn from most places on the coasts, and we've got the Cascades and the Yellowstone area as two major geothermal hotspots that could potentially be exploited. All of that hinges on a much more effective transportation method though.
I suppose that's not very relevant to cars though, Hydrogen is the next likely technology, it has its kinks but it shows more promise than anything else. Biodiesel cuts into the food supply and still gives off emissions, both of which are bad for us.
The main issue with hydrogen is that it's hard to transport and store. If those problems are resolved, then sure, hydrogen cars are awesome.
In the meantime, some sort of hybrid petrol/electric car works quite well.
NB: I seriously doubt that hydrogen-powered cars would be all that dangerous in a crash. Petrol is far, far more reactive than hydrogen, and has a higher energy content. Also, petrol is easier to ignite.
In the meantime, some sort of hybrid petrol/electric car works quite well.
NB: I seriously doubt that hydrogen-powered cars would be all that dangerous in a crash. Petrol is far, far more reactive than hydrogen, and has a higher energy content. Also, petrol is easier to ignite.
i think electric or hydrogen powered cars are in our near future. i imagine that we will also utilize solar power in conjunction with electric cars because it would be silly not to.
i am eagerly awaiting the first fully electric car that can travel more than 500 miles on one charge to enter a GT class racing circuit or the f1 circuit. instantaneous power is delicious. the main thing i see holding it back are the weight of the battery or batteries and the cost of materials trying to make them more efficient, even on a self recharging car.
i am eagerly awaiting the first fully electric car that can travel more than 500 miles on one charge to enter a GT class racing circuit or the f1 circuit. instantaneous power is delicious. the main thing i see holding it back are the weight of the battery or batteries and the cost of materials trying to make them more efficient, even on a self recharging car.
Of course that would be the goal, but finding such a viable superconductor is still neigh impossible at this stage.