Just about every kind of energy alternative has now been tried in a car except perhaps the use of solar panels. Wyoming-based Brunton says that it plans to develop solar cells for cars.
The cells come as a thin film about the size of a laptop and can cover an area of about 3-feet by 4-feet when unfolded. The company says that the panel is not designed to provide energy when the car is moving. Instead, it will be used to jump start a car through its battery.
Still, many who are familiar with the technology believe that solar panels will soon be incorporated into the body of a car to generate power to run electric vehicles and provide a boost to hybrid engine battery packs.
Now comes word that a company called Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide has acquired 25 percent stake in German solar energy company ASOLA Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems. Quantum, which plans to use the cells for commercial, residential, and — most importantly — automotive uses, could start manufcturing cells starting this year.
Our take? How nice. We’ll believe solar-powered cars as soon as we see hydrogen stations on every corner to fuel up our fuel-cell cars. That, or E85.
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