Solar Powered Cars vs. Hybrid Cars

Here is one car showdown so exciting your feet will be sweating like a cloudburst! It’s not only exciting; it’s also a smashing world-saving material!

In the blue corner, we have the all efficient, multi motored, multi powered hybrid!

In the red corner, we have the single-seater, all naturally pure energy powered solar car!

Ding! Ding! Ding! Time to check out the nit and gritty and determine which could most likely be the better vehicle!

Let’s begin with the solar powered car. What exactly is it and how does it work?

This is a vehicle that utilizes solar panels, usually fitted on the roof of solar sedans (the very few that exist anyway), to convert energy from the sunlight to power its motor. Many (probably most) solar powered cars are built for the racing tournament called “World Solar Challenge” that happens a lot in Australia. It’s just like formula 1, only more solar! Sounds fun right? It definitely is! The question is, if these buggies can be a substitute to the petrol guzzlers we all know so well. And if it is indeed possible, how come it isn’t showcased in the market just yet? Well, let’s find out!

Some great things that solar powered vehicles can bring include the following: gas-free autos, unlimited energy(as long as the sun is around), pollution free and zero tailpipe emissions, plus a lot of money savings! A world devoid of polluting gas guzzlers has been a dream unrealized by so many car nuts all over the globe. The solar powered car seems to be one the best alternatives for the future of automobiles, at least theoretically. The question that begs answer, is it really possible? Is the future going to be filled with speeding buggies powered by the sun? The answer to that is currently uncertain.

The World Solar Challenge and these solar racers may indeed be extremely awesome but they are also reportedly uncomfortable and a bit too warm for traveling comfort, specifically, if one has to drive quite the distance. The very few tries at solar-sedans have also reported the same problem. It seems that harnessing the heat energy of the sun leads to a pretty heated cabin as well. Also, powering the cars through panels also poses a big problem of the need for a significantly wide spec of surface area. Today’s designed cars just aren’t big enough to carry all the solar panels needed to power the function needs of even the average daily commute of a driver. Lastly is staggering cost. Building a solar car may cost from $30,000 up to a massive $1million.

Never be too quick to write off solar powered vehicles though, for technological advancements are always just around the corner and we never know what discoveries we might stumble upon.

Now let’s take a look at the hybrid car. How does it work and how will it fare against the solar powered contender? Let’s find out!

A hybrid is basically a car with two functioning motors; one utilizing the traditional petrol while another is powered by an electric battery. The main objective of the hybrid is to provide better mileage at lower emission rates. A very good, almost perfect combination isn’t it? Efficiency is certainly at its best in the hybrid vehicle. It is able to provide all the features that a normal gas guzzler has, at the cost of much less pollution. You may be thinking, with a petrol engine present, how can there be less pollution? First of all the motor in hybrids, though gas-powered, is not as big as the normal internal combustion engine; it is smaller and more technologically advanced to provide less emissions while at the same time being an efficient machine.

So this seems to be the perfect substitute for the vehicles of today as well as the future, what’s keeping it from replacing the gas guzzlers?

Every year hybrids are improving both technologically and in sales. However, as obvious as it may seem, very few hybrids are actually out on the road right now. Certain factors such as speed, reliability and cost seem to be the main disincentives. Hybrid motors cannot yet match up to internal combustion engines in terms of power. This is attributable to their smaller engine and electrical motor. Accelerating in a hybrid may take ages! Charging spots are also posing a problem. The good news is that every year more and more charging stations are established and high performance electric motors are expected to hit the market soon so watch out, the game might just change!

So who won in this weird of a match-up? I’d personally go for the sun powered vehicle, only if it was a perfected technology. Of course this may be just a tad unrealistic, at least for the time being. In a pragmatic point of view, the hybrid definitely wins as the ample replacement to the traditional petrol consuming vehicle. In the end both of them are built to be environmentally friendly to the Earth a happier planet. I guess what really matters is for the environment to be winner.

Author bio:

+Kristen Francis is a tire dealer by profession who loves to indulge herself in good food during her free time. She not only loves food, she also loves to write reviews on food and automobiles as well. She currently has her energy focused on her new 7 seat suv. A foodie by heart, she stays true in her writingcraft. “To write is to appreciate the things that you love.”