Are We Trading Dependence on Oil for Dependence on the Grid?

Most major auto makers have recently released, or plan to release in the near future, a plug-in electric model car that allows owners to completely bypass the gas pump. While the initial idea is extremely promising for those of us who are being bled dry at gas stations everywhere, I still wonder why auto makers haven't thought outside of the box. There is still this basic belief that people need to "plug-in" a car to something for the car to run. Haven't these auto giants ever heard of, THE SUN? In the past, the arguments I have uncovered from the automobile manufacturers is that the solar technology is too expensive and consumers won't buy it. Is the technology more expensive than thirty to forty thousand dollar price tags on today's hybrid electric vehicles? I am one consumer that would be willing to spend my money on a solar electric hybrid that could utilize the power of the sun to charge the batteries of the car.



Now, there are some automobile companies currently offering solar options on their hybrid cars. For example, the Nissan offers a solar panel spoiler option on the Nissan Leaf. The website is a little unclear, but it claims that the solar panel spoiler charges essentials without draining the battery. What this appears to mean is that the solar panel will charge things plugged in to the electrical outlets inside the car, so power will not be drained from the battery operating the car. Not bad, but still not quite what I'm looking for. Also, Toyota is offering a similar option on the new Prius. A solar panel can be added to the roof of the Prius and it offers the same charging capabilities as the Nissan Leaf. While that is a nice thought, I think it is time for auto makers to step up and aim a little higher.



Greg Johanson holds the Guinness record for creating a solar powered car that travelled over 41 miles per hour without any batteries. He achieved this with his partner Joel Davidson in 1984! The technology was available over twenty-five years ago, and still has not been developed for use in main stream automobiles? Lately, Mr. Johanson has developed and patented solar roof for the Toyota Prius. This low profile modular solar system allows for extended use of electric mode of the Prius. Mr. Johanson's company, Solar Electric Vehicles, produces the solar panels and says that they can be installed in one to three hours.



Can you imagine a world where you don't have to stop at a gas pump, or even plug-in your vehicle at all? I can, and hope that a major auto manufacturer will step up to the challenge and lead the way. My car sits in the parking lot of my building, out in the sun, for over eight hours a day. I just hope someday, a company figures out how to harness all of that wasted energy and pump it into my car.