With all the advantages that solar energy brings with it, it is somewhat surprising that more people don’t consider it as their primary source of energy. After all, let’s face it: the sun is free, accessible, and abundant. It’s definitely a popular choice among homeowners with enough roof space, especially since tariffs and taxes on solar devices are coming down.
However, while solar energy is perfect for homes, businesses, and large-scale applications such as factories and power plants, it is not so great for smaller ones such as cars and some other transportation vehicles.
The main reason behind this is that solar panels are extremely heavy and therefore a bit cumbersome to move. In addition, they are a finite resource and only produce a certain amount of energy per day. For these reasons, solar energy doesn’t make much sense for smaller vehicles.
Vehicle Aspect Ratio
If you’ve ever driven a car, perhaps you’ve seen the aspect ratio of the vehicle. This is the relationship between the width and the length of the vehicle. For example, if you compare a car with a bus aspect ratio to a car with a truck aspect ratio, you’ll notice that the former are much narrower and shorter than the latter. This is important to keep in mind when deciding where to mount the solar panels on your vehicle.
The reason why this is relevant is that the energy produced by the solar panels has an inverse relation to the AR of the vehicle. This means that as the width of the car increases, so does the energy produced by the panels. Similarly, as the length of the car decreases, so does the energy produced by the panels. Keep this in mind and you’ll be able to make the right choice when choosing a location for the solar panels on your vehicle.
Noise And Vibration
Another important thing to consider if you want to use solar energy for vehicles is the noise and the vibration that the panels produce. If you’ve ever driven a car, you’ll know that they can be quite noisy. This is especially the case when the engine is running, which is most of the time when you’re in a car. However, even when the engine is not running, a car can still make a lot of noise due to wind and road noise.
This is why it’s important to look at all the alternatives before committing to one, because some cars are designed to be more quiet and vibration free than others. If you’re dead set on using solar energy for your vehicle, but you want to make sure that it won’t disturb your neighbors, you may want to look at alternative options such as hybrids or electric cars. These kinds of vehicles produce less vibration and noise than regular gas-powered cars, which makes them a better choice for a residential application.
Limited Availability
While the sun is always available, this does not mean that solar energy is always accessible. This is because the amount of energy that you can collect from the sun varies by the time of day and the location of the sun in relation to the Earth. For instance, if you try to produce energy during midday hours in a city, you’re going to be very limited in what you can achieve, especially if the location of the sun is somewhere near the horizon. This is why solar energy availability varies, making it not so reliable.
Size And Shape
One of the major disadvantages of solar energy is that it is very small in scale. This means that you’ll need a large amount of it in order to produce meaningful amounts of power. In addition, solar panels come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which can make it difficult to find one that’ll fit perfectly on your vehicle. This is why it is preferable to have a team of professionals who can help you find the best possible panels for your unique situation.
Cost
The cost of solar energy is going down each year, which makes it more affordable. However, this is only part of the story. Just like with any other energy source, the price of solar energy depends on a variety of factors, including the type of sun you have and how much power you need. In addition, the cost of solar energy varies by location, so you’ll have to take this into consideration as well if you want to save money.
Mobility
Another important consideration if you decide to use solar energy for vehicles is the issue of mobility. This is important because you may not always have access to a road or even a rooftop for the installation of the panels. If you’re searching for a place to install the panels, you may have to look for a location that’s far from home or work so that you can get enough sunshine to produce electricity.
Even then, you may not be able to use the panels if there’s no access to electrical outlets or if the power grid is down. In cases like these, it’s preferable to have a back-up system ready in case the power goes out, or to collect solar energy during off-peak times to maximize production and minimize costs.
Durability
Finally, let’s talk about durability. This is something that all energy sources have in common, and it’s important to keep in mind if you want to maximize the lifespan of your device. After all, you’ll be looking at this thing for the rest of your life, which is probably going to be a lot more than 10 years. This is why durability is something to consider when choosing a source of energy for your vehicle. In addition to this, the components used in solar devices are typically more durable than those used in other energy sources, so you’ll have to take this into consideration as well if you want to save money in the long run.
With all the benefits that solar energy provides, it is no wonder that more and more people want to incorporate it into their everyday lives. However, as much as we would like to believe that the sun is always shining and the Earth is always warming, this is not necessarily the case. This is why, as with any other energy source, it’s important to do your research and choose a reliable and trustworthy provider. In the end, while solar energy can be a great choice for residential and small-scale applications, it doesn’t make much sense for larger vehicles.