Chinese Company Plans Affordable (But Weird-Looking) Solar-Powered EV
By John O'Dell October 27, 2008
Just in time for a global financial meltdown and worldwide energy crunch, a Chinese-built solar-powered car (right)
arrives, with an asking price of only $5,500.
Built by China's 001 Group, a company based in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the electric car made its public debut earlier this month during the 29th Zhejiang International Bicycles and Electric-powered Cars Exhibition in Hangzhou.
For those poor saps who somehow missed the show - and you can count us at Green Car Advisor amongst them - this solar-powered economy-car was undoubtedly the star attraction.
Then again, our guess is that any other four-wheeled exotica might have been in somewhat short supply, limiting the competition for stardom at the show.
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We thought this little car (which strangely lacks any catchy model name) worth mentioning, if only for what it represents: Green-thinking is finally making strides in China's formerly red-hot economy, which until now has valued non-stop growth above environmental concerns.
Like their counterparts in Japan, Europe and America, Chinese auto manufacturers are quickly adapting their cars to a world economy crippled by market crashes and rising fuel costs, not to mention growing consumer demand for more eco-friendly vehicles.
The 001 Group's first solar-powered economy car is a good, though far from perfect, step in the right direction.
According to a report published by China.org, the 001 Group has already built 10 of the cars. Driving range is estimated at 93 miles per 30 hours of solar charging. And yes, the base price is reported to be only 38,000 yuan ($5,550).
As with anything that is solar powered - be it a car or a hot water heater - only a small percentage of captured solar energy can be transferred into usable power. In the case of the 001 Group's solar car, a 95 percent capture rate of the sun's energy converts to only 14 to 17 percent of driving power.
Another problem is the awkward installation of the car's solar panels on the roof (above).
Mounted on top of what appears to be a rebadged Chevrolet Spark city-car, the solar panels look like a huge airfoil. They can hardly be good for aerodynamics, and certainly don't help the aesthetics. A thin-film solar cell covering on the roof itself would have made for a much more refined design.
However, a visit to the 001 Group's official website reveals one possible answer to the car's strange-looking solar aerial. According to the company's homepage, would-be carmaker 001 group's main business is manufacturing TV antennas!
Nick Kurczewski
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"93 miles per 30 hours"
All guesses here:
30 hours of perfect solar bliss to charge. Given the sun moving in the sky and clouds and such, we're talking a week to charge? 93 miles at 20mph on a charge? Maybe.
Wait a week to slowly drive 93 miles? You're better off walking.
brn....
We didn't say it was a good product, only a good step in the right direction.The key here is this little line: "...worth mentioning, if only for what it represents..."
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