Solar Energy in Transportation

As we all know solar energy is generated from the sun’s radiation and it can be converted into electricity or heat. It is free and thanks to development in technology, we can use even more of the solar energy that is available to us all the time. Solar energy is not only sustainable, it is renewable and we will never run out of it. It is a natural source of power as it is possible to generate electricity.

The production of solar energy requires little maintenance. Once the solar panels is installed and working at maximum efficiency, there is a small amount of maintenance required each year to make sure they are in working order. They are a producer of energy without noise. There is absolutely no sound made from photovoltaic panels as they convert sunlight into usable electricity. There are advancements in solar panel technology, which increases the efficiency and lower the cost of production, thus making it, cost-effective.

Solar transportation is one of the important uses of solar energy in our daily life. An innovative practice to make use of the sun is with transportation powered by photovoltaic (PV) energy.

Railroads, subways, buses, planes, cars and even roads can all powered by solar, and solar transit is now a popular offering in the renewable energy sector. Solar power can also used to provide power for communications, controls, or other auxiliary functions.

Solar vehicles are not for practical day-to-day transportation devices; they are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, often sponsored by government agencies. However, indirectly solar-charged vehicles are widely available and solar boats are available commercially.

The world’s first solar-powered bus was introduced in 2013 in Australia. Adelaide’s city council was on the mission to reduce the city’s carbon emissions because more than 30% of it came from transportation, both public and private.

The Tindo (name of the buses) buses are unique as they are 100% electric, which means a pollution free buss, unlike gas-powered and hybrid fleets. The bus does not produce power; it doesn’t have any solar panels installed on it. It is run by a battery that is charged at the Adelaide central bus station before setting out on routes around town. On an average weekday, the bus covers about 200km before it’s battery is drained and needs a recharge.

Solar buses are also helping China and reduces carbon footprint while maintaining efficient mass transit in densely populated cities like Beijing. Finally, solar cars are also playing an important role in racing competitions around the world, especially in Australia, where the Solar Spirit model is highly popular. With these advances and more, there’s no question that solar power is transforming transportation sector around the world.

For more details: Green Companies