Solar car tours the world

Am I wrong to be hopeful of the future? Am I wrong even in the face of what I read which at times brings me to tears to actually still have faith that the human species will do what we must do to continue the sustainability of our only home? I don't think so, and the main reason for it is my child. I have someone in my life whom I love more than life itself and who gives me a reason to live and to care about this planet who will inherit it from me... and I will be damned if I am going to disappoint him.

So in that spirit I look for stories now that challenge the imagination and make us see that even in the face of adversity, even though we make it, we DO have the power to reverse it. Humans are capable of such terrible nightmares as we see daily, but also, we are capable of beautiful dreams and in coming together for a common purpose. The climate crisis is that purpose for me. All of humanity now rests on the next decade. I say, let's turn that adversity into an opportunity for hope. We may be very surprised at what comes of it.

Wow! Way cool. Great idea!

more proof, thanks to creative people.

thank jan for spreading the word.

Can somebody just once make a solar car that doesn't look like shit and go at a decent highway speed?

Perhaps that will happen when subsidies and tax credits aren't continually voted down by this Congress for solar energy while they give all our tax dollars to coal and nuclear, and when people actually demand it. This at least shows that we do have the technology and capacity to accomplish what those who would rather see us in negativity about progress state to the contrary.

This does'nt look like a very safe or comfortable way to travel around the world. Considering man made global warming is lie. But if it cheaper to operate and they can make it affordable it is probably not a bad idea. I wounder does it come in a 4 wheel drive suv style? Then I might consider it. I hop this guy makes a windfall profit. is'nt capitalism great!!!

Manmade pollution isn't a lie nor is climate change. Or are you stating that coal is clean and doesn't cause asthma or cancer or pollute our air and water? It isn't just about global warming/climate change that we need to get off fossil fuels. It is about saving this planet and ourselves from the toxic waste of coal and nuclear and other dirty energies, and the oil that does nothing but lead us to perpetual war. And yes, capitalism is great when entrepreneurs like him aren't bought out or muscled out by larger companies...

Very cool. Maybe I can see the Solar Car when it cruises through Washington D.C. at the end of this month.

We will never get productive research on alternate energies if we leave it up to the oil companies to invest into them.......

Great Idea but the design needs work.

I'm a big fan of solar energy but I doubt we will solar cars in the future.

Instead we will probably have electrical cars with massive batteries that will allow greater range and speeds, and perhaps the source for this electricity will be stationary solar panels + other renewable energy sources

The design is flawed for hwy driving for for short jaunts around towns/cities, this can work.

If it can be done for a reasonable price to the consumer, there's a market there. If they try to jack up the price because it's going to be trendy and cool, it won't.

Consumers have to be able to afford it.

I'd buy one.

With a little ingenuity and the right capital, someone could easily enhance a hybrid semi truck by putting solar cells on the top of tractor trailers.
What's to stop us from putting solar panels on top of all cargo vehicles?

Great point! I watched a Discovery channel episode talking about how inefficient the design of our cargo trucks are. By making the design more aerodynamic and implementing solar/hybrid technology that would make a significant impact in the amount of emissions and gas usage.

rightbrain: I don't see why we can't do that either... and on cargo ships as well.

And in general, sure, the design may need a little work for the consumers who would drive them on highways, but the bigger picture here in this particular story is that this man has driven all over the world and spent not one penny on gasoline on a zero carbon trip. That tells the detractors who say we can't do this in no uncertain terms that we can, and that is an inspiration.

This article is uplifting and brings me hope. I feel frustrated because inventions are not something that comes easily to me. I want to work towards solving our problems just like the folks in this solar car are doing.

No, it doesn't look sexy. But I don't think these folks were trying to win that particular competition.It's transportation. Transportation is a vehicle that gets you from point A to point B. Great transportation gets you back to point A. When we realize this we might be able to sqeeze a couple of hundred more years out this planet, as a species. Great post Jan.

I think this is way-cool and agree it does look a little weird. But then I didn't like the look of the Aztec either. What about the battery? Is it just as bad for the environment as what's in a hybrid, which is worse than our standard vehicle battery. Also, this is about $$$$. I want to save $$ and have it to spend/use where I choose. Besides, where is the scientific proof that man is causing the carbon emission problems??

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people
who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."

— Dale Carnegie, writer and lecturer

dress it up and make it a little more efficient and you'd have a deal for most people

Can't wait for more of these to come out.

cool, does it have a dvd player?