Category Archives: SolarChargedDriving.com
Christof Demont-Heinrich is founder, creator andeditor of SolarChargedDriving.Com, which he launched in September 2009.SolarChargedDriving.Com is a unique site devoted to covering andpromoting the synergy between solar energy and EVs (electric vehicles)and PHEVs (plug in hybrid electric vehicles). In addition to offeringreaders a mix of how-to information, news feature and newswire coverage, and news analysis, SolarChargedDriving.Com is an interactive community: Readers can create their own blogs, post pictures and video, createtheir own photo and video galleries, and meet other solar-chargeddrivers online. A journalism professor at the University of Denver (DU), Demont-Heinrich is a lifelong environmentalist who loves to bird, hike, camp, and bike. Articles l Homepage
Solar Catching on in the NFL
There are few things more American than football. Millions of Americans gather around with friends and family every Sunday to watch all of the passes, plays and possessions. It’s no surprise, therefore, that advertisers have capitalized on the huge amounts of attention paid to the NFL and its games. It has not been until recently, [...]
Solar Tree Installed at GM Factory $GM
General Motors’ Warren, Mich. facility is the latest GM installation to plug into solar-charged driving. Envision Solar International recently completed a so-called Solar Tree® structure at the GM site. The Solar Tree® will shade and charge six electric vehicles while also providing renewable, solar-electric energy to GM’s facility. The Solar Tree® incorporates Envision’s CleanCharge, “column-integrated” [...]
Solar Companies: Snow on Solar Panels is Overhyped
I’ve noted before that solar installers don’t take snow on solar panels seriously, they typically brush it off — pun intended – as an inconsequential issue and/or maintain that snow will melt quickly off your home solar system. I’m not going to get into the specifics of how, in certain circumstances — including our own [...]
Are PHEVs Greener than EVs?
Are plug-in hybrids generally more environmentally friendly and economically efficient to produce than pure EVs? They may be according to a study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University and summarized recently by Edmunds Auto Observer. According to the CMU researchers, EVs with larger battery packs may actually produce more emissions than those with smaller packs — [...]
EV + PV Strikes Again in Sunpower/Nissan Deal $SPWRA
The number of solar industry + auto maker partnerships just keeps on growing. In a collaboration announced today, Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) and SunPower Corp. will team up to help Nissan LEAF electric vehicle owners learn how a residential solar power system from SunPower can reduce their carbon emissions and control the cost of [...]
EV Stations Come to Switzerland
Solar-powered EV charging stations are popping up all over the world, including in beautiful Switzerland. iKratos, a German solar company based in Nuremberg, Germany, has constructed one of Switzerland’s first solar-EV charging stations in Weissenohe, just off of the B2 Autobahn. The solar-powered EV charging canopy will produce about 3,000 kWh of electricity per year, [...]
GE Partners with REC Solar on PV+EV $GE
Yes, the American solar industry is really starting to wake up to the potential of solar PV to power EVs and the potential of EVs to power PV growth. Take, for example, REC Solar, the solar company that installed our 5.59 kW residential system here in Colorado about year and a half ago. It’s joining [...]
How Snow Wastes Solar kWh
Snow season is upon us again on Colorado’s Front Range – we had about eight inches of wet, heavy snow fall here last night and today (Oct. 25-26, 2011). That means a substantial dent in home solar production. At least it does for our 5.59 kW, 26-panel, two-string, central inverter REC Solar installed system. I [...]
Japan Loves Solar Mopeds
Solar-charged mopeds anyone? The Yamaha electric mopeds parked underneath a series of small solar arrays in the picture above will soon be available for rent in front of the Kokokei JR Station in Tajimi Citi-Gifu Prefecture in Japan. The solar-charged mopeds are part of an effort by Tajimi City Electric Bike Leasing Organization to promote [...]
Did You Know? Gas Cars Use More Electricity Than EVs
Quick-draw critics of the electric car often criticize EVs because, in their words, “Electric cars simply replace a tailpipe with a smokestack.” The gist of their argument is that emissions still occur, not at the tailpipe but at the electric power plant. That observation is usually followed by the statement that 45% of our grid [...]
Westport Connecticut: PV+ EV Coming Soon
Westport, Conn. is getting closer to its goal of providing 20 spaces for electric vehicles to plug into the solar system that they hope to install on the town’s Saugatuck Metro-North train station. Late last month, the Westport, Conn.’s Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to accept a state grant in order to start the project, [...]
It’s Official: PV + EV Saves $$$$
British Gas recently released statistics that suggest the financially beneficial potential behind using fully electric cars in comparison to gas-based cars. According to the statistics, EV drivers could save up to £1,700 ($2,645) by using a typical 2.52 kW solar panel system. This system, which costs approximately £11,500 ($17,893) to install, would end up costing [...]