NICE WORK BOB... Any updates... ??? Where you successful at charging only using the sun?? I'm choked abvout the mandate being lifted too. It's great seeing people takin it upon themselves to make electric vehicles reality.. The govt here in canada has squashed peoples dreams of buying electric vehichles too
Do you leave that battery set-up and inverter at work, or do you lug that in the Renault every day? That box of stuff can't be light. That's got to detract from the range significantly. Awesome set-up, though. It would be nice if these things were everywhere... kinda like gas stations are... :-/
I didn't set it up to save money. I could not plug in for safety issues. The solar panel, 8-12V deep cycle batteries for storage, the inverter, I also have two 400W wind turbines all cost well over $4000. I did it because I wanted to see if it would work.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Expensive. Solar panels cost $5 a watt. Unless you get the stuff for free, its way more expensive than gas. Batteries die after few years. I think driving a Civic is cheaper than this. Batteries cost $200 a piece, and might last you 2 years or so. Nothing will ever beat energy contained in a drop of gas. We just need new ways to make it. Maybe grow the crops over oceans or something. To use electricity, batteries need to get lighter, cheaper, stronger . Need cheaper re-charging.
I agree with everything you say, BUT I like how 'cool' it is to drive a car with no emissions, which has an efficiency near 80% and makes no noice at a stop light. And by 2009, wouldn't you think we'd have gotten away from burning something the way our caveman ancestors did?
@UncleBob1957 lol i agree! like WTF. its 2011 and we still have harsh internal combustion engines or (ICE). thats horrible. we are kinda behind on transportation technology!
hi great idea .. im currently building a ev ,wandering if would be better running solar to battery then small dc motor to wired alternator then to battery then to dc ac converter to charger ??? just a thought here ??? lonnie
what is needed is that darn university to fork out and build a solar parking roof/charge garage so this guy doesn't have to lug all that shit around. And get the kids driving electrics now. And get a good engineering shop class going to innovate something in the EV world. Oh.. if only I ran the world...sigh
Exactly - semiroofs with power panels -even some that folllow the sun around ? -, so that you car can even stand in the shade and be much comfortable to climb into after a long day OUT of the sun.
Exactly - you could just have simple, relatively inexpensive "semiroofs" over each parking space with solar panels - maybe even some that follow the sun around in its path - and then as a side bonus have a much more comfortable car temperature after a long hot day OUT of the sun - far less need for energy expensive air conditioning.
I wouldn't be surprised if the republicans tried to claim the sun as the property of the US government and begin taxing the world for using it, of course in the name of world peace. It will be renamed Mobile.
You are quite right...and very observant! The panel only generates about 250W on a bright sunny day for maybe 1.5 kW-hrs of energy over 6 hours, only enough to power the car about 7.5 miles based on 5 miles/kW-hr. I now have a wind turbine up to charge the batteries! Stay tuned for the video.
You really need a charger per battery in the car. That way you can equalize the battery charge and not cook your weakest battery.
Ideally you'd like an isolated DC bus with buck-boost converters to also equalize discharge to get maximum life from the batteries. Right now, your range is limited by your weakest battery.
What most of you that are responding are missing is this.This is one man on a VERY LIMITED budget figuring out how to save this planet and human kind as a byproduct of his out of the box thinking and practical application of limited technology to an end.
What if it was legislated that the big three car companys had to develop a self sustaining electric car by 2010.
pretty cool - im only 13 but im thinking you could share these types of titles with discovery channels net or NASA goverment. Making these types of items for people later on in life would be very helpful. Liek most people start off by sending post 2 famous networks then it is shared and while more are produced u can make some money off of it by stocking for ur national electric shops like PepBoys or Other types places
i asked a guy at a solar convention about this; he said you need = or more voltage (than batteries) out of the pannels to charge your batteries. example, he said you can't use a 12v pannel to charge 72 volts regardless of diodes, because electricity won't flow, but yours seem to be putting out 12volts, so ... how is it so?
but it wouldn't be optimal and besides its a renault, perhaps the worst car in the world except for Fiats. The weith of the panels may crush the roof.
I have to lend my support to the Renault CAR since I have had no problems with it. the suspension is actually better than you would think because of the long wheel base. Making it electric has bypassed the gas motor problems it must have had.
I don't understand. Your car runs of 12VDC batteries. Why are you charging the external set of batteries, then inverting it to AC to plug into the car? Is it because you normally plug your car into a 110VAC socket at home? It seems like there is power lost to heat when inverting.
Yes, I only did it while I was trying out different batteries that had less range and I had to find a way to recharge at work. I wanted to use it as a teaching tool for my students at college. It is definitely not as conservative as simply plugging in, but using solar means it isn't costing any electricity.
im just wondering why didnt you run the solar panel through a regulator then into your cars batteries. i wouldnt it be alot more efficient?
drewb1994 6 months ago
NICE WORK BOB... Any updates... ??? Where you successful at charging only using the sun?? I'm choked abvout the mandate being lifted too. It's great seeing people takin it upon themselves to make electric vehicles reality.. The govt here in canada has squashed peoples dreams of buying electric vehichles too
jtgoodwrench 9 months ago
now there is paper thin solar panels. you might want to upgrade to that. and have it go across the roof.
SubaruXT6 11 months ago
I get it...I understand
toolman243 1 year ago
Maybe "Better Place" will make a go at it, and battery switch stations will be everywhere in a few years. Here's hoping. :-)
nephil1977 1 year ago
Do you leave that battery set-up and inverter at work, or do you lug that in the Renault every day? That box of stuff can't be light. That's got to detract from the range significantly. Awesome set-up, though. It would be nice if these things were everywhere... kinda like gas stations are... :-/
nephil1977 1 year ago
waauu, two weeks charging and twenty minutes driving? I charge 5hours 220v/16A and 1,5h I go.... but I pull for all EV good job for future... :-)
streamRBK 2 years ago
I liked the bush comment :)
i'm starting my own EV conversion this spring! I plan to have my 1990 Mazda Miata running on pure electricity before next year!
ferraridriver16 2 years ago
ha ha ha devry university
lyokofans 2 years ago
Just let the market place work, that's what killed electric cars to begin with, that's what is going to bring them back.
aMammoth 2 years ago 2
I didn't set it up to save money. I could not plug in for safety issues. The solar panel, 8-12V deep cycle batteries for storage, the inverter, I also have two 400W wind turbines all cost well over $4000. I did it because I wanted to see if it would work.
UncleBob1957 2 years ago 4
You has nice e-car.
altiks 2 years ago
just stap it too the roof..
tippo747 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Expensive. Solar panels cost $5 a watt. Unless you get the stuff for free, its way more expensive than gas. Batteries die after few years. I think driving a Civic is cheaper than this. Batteries cost $200 a piece, and might last you 2 years or so. Nothing will ever beat energy contained in a drop of gas. We just need new ways to make it. Maybe grow the crops over oceans or something. To use electricity, batteries need to get lighter, cheaper, stronger . Need cheaper re-charging.
83ls 3 years ago
i dont buy my batteries i get them from the junk yard they are many where i live just try and error some are fcked some are like new
i keep the good ones
they last for a good couple of years thats true
i make my own slar panels also
theoneagain 3 years ago
I agree with everything you say, BUT I like how 'cool' it is to drive a car with no emissions, which has an efficiency near 80% and makes no noice at a stop light. And by 2009, wouldn't you think we'd have gotten away from burning something the way our caveman ancestors did?
UncleBob1957 2 years ago 2
@UncleBob1957 lol i agree! like WTF. its 2011 and we still have harsh internal combustion engines or (ICE). thats horrible. we are kinda behind on transportation technology!
Lilmiket1000 7 months ago
hi great idea .. im currently building a ev ,wandering if would be better running solar to battery then small dc motor to wired alternator then to battery then to dc ac converter to charger ??? just a thought here ??? lonnie
lcalarea47 3 years ago
Sounds like your inverter has a fan. Maybe a fanless inverter would be more efficient? It must get hot in that storage container, no?
JakesOnline 3 years ago
That annoying sound you hear is an oil company dying somewhere..(sounds like that annoying bell on the cash register.. cha ching)
jabrinka99 3 years ago
Very interesting to see how you've done your solar recharging system. Simple and it works.
cant7think7clearly 3 years ago
hmmm...
ride a bike to work.
technogearhead 3 years ago
what is needed is that darn university to fork out and build a solar parking roof/charge garage so this guy doesn't have to lug all that shit around. And get the kids driving electrics now. And get a good engineering shop class going to innovate something in the EV world. Oh.. if only I ran the world...sigh
desertblbuesman 4 years ago
Exactly - semiroofs with power panels -even some that folllow the sun around ? -, so that you car can even stand in the shade and be much comfortable to climb into after a long day OUT of the sun.
ElvenDane 4 years ago
Exactly - you could just have simple, relatively inexpensive "semiroofs" over each parking space with solar panels - maybe even some that follow the sun around in its path - and then as a side bonus have a much more comfortable car temperature after a long hot day OUT of the sun - far less need for energy expensive air conditioning.
ElvenDane 4 years ago
Prone to theft by thieves and vandalism by the republicans.
technogearhead 3 years ago
Good point *LOL*
Not to mention energy taxes.
Well, I am sure some of that power could be used to prevent anyone from steeling them that didn't have the key or right combination.
;-)
ElvenDane 3 years ago
Hmm... interesting.
I wouldn't be surprised if the republicans tried to claim the sun as the property of the US government and begin taxing the world for using it, of course in the name of world peace. It will be renamed Mobile.
technogearhead 3 years ago
Seems like somewhere the meters are reading incorrectly.
He shows 100V on the car batteries at 7Amps, that's 700W, but the inverter is showing 600W
and the panel is putting out 6.85A @12.5W each,
that's 171W. Those batteries in the tote are going to go flat pretty quick if the inverter is pulling 600+W and the panel is only putting 181W in.
Starman97 4 years ago
You are quite right...and very observant! The panel only generates about 250W on a bright sunny day for maybe 1.5 kW-hrs of energy over 6 hours, only enough to power the car about 7.5 miles based on 5 miles/kW-hr. I now have a wind turbine up to charge the batteries! Stay tuned for the video.
einsteinsdad 4 years ago
You really need a charger per battery in the car. That way you can equalize the battery charge and not cook your weakest battery.
Ideally you'd like an isolated DC bus with buck-boost converters to also equalize discharge to get maximum life from the batteries. Right now, your range is limited by your weakest battery.
Starman97 4 years ago
What most of you that are responding are missing is this.This is one man on a VERY LIMITED budget figuring out how to save this planet and human kind as a byproduct of his out of the box thinking and practical application of limited technology to an end.
What if it was legislated that the big three car companys had to develop a self sustaining electric car by 2010.
Alcervic 4 years ago 2
you should mount it on the roof of the car and put all the wires n inverters in the boot. that way you wont take up 3 parking spaces.........:P
MrTard 4 years ago
pretty cool - im only 13 but im thinking you could share these types of titles with discovery channels net or NASA goverment. Making these types of items for people later on in life would be very helpful. Liek most people start off by sending post 2 famous networks then it is shared and while more are produced u can make some money off of it by stocking for ur national electric shops like PepBoys or Other types places
TheKillM8 4 years ago
i asked a guy at a solar convention about this; he said you need = or more voltage (than batteries) out of the pannels to charge your batteries. example, he said you can't use a 12v pannel to charge 72 volts regardless of diodes, because electricity won't flow, but yours seem to be putting out 12volts, so ... how is it so?
imacrazydude9999999 4 years ago
The 12V DC goes into an inverter that converts it into 120V AC. My car uses 120V AC to charge the 84V of batteries. Thanks for your interest.
einsteinsdad 4 years ago
how do you brake in your car, most vehicles have a hydralic brake system, or a electric brake booster.
flir67 4 years ago
dude i got a cool idea for using.get it set up on the roof of the car,that way you never have to set it up again
blazerblast 4 years ago
i was thinking the same.
but it wouldn't be optimal and besides its a renault, perhaps the worst car in the world except for Fiats. The weith of the panels may crush the roof.
technogearhead 3 years ago
Ah, well - I was thinking about all sorts of
EV's - not just French rustcollectors or Italian Flintstone cars in particular LOL
ElvenDane 3 years ago
I have to lend my support to the Renault CAR since I have had no problems with it. the suspension is actually better than you would think because of the long wheel base. Making it electric has bypassed the gas motor problems it must have had.
einsteinsdad 3 years ago
I don't understand. Your car runs of 12VDC batteries. Why are you charging the external set of batteries, then inverting it to AC to plug into the car? Is it because you normally plug your car into a 110VAC socket at home? It seems like there is power lost to heat when inverting.
AmericanFabricator 4 years ago
Yes, I only did it while I was trying out different batteries that had less range and I had to find a way to recharge at work. I wanted to use it as a teaching tool for my students at college. It is definitely not as conservative as simply plugging in, but using solar means it isn't costing any electricity.
UncleBob1957 4 years ago
Lionev sells EVs and EV parts. For an EV vost about $30-40K. Max tested range about 456 miles.
tribluered 4 years ago