Eco Factor: Zero-emission car powered by solar energy.
David Norvell, the director of the Office of Sustainability and Energy Management at the University of Central Florida, is making some heads turn on the university’s campus by driving a car fueled by the abundant energy of the sun. The inventor has retrofitted a ZENN brand NEV, which comes with air conditioning, with solar panels.
The vehicle is set to a maximum speed of 25mph and generates electricity via the three roof-mounted solar panels that recharge the vehicle’s batteries for rides during overcast or stormy days. The inventor states that the conversion process took just one day and the car cost him around $20,000 including the solar panels.
Without the solar panels the car needs a recharge after every 35 miles, a process that takes about 8 hours to complete. However, the inventor claims that he hasn’t plugged the car in the 1600 miles that he’s driven it till now.
Via: UCF [Press Release]
