Home: Renewable Energy News: Tuesday 13 January, 2009

Renewable Energy News

TUESDAY 13 JANUARY, 2009 |

Wind And Solar Powered Car In Development

Wind and solar powered car

The rumours of a solar powered car has created a lot of buzz lately, particularly in relation to whispers of Toyota creating such a vehicle - which turned out to be just whispers.

A company that is currently developing such a car, with the added element of wind power, is RORMaxx Automotive. Dubbed Formula AE, you won't see the vehicle in any showroom soon as it will just be a working, full-scale racecar prototype. However, it will incorporate some interesting new technology and concepts that the auto industry may benefit from.

The engine to be used in the Formula AE will be an advanced current induction motor capable of a 212kw power output. The vehicle is expect to be able to accelerate from 0 to100 kilometers per hour in under four seconds, with a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour. Energy storage will be in the form of lightweight Lithium Phosphate batteries and ultra capacitors.

The Formual AE will be covered with flexible, thin film solar cells which are expected to extend the car's range by 15-40%, but the most interesting part of the vehicle is its wind power aspect. Energy lost under the friction of air will be recovered through 4 intakes and directed into turbines containing brushless synchronous alternators. The power generated will then be stored in ultra-capacitors.

When substantial power is instantly demanded, such as in rapid acceleration, the Formula AE's inverter will switch the vehicle from battery power to the ultra-capacitors which will be able to deliver the energy necessary in such situations more effectively. Ultra capacitors also have the advantage of being much faster to recharge than conventional battery technology.

RORMaxx Automotive says the Formula AE prototype could be produced by August of this year.

For people who are dreaming of a fully solar powered family car, they will likely be disappointed as solar technology really isn't able to generate the amount of power needed from such a small surface area such as the body of a family vehicle to make this practical for medium and long distance driving. However, it's already possible to use a grid connected solar power system installed at home to act as a charging station for electric vehicles. While most cars would be recharged at night, the energy created by the solar power system through the day can be "reclaimed" from the grid for overnight charging.

Obama's Renewable Energy Mission

Obama's renewable energy mission

When given lemons, make lemonade - so the old saying goes. The current global economic meltdown is causing a great deal of pain, but it's also providing an opportunity not seen since World War II.

There's now the space to make fundamental changes to financial systems to prevent such a reoccurrence and beyond that, to addressing issues such as climate change and energy; allowing the USA's President-elect Barack Obama to put his green credentials to work.

Obama is in the final stages of tweaking his economic stimulus plan which could contain a great deal of good news for not only the American but also the global renewable energy sector; by increasing the availability of finance and providing additional incentives.

The Washington Post has reported the Obama camp is seriously considering including as much as USD$25 billion in energy tax credits.

The package under consideration includes a two-year, USD$8.6 billion extension of production tax credits for renewable energy, which could particularly benefit wind power projects. Also on the table is a proposal from the wind and solar industry allowing those credits to be refundable or to offset outstanding tax liability.This would benefit many financial firms that have provided capital for renewable energy projects in the past but currently aren't showing any taxable income and therefore can't use the credits.

The stimulus package may also include a National Clean Energy Lending Authority to extend low-interest loans or loan guarantees to renewable energy projects. The goal of the lending authority will be to mobilise private capital.

According to economist Peter Dawson, while Obama realises oil will continue to be the primary energy source for the foreseeable future, he believes that sources such as renewable energy need to displace oil in the U.S. for economic, national security, and environmental reason as soon as possible.