How Solar Powered Vehicles May Help Democratize the Transition to Electric Vehicles

by Emily Harrinson

The discovery of fossil fuels helped accelerate technological growth in various ways. Fossil fuel-powered combustion engines were created and as a result, people were able to move to their destinations faster and more freely. Unfortunately, fossil fuels are getting depleted fast and are becoming more expensive.

Environmentalists have been campaigning against their use. Recently, a Dutch company announced it would soon release into the market solar-powered vehicles. The solutions these vehicles will provide will have a huge impact on the use of fossil fuels.

Depleting resources and pollution

Although fossil fuels have helped the world to grow exponentially in every sector, they are limited to availability and will soon become a rare commodity. Some of their impact on the environment is irreversible. Within the last fifty years, the air has been polluted many times more than before, thanks to fossil fuels.

Currently, the cost of long-range cars is ever-increasing and so is the cost to run them. Although new fossil deposits are still being discovered, they can only sustain the demand for a short time. As demand for fossil fuels increases and supply decrease, the cost increases exponentially. Soon, it might become impossible to run a fossil-fuel-powered engine due to cost.

Short term and long-term actions against the use of fossil fuels

Environmental stakeholders and actors have been vigorously pushing for the adoption of green energy technology in every sector globally. The need is currently stronger than ever before due to rising fossil fuel prices.

A site from where students can purchase college essay says that many vehicle owners have restricted the use of their cars to a few trips in a week or when very necessary. Although they are supposed to enjoy freedom using their cars and move anywhere they desire, they no longer have this freedom due to the cost of running them.

The short-term mitigation environmentalists are advocating is less use of motor vehicles, taking fewer airplane journeys, cruise ships, and train rides. It will help reduce pollution on one hand, but on the other, it has taken away the freedom of movement. It will also limit economic growth and hence limit ROI. The long-term solutions are to entirely do away with the production and use of fossil fuels.

Solar-powered vehicles – a timely solution

As mentioned on a leading dissertation writing service, recently, Lightyear announced it would begin to scale-up production of solar-powered cars. The Dutch company has been involved in research for several years and the result is a clean energy car. According to Lightyear chief design officer Koen van Ham, this new technology will help democratize mobility.

The vehicles have come at a time when companies are actively looking for ways to save money for people who are already overstretched by a poorly performing economy. Koen is also the co-founder of Lightyear and he says this technology will provide a boost to the transition to electric motor vehicles.

The solar panels will be built on the car roof or bonnet, meaning they will provide energy to the car when and where needed. Solar-powered cars will be independent of infrastructures such as charging stations common with the current electric cars.

Advantages of using solar-powered vehicles

The mass production of solar-powered vehicles is not yet realized, although the process has already begun. Consumers are going for eco-friendlier hybrid cars. Users of these cars feel they are saving the environment on one hand, but on the other, they still fuel gas to their cars and thus taking away the advantage.

Dissertation services mention that compared to hybrids, solar-powered vehicles will be a pure breed that is 100 percent reliant on clean energy. Solar energy is available everywhere and it's free, meaning the car owners will only undergo cost during purchase and maintenance but not on fuel. Solar-powered vehicles will have many advantages.

Zero emissions

Solar-powered cars do not need a combustion engine but will run on electric motors. The solar panels will tap energy from the sun and it will be stored in a solar battery. Drivers will only need to press the power on for the battery to run the motors. The vehicles will produce no emissions at all.

No need to mine fuel

Fossil fuels not only pollute the enviroment but also destroy the landscape, making them impossible to use. Electric cars will not require engine lubricating oil or gas except wheels’ lubrication. Its dependency on fossil oil products will be eliminated because lubricating oil can be manufactured from plants.

No budget on gas

Every month, car owners do a budget for gas which keeps increasing often. With solar-powered cars, there will be no need to budget for gas and thus, they will save a lot of money.

Democratized mobility and fast transition to electric vehicles

Researchers and governments have worked tirelessly towards a transition to electric vehicles. Some of the actions they have taken are promoting access to community solar, an increase of solar storage technology, and an increase of mobility options for the people.

One of the largest consumers of energy in transportation and when energy supply is limited, mobility freedom decreases. Solar-powered vehicles do not rely on third-party sources of energy and all they require is sunlight.

As long as there is sunlight, vehicle owners can move freely anytime they want and wherever they want. When fully charged, one battery can power a car up to 725 kilometers and this kind of democratized mobility is what people are yearning for.

The gas-electricity hybrids have provided a solution to pollution but only in part. There is a need to develop the vehicles from a hybrid to 100% electric. It has not yet been achieved so far but the recent announcement by Lightyear, the solar-powered motor vehicle company, has renewed hope for a solution sooner than expected.

Conclusion

According to Lightyear company, mass production of solar-powered cars will begin in 2022. Koen van Ham, a co-founder of Lightyear, believes this technology will revolutionize the democratization of mobility in a big way. It sets the pace for the production of a pure breed of electric vehicles that will help save the environment and entirely stop reliance on fossil fuels.

Author Bio: