True but it's simpler/more efficient to put up a PV array and run a heat pump
water heater (now available). That gets rid of the solar thermal plumbing
mess.MarkDate: Thu, 02 Jan 2014 21:58:46 -0700
From: Jamie K <[email protected]>
To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [EVDL] Ford to debut solar car
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
On 1/2/14 5:44 PM, Michael Ross wrote:
> It makes a lot more sense to have a solar generating system on your home
> and plug in to the home or grid, than to put the array on the car roof.
> Soon enough solar thermal collection of hot water will not worth the
> trouble... when PV efficiencies are good enough you will be better off
> running the power through a heating element, rather than having fluids
> pumped around, holes in the roof, plumbing, electrical and control
> infrastructure.
Maybe so.
Right now solar thermal is more efficient in gathering energy, from what
I gather. But as people keep trying crazy ideas, the technology moves
forward and your prediction might eventually hold water (without needing
to hold water). :^)
BTW, the University of Colorado Solar Decathlon team designed an
interesting rooftop PV system with liquid cooling - a solar PV/thermal
combination approach that was quite clever in getting the most out of a
small roof area - providing solar thermal heat to the home while keeping
the PV cool.
> Same with this goofy carport idea. Just build a proper PV system for God's
> sake.
Maybe so, and that's what practical people are doing now for solar power.
But when it comes to R&D for future products, maybe it's a good idea for
university students to have Ford's backing in pushing the boundaries and
experimenting with new ideas, whether they pan out or not.
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