Technology & Industry News

SUN DRENCHED PARKING LOTS:

A NATIONAL ENERGY ASSET.

Whether it be photovoltaic solar or solar thermal power generation – solar power takes up a lot of space. Solar energy’s footprint is large. Solar can cover considerable real estate and real estate can be expensive.

(Solar modules are expensive enough; Imagine having to purchase land on which to plant a solar park. The cost of the purchased property beneath a solar array would add to the cost of the project, adding to the cost of the power generated from it.)

Given that real estate costs real money it should come as no surprise that so many projects are built on existing roof tops, brownfields or remote, far away pieces of property. The area beneath a solar power plant must be dirt cheap, or carry no cost at all, if the project is to be economically viable.

The cost of property adds another twist to solar energy: Where can expansive solar parks be built where – generally speaking – property costs are high? Envision Solar has an idea. Rethink the air space above the nation’s parking lots as a solar asset. In the car-driven US economy with its sprawling suburban shopping malls, office and industrial parks there is no shortage of tarmac on which to park cars.

Envision Solar’s product was derived from a solar project at the California headquarters of Kyocera Solar’s US operations: the Solar Tree ™ a mass produced, aesthetically pleasing steel structure on which to support a solar array which both generates power and also provides shade beneath. Planted in groups the Solar Trees become a Solar Grove(tm).

Virtually all parking lots are near a grid connection and, it’s safe to say, most are near centers of commerce, industry or residential communities, all of which are ready and able to run on solar power. In short, parking lots – and other open air storage areas – are ripe for solar development.

One wonders, how much parking and storage acreage is there in this nation for potential Solar Groves? A study should be made. Consider how many parking and open air storage lots there are in the country:

— At the nation’s endless shopping malls:— Parking lots surrounding big box stores; — Corporate and College campuses;— Sports stadiums;

— Airport parking lots;— Open air storage areas as part of retail operations;— Open air storage facilities at shipping terminals.And those are just the BIG parking lots.

Further, as space above an already developed piece of property, a site for a Solar Grove should be inexpensive if not, perhaps, free because of the added benefits to the property owner. One benefit, of course, is the clean power that’s generated that can be consumed or sold back to the grid as revenue maker for the property owner. Another is the shade offered by the solar panels:

— A Solar Grove would provide shelter and shade for shoppers; A nice attraction.

— The use of solar-sheltered areas could be used for open air farmers and flea markets.

— Very soon (within another two years) Solar Groves could become plug-in points for upcoming plug-in hybrids. (An attraction for plug-in drivers.)

— For open air storage, solar trees would provide some level of protection for inventory.

The US is all about cars, trucks, roads and parking lots. Its roads have helped build a nation. Possibly now’s the time for its parking lots to be more than just storage areas for cars. Parking lots could be power plants. Links: Envision Solar http://www.envisionsolar.com

ZERO EMISSION ELECTRIC

VEHICLE MEETS AMERICAN ROADS ON TWO WHEELS.

It may be a few more years before a high-performance all-electric vehicle like the Tesla sports car is available for Joe (or Josephine) Average consumer. At the better part of $100,000 the Tesla is intended for the green-minded well-to-do, not the rest of us.

But if a four wheeled electric vehicle is out of reach, what about one with two?

Now on sale in the US is Italy’s battery electric Vectrix Maxi scooter.

Built from the ground up as an electric vehicle – not a gas engined scooter converted to electric – every engineering consideration seems to have taken into account to build a high performance electric vehicle.

The frame is lightweight aluminum to offset the weight of batteries: the Vectrix uses the nickel metal hydride variety. The frame too allows batteries to be mounted low to keep the center of gravity near the ground.

Perhaps not quite as quick as a mid-sized scooter (and certainly not the range) the Vectrix does compare in other aspects with gas engined scooters of the same wheelbase and power. In performance terms Vectrix says the scooter will compete with those in the 250 – 400 cubic centimeter range.

The specs include a top speed of 62 mph, with zero to 50 in under 7 seconds. Range is 40-60 miles with a maximum range of 68 miles at an average 25 mph. Regenerative braking is included and is an on-board charger. Charging is off a house circuit.

Battery recharging takes about 2 hours, according to the company, and the batteries should last up to 10 years considering 5000 miles each year of driving.

Its electric hub motor is about 27 horsepower (20 kilowatts), again about the same as a mid-sized gas scooter.

Wheelbase is 60 inches and its weight 462 pounds, about a 100 more than a comparable gas scooter.

The price? Deep in company website the figure $11,000 appears. (About twice a gas scooter.) However the scooter has only 250 parts – compared with 2500 for a gas scooter. But who knows, with popularity and increases in production the price could feasibly drop. And fueling costs need to be taken into consideration. Recharging from the grid should barely register on the monthly bill.