Couple Runs Electric Car on Solar Power

A couple living north of Seattle in a very small town called Carlsborg recently purchased a Nissan Leaf. Since they already had a home solar power system to charge the all-electric Leaf, they don’t pay for it in a monthly bill. They are putting electricity back into the grid system to the utility company, so they are actually getting paid and say they make eight dollars every time they drive 100 miles. The sticker price on the Leaf was $36,000 but state and federal incentives reduced that number to $27,500.

Critics of solar power say it won’t ever become mainstream because it is too expensive. They are incorrect though, as solar technology prices will not stay where they are now due to the general shift away from conventional energy such as coal and renewables, because of climate change, geopolitics, and pollution issues. For example, Italy’s solar power capacity is set to grow nearly four times just in the next nine years. Also, increasing solar efficiency due to better engineering and research will make them produce more power. The transition period, like many large societal shifts, will be a time of confusion and even resistance, but eventually it will happen.

The Carlsborg couple is doing it, and their area does not have that many clear sunny days. In nearby Seattle that number is 71 per year. Phoenix and Las Vegas have over 210 clear sunny days each year, on average. San Francisco has 160, and Sacramento is slightly higher with 180. Phoenix has a very large population and a smog problem, so replacing gasoline cars there with electric ones would be a welcome change, and they clearly have much sunlight to do it.

A couple from Sausalito (near San Francisco) is also powering their electric Nissan Leaf from their home solar system, though a portion may also come from the grid. As home solar costs come down gradually, it may become more and more common for households to have the capacity for charging on their own electric vehicles.

Image Credit: Tennen Gas

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Robert H.

3:51PM PST on Mar 7, 2012

I wonder if we could make trolly cars solar? Might be worth the effort?

send a green star

small steps... big returns.

Kamryn M.

11:50AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

very cool.

Kath R.

10:57AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

I would love to own a car like that.

Sergei T.

10:26AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Putting solar panels on electric cars seems like a no-brainer. Why isn't it done on production cars?

Laura E.

9:05AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Great! If it was not that expensive I would try to buy one of those. Meantime, I can keep my bike, and use the Metro.

Harsha V.

4:30AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Cool! Hope more folks get inspired to give a try.

Alexandra R.

4:20AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

This should be everyone's ambition. The new American dream! Drive an electric car and save the world! As well as that , earn $8 a day extra just for driving your electric car and charging it with your solar panels. i didn't quite get how that is done, butmaybe someone can explain it to me.
The way to go!

Carl S.

2:47AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

After thought, It is Time we did start to rebuild the Train Transit system and SHIP that way. Lessen the Truck and Bus Traffic on the Highways. Lessen the Diesel / Carbon Imprint on the Eco system. Affordable travel between major cities. Lets see Mag Trains? Doesn't Japan have them? Again an Work plan. Clean Jobs,

2:39AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Rudolf If you look back in our hsitory as close as 1950 You will see that the U.S. had an Extensive RailRoad System. However with The American Love Afair with Automobiles and the Abiltiy to make the Automobile an Indespensible Pice of Family and "Affordable To Every One" that Transit system fell to the way side. The Last Passenger to leave Wilkesbarre pa was in 1964. Even I love Lucy mentioned Hopping a Train to go to the "Globe " Dept Store in Scranton for Sales for the Afternoon .
Even More eggregious was the destruction of Vacant Train Tracks Thanks To AMTrack. If it was not used Tear it up. Now when we could be useing those old lines and refurbishing them, for Mass Transit, they are no where to be found. Our Friends In Europe and Brittan Kept there Rail System in place.
Another Death Knell for the Rail System In this Country was the Truckers Teamsters union. They waged war on the rail System in the Late 60's all throughthe 70's untill it died a painful Death. So At one Time Rudy,in teh Not to distant Past, The USA did Have a Wonderful Mass Transit System in Place. Auto and Air took its toll, Now we may see a resurgance of Rail Travel as Prices for Fuel SkyRocket. Maybe this could be a "New'er Deal " for Work. Rebuild the Passenger Rail System.