solar car stopping at 9 national parks

Saw this on the news this evening.

University teams from around the world have designed and built solar-powered cars. Those that qualify will drive them 1,975 miles on the open road during an 8-day rally, stopping at 9 different National Park Service sites in 7 states, including George Rogers Clark National Historical Park located at Vincennes, In about 50 miles south of Terre Haute.

If you can find more info on cars, teams, and more national parks, please post a link.
geo.
link

very interesting. I wonder if they plan to go to Yosemite national park. In this great state of cal. we have big mountains to climb. Wonder if they plan to do this trip if the plan to go threw the High Sierras. That would really tell us how good there solar car is. It is easy to go on level ground and down hills but when you have to climb the mountains that is when you will know what a good car you had made.

Yehbut what if there's some cloudy days?

NAY! The real question is "How and where are they going to refuel?" I have a gas powered car that will go almost 600 miles on a tank of fuel that is 4 refueling stops. 1) Can these cars come close to that?
2) Where the recharging stations? And are they close enough together to accommodate all the cars?
and on enough different routes to accommodate the different thinking/desires of all the teams?

Last I saw the electric car was done at 50 miles; now maybe the Tesla can do better but I doubt it gets 500 miles to a charge.
Recharging stops take at least overnight, I have seen nothing indicating a quicker refuel. Further there aren't very many around, some hotels/motels have one and they're upscale business(read expensive).
My thinking "America isn't ready for electric cars!"

(quoted from post at 03:59:38 08/01/16) NAY! The real question is "How and where are they going to refuel?" I have a gas powered car that will go almost 600 miles on a tank of fuel that is 4 refueling stops. 1) Can these cars come close to that?
2) Where the recharging stations? And are they close enough together to accommodate all the cars?
and on enough different routes to accommodate the different thinking/desires of all the teams?

Last I saw the electric car was done at 50 miles; now maybe the Tesla can do better but I doubt it gets 500 miles to a charge.
Recharging stops take at least overnight, I have seen nothing indicating a quicker refuel. Further there aren't very many around, some hotels/motels have one and they're upscale business(read expensive).
My thinking "America isn't ready for electric cars!"

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Dave has it right. Plus add in that that none of these cars would pass safety standards with crash testing. Add in the extra weight needed for pass crash testing plus the ability to carry other passengers and luggage and you are stuck with a gas engine sniffing diesel fumes as you drive.

Rick

If they are solar powered do they need charging stations? That to me would indicate on board solar panels.

I think it will be a long time before we see many on the road. Stan

Rick,
Do you enjoy making fun of handicapped people, people with a health condition? If you do, go to Wal-mart. There are many over weight handicapped people there that can't walk, they have to use Wal-mart's electric wheelchairs.
George

(quoted from post at 12:29:15 08/01/16) Rick,
Do you enjoy making fun of handicapped people, people with a health condition? If you do, go to Wal-mart. There are many over weight handicapped people there that can't walk, they have to use Wal-mart's electric wheelchairs.
George

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George, no I don't enjoy making fun of people like me. I just takes things as they are no matter how I'd like them to be. I don't get on here an whine because a lot of cars out there don't fit. But with foot, back knee and neck issues they don't fit a 6'5" man. I'm not going to get the makers to build 40 MPG cars in men's sizes anytime soon. I don't complain when I need a 50 pound sack of dog food that it weighs 30 pounds more than I'm supposed to pick up. I get it and worry about hurting later. Don't do no good complaining about it. I did complain about my knee but not about the pain, brace or crutches but because it is a service connected and VA put me off over 12 years before they finally gave me a new one. So I complained about VA.

FWIT I seldom go to Wal Mart but when I do most often what I see are grossly obese people using the handicap go carts. I actually seen some of these people get up and walk just fine out to their cars. I used those carts for about 8 years. Now I don't have to and don't.

I learned growing up the common sense to accept things I can't change. The courage to at least try to change things I can and the wisdom to know the difference between the two.

Rick

What happens to a solar powered car when it goes through a tunnel or under a bridge in heavy traffic?? Does it need to be pushed back into the light? And, since it is solar powered, it apparently can only be driven in the daytime on a relatively bright day. Sounds really useful to me.......NOT!!!

I'm sure batteries would take over.