This week’s solar links range from new versions of older ideas to one very radical newcomer to the field of solar possibilities. Should all these innovations come to widespread reality we could see solar cars on solar roadways driving under solar planes and solar balloons with a solar flashlight charging on the dash.

• Eleanor, a new solar-powered electric car from the big brains at MIT, is getting ready to race at speeds up to 90 mph at the behest of inertia and thanks to 580 silicon solar cells.



• The Sunseeker II is a manned solar plane whose designers claim has logged the most hours in flight than all other manned solar aircraft combined.



• Cool Earth Solar makes cheap plastic solar balloons that act as concentrating solar collectors for inexpensive yet efficient solar power production.



• SunNight Solar’s new addition to the world of solar flashlights is sleek, powerful, handy in the Third World, and affordable as well.
• IKEA is entering the solar gadget market with its own version of solar garden lights.




• Solar Roadways? Here’s an idea you may not have thought of: roadways made from photovoltaic solar panels. As radical as it may seem, Solar Roadways is getting some very positive attention.

Posted on March 27th in Solar Products by Dan.