Photo Credit: Courtesy of State of Maryland
Zipping along at a top speed of less than 35 miles per hour, solar-electric-powered golf or work carts are helping park and recreation departments save money while reducing their carbon footprint. The carts--using a cross between solar and electric power--serve almost every purpose as those of gas-powered carts, including for golfers, food and beverage, maintenance crews, security vehicles, housekeeping, transportation and even emergencies. That last item might sound somewhat contradictory (Who wants to travel to the emergency room in a vehicle that is considered low-speed?). But a solar-electric emergency vehicle fitted with foam tires is able to reach otherwise “inaccessible” locations in disaster situations while its heavier cousins have to wait for debris to be cleared.
Benefits Of Sun Suckers
A solar-electric cart can be recharged merely by parking it in a sunny spot for a day. “With our solar tops, solar-electric vehicles can run between five and ten miles on just the energy collected from the sun,” says Mary Anne Bowie, sustainability leader for EcoTrans Alliance, a source for renewable solar-energy transportation and management solutions. “This can allow for people to have a zero carbon footprint.”
Solar panels reduce the draw-down on a battery by constantly charging it (at least on sunny days). In the process, the battery life increases from an average of 2.5 years to 3.3 years. “Solar panels reduce operating costs,” says Bowie. “With a solar panel, you can drive about 1,825 miles a year for free, if you are driving five miles per day. This equals a savings of $275 per year on gasoline, based on $3 per gallon and 20 miles per gallon.” With a plug-in electric vehicle, the solar savings can be about $25 to $35 per year in base electric fees; the figure doesn’t include fuel charges.